Toronto Marlies

Hockey is finally on its way. The AHL schedule is out, and there are some changes and improvements for this year.

No one will be laughing at the Marlies this year.

It's a bit busy in the Leafs office today. They're not spending any time lamenting free agents gone by, they're getting on with filling rosters and looking ahead to training camp.

Sitting between 18 and 16 is this man is Brendan Leipsic.

The AHL likes to slowly, oh, so slowly tease out the coming schedule each summer, while <a href="http://theahl.com/making-of-the-ahl-schedule-is-a-critical-task-p199045">they play with magnets in the heat of summer</a> and we all just want hockey!

Could it happen? His name has made the speculators lists, but would he fit in there?

With all the changes externally in the AHL, one thing remains the same: roster turnover on the teams. The next crop of Marlies isn&#39;t going to look much like the previous year&#39;s group.

Can the nature of the game in the AHL really be changed with suspensions for fighting?

Or more likely, faster. There is nothing a hockey GM likes more than an idea someone else has already tried, so spending more on development is catching on.

It&#39;s more fun to watch a team that wins, and the Marlies showed that winning sells tickets.

On the day that qualifying offers expire and many teams and players are prodded into action, the first Leafs RFA of the off season has been signed.

As more Toronto fans get to know the Marlies, now is a good time to get to know the AHL itself. This July, dive in a little deeper to the league and take a look at the big changes afoot there.

One way contract? Two way? Marlies have yet to release details.

The Marlies Cas’d in on a Hockey East champion

How did this happen?

Good ol&#39; Dickey Clube is back for another year of making sure the kids train hard...or else.

The Marlies needed centre depth, and they have found it with two AHL contract signings.

From the ECHL to a big-league contract in two years, way to go Holl!

Summer time means moving on for a lot of AHL players. The Marlies have a group of free agents who were big factors in their success. That doesn&#39;t mean they&#39;ll all be back.

The Marlies playoffs came to a screeching halt on Sunday afternoon. While Sheldon Keefe presided over an amazing season as a rookie coach, the AHL isn&#39;t like other leagues. It isn&#39;t all about the Cup.

The Marlies have another on defense

Even without a Calder Cup title, Kyle Dubas built the AHL&#39;s new standard.

The Toronto Marlies&#39; third round exit to Justin Peters and the Hershey Bears saw goaltending play a major role.

The Marlies road to the Calder Cup has come to an abrupt end at the hands of the Hershey Bears

The Marlies came up with the big win they needed.