The Toronto Marlies announced today that they have signed left winger Darren Archibald to a one-year AHL contract. Archibald is a North York, Ontario native and split his 2018-19 season with the Belleville Senators and Utica Comets, putting up 19 goals and 33 points in 51 games in the process.
Archibald has been an NHL/AHL tweener for bad teams for a while. Now, while on an AHL contract, Archibald will almost certainly not see time with the Maple Leafs. During his time with the Marlies, Archibald will hopefully try to fill the void left by three of the Marlies leaders from the past two seasons; Chris Mueller (SYR), Vincent LoVerde (HFD), and Colin Greening (retired). The 29-year-old was an assistant captain for the Belleville Senators as well as in Utica, so I assume he’s well-liked by his teammates.
Archibald has connections to the current Maple Leafs front office. He played under now-Marlies GM and then-Comets GM Laurence Gilman for two seasons with Utica back from 2013-15. Archibald was a big goon back then, amassing back-to-back 100 PIM seasons under Gilman. He also put up one goal on 10 shots in six playoff games in 2015, the spring before Gilman was fired by the Canucks.
Archibald is well-known as a goon around the AHL who has a history of throwing blatantly reckless hits all over the ice. Here’s just a taste of his portfolio.
yikes Darren Archibald throws some massive hits pic.twitter.com/AMGM5pi4zY
— Sens Prospects (@SensProspects) March 9, 2019
Here's a real-time look at that Archibald hit. pic.twitter.com/J6wMYX4Jaa
— Sens Prospects (@SensProspects) March 9, 2019
Here’s a look at the nasty, retaliatory cross-check to Frederic’s head from Archibald. Frederic comes in and finishes his hard check, then Archibald two-hands him in the back of the head as he’s skating away. Slowed the play down to 1/4th speed so you can see it. #NHLBruins pic.twitter.com/qDoKx6sdmU
— Bruins Network (@BruinsNetwork) March 23, 2019
He did this in the NHL for a cup of coffee, too.
Darren Archibald gets nailed with a five minute interference penalty for a clean hit on Stefan Matteau pic.twitter.com/bQLXWVgJAB
— Shayne Pasquino (@shaynepasquino) September 17, 2017
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