In the final year of his entry-level contract, 24-year-old Jacob Quillan is having a solid sophomore season in the Toronto Maple Leafs system.
Playing mostly in the AHL, Quillan is putting up solid numbers for the Toronto Marlies through the first five months of this year. In 30 games played, he has nine goals and 20 assists, tallying nearly a point per game. His goalscoring pace reflects only a slight improvement over last year, but he’s already passed last season’s assist total (19) in less than half as many games. Quillan is evolving as a playmaker without losing his ability to grind out crucial goals.
Perhaps at the tail end of being considered a prospect, Quillan has also been called up to the NHL for multiple stints this season amidst injury troubles to the big club. That being said, he hasn’t been given too much opportunity to prove himself at the highest level, appearing in just four games and averaging under eight minutes a night. He’s still searching for his first NHL point, with just one shot on net registered so far.
Ahead of a late December contest against the New Jersey Devils, Craig Berube praised what he’s seen from Quillan so far, saying he’s not far from having a more permanent role with the Leafs.
“I love Quillan’s energy and his speed,” Berube said. “He’s a young kid, but he could come in and provide what we need, I think tonight, and going forward. I think he’s getting close to being an NHL player and a full-time one with his ability. I mean, it’s a good opportunity for him tonight.”
Toronto came away with a 4-0 win in that one, but Quillan was only given seven minutes of ice time. He’s shown in the AHL that he can be a contributing factor, but if Brad Treliving and Berube intend for him to be part of the Leafs long-term, they’ll need to give him more meaningful looks moving forward. Depending on how their playoff probability looks deeper in the season, they may be wise to give more opportunities to young players like Quillan and put a focus on what’s to come.
Quillan originally signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs in April 2024 as an undrafted player from Quinnipiac University. In his final NCAA season, he registered 17 goals and 46 points in 39 games, totalling 93 points in 116 career games with Quinnipiac. On The Leafs Nation’s summer 2025 prospect rankings, Quillan landed 11th.
PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE
Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!