The Marlies have come close twice in the last five years. Even without a raft of injuries, I’d argue Toronto would not have beaten the dominant Norfolk Admirals team that swept them in the 2012 Calder Cup Final. Two years later, while it seems likely to me that Toronto would have beaten St. John’s in the 2014 championship final, the Texas Stars — despite the Conference Final series going the distance, with the Marlies leading 2-0 in Game 7 — were the better team and deserved winners of the Calder Cup that Spring.
This postseason, a Toronto team that won the AHL regular season title with consummate ease, fielding the most exciting collection of young Maple Leafs talent this organization has ever owned at one time, is being touted as 2016 champions already in some quarters.