Alex Steeves’ belief in himself never wavered, even if that confidence wasn’t reflected on the scoresheet.
“I’ve always, as a player, told myself that if you are getting the chances, it’s going to come,” Steeves said on Long Island last week.
The 25-year-old forward — a Minnesota-born product who spent part of his childhood in New Hampshire — had accomplished plenty both in the collegiate ranks and in the AHL prior to this season.
But a legitimate shot at hockey’s highest level eluded Steeves after turning pro with Toronto in March 2021.
When Steeves put pen to paper on a one-year, $850,000 contract with Boston in July, he held court as the franchise leader in both goals (105) and points (216) for the Maple Leafs’ AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies.