"Dallas Eakins knows that Maple Leafs fans wanted Nazem Kadri to be a star yesterday.

But as the Leafs build depth — Ron Wilson has more talent now than at any time in his three-plus seasons behind the bench — there's a trickle-down effect throughout the organization.

And you can bet Eakins, the coach of the Toronto Marlies, views that as a positive.

"As that big club has got better as a group, it is harder to make it, and that's how we want it," Eakins said on Monday. "We want it to be very hard to make that NHL club because it means they are good and in the playoffs and going in the right direction.

"Here, in the past, there were guys playing in the NHL that got the spot because there was no one else and there was no challenge. Now there are challenges from everywhere.""