The Toronto Marlies are 15-4-1 so far this season, which leads the AHL’s North Division and is good enough to have them in first place overall.

However, not everything has been easy for players and management on the Maple Leafs’ farm club – especially since the Leafs find themselves near the bottom of the NHL standings.

Maple Leafs assistant general manager Kyle Dubas, who also serves as Marlies GM, says it’s a struggle to keep Marlies skaters patient when some of them feel they should be playing in the NHL.

“It’s a challenge and it’s what [Marlies coach] Sheldon [Keefe] and myself spend a lot of time on,” Dubas told Gord Stellick and Todd Hlushko on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Saturday.

LISTEN: Kyle Dubas talks Marlies prospects and preaching patience

Dubas didn’t mention any players by name, but it’s fair to say a handful of Marlies have performed well enough to warrant a call-up.

Forward William Nylander currently leads the AHL in scoring with 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 18 games, while defenceman T.J. Brennan leads all blueliners in goals with seven and is second in points at the position with 17.

Garret Sparks has been solid in net and was recalled Saturday as James Reimer is dealing with an injury. This is expected to be a short-term move, however, before Sparks is sent back down when Reimer’s good to go.

Byron Froese is really the only Marlies player that has been called up to the Leafs this season who has gotten steady ice time at the NHL level. He has played 16 games with the Leafs, averaging 13:39 per game. Froese had 42 points in 46 games with the Marlies last season and also spent some time toiling away in the ECHL with the Cincinnati Cylones.

Dubas wants Marlies skaters to look at a player like Froese as an example of how long stretches in the minors can be rewarded.

“It’s trying to continue to educate our players with the process,” Dubas added. “Whether they agree with us or not, at least they have an understanding of our process … We try to talk to them as much as possible. The agents have been a far bigger pain than the players.”