The season didn’t go the way Colin Greening wanted.

The veteran forward thought he might be back in the NHL after a trade with the Senators brought him to the Maple Leafs in February, 2016. He seemed to play well, particularly with William Nylander toward the end of last season, but it wasn’t to be.

He failed to make the rookie-loaded Maple Leafs out of training camp, but kept his head up and reported dutifully to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

“I’m a professional hockey player,” said Greening. “I want to be on a team and find a niche and role. I was able to find that with the Marlies. . . . You’re a hockey player. You have to play. That’s the attitude I took into it and it’s boded well for me so far.”

Greening scored the overtime winner in Game 3, giving the Marlies a 2-1 lead over the Albany Devils in their best-of-five opening-round series on Wednesday.

He found himself with Ottawa’s farm team at the beginning of last season before coming to Toronto in the Dion Phaneuf trade. Greening had seven goals and eight assists in 30 games as a Maple Leaf last season.

The 31-year-old Greening didn’t sulk when sent to the minors, instead quickly embedding himself as a leader with the Marlies. He had 10 goals and 14 assists in 69 games in the regular season.

“Greening has been terrific in every regard,” said Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe. “He’s a true professional. He’s very committed to his personal fitness and taking care of his game. He comes prepared every game. He sets a very good example for what being a pro is.

“For him to come down to the American Hockey League after spending as much time as he did, with the success he’s had, at the NHL level speaks to his character and his leadership abilities.”

Greening’s three-year, $7.95-million contract ends this summer, when he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.

The six-foot-three, 210-pound forward is versatile, able to play top-six or bottom-six minutes.

Greening saw first-hand what the Marlies had to offer the Leafs when he finished the season in Toronto last year, and he’s seeing it again this year.

“There are a lot of guys who have the potential of going up. (Kasperi) Kapanen showed a lot of promise. Frederik Gauthier has had some chances. Some of the young defence — (Andrew) Nielsen, (Travis) Dermott. If there were a few more injuries, they might have got a shot.

“There’s a lot of promise here. This type of run will help.”

Greening was part of a Calder Cup champion with the Binghamton Senators in 2011 and believes the Leafs’ prospects will only benefit if they can get the far.

“It develops your mental tenacity,” said Greening. “The playoffs are a whole different being. When you go through situations where you lose a game in overtime, or you win, you have to be able to play in a couple of days’ time, or the next day. Those are tough lessons, especially when you’re young. Those are things that I had to learn, and am still learning.

“As you go on, there’s a saying: We’re all just a sum of all of our experiences. I think that really helps playing in the playoffs, helps you grow as a person and a player.”

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The Leafs signed forward Carl Grundstrom — drafted 57th overall in 2016 — to a three-year entry-level contract after a 14-goal season as a 19-year-old with Frolunda of the Swedish Hockey League. He’ll also play for Sweden at the upcoming world hockey championship.