Andreas Johnsson looks like he might have outgrown the AHL -- in 16 Calder Cup playoff games, Johnsson recorded 10 goals and 24 points, helping the Marlies capture a championship.

The 23-year-old Johnsson subsequently signed a one-year contract with the Maple Leafs, accepting the club's qualifying offer that will pay him just under $800,000 at the NHL level this season (it's a two-way contract). And while some wondered if Johnsson could have signed a deal with more term, he explained his own motives behind accepting that deal and playing out this season without a secured future.

"I have faith in myself and hope that will show this winter," Johnsson said in an interview with Hockey Sverige, translated into English. "(Accepting the offer) is a challenge for me, a chance to chase a bigger contract. I have a good shot at that now."

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It remains to be seen what role Johnsson will have with the Maple Leafs for the upcoming season. A mainstay during their brief 2018 playoff run, Johnsson also appeared in nine games late in the regular season, scoring two goals. Head coach Mike Babcock had positive reviews for the forward, saying he looked, " .... effective each and every night."

If Johnsson does crack the NHL lineup on a regular basis, he'll have a good opportunity to play with some skilled forwards. The Maple Leafs made a huge splash in free agency signing John Tavares, meaning if Johnsson skated with any of the Maple Leafs top-three pivots he would be next to either Tavares, Auston Matthews, or Nazem Kadri.

Of those three centers most common linemates in 2017-18, and that group of six forwards, Leo Komarov (19) had the lowest point total. But the other five produced much bigger offensive seasons, a group that (including Komarov's number) averaged 50 points.

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Babcock said he pictured Tavares playing with Zach Hyman and Mitch Marner, and Matthews with Patrick Marleau and William Nylander. If Johnsson was on the 'next line' he could be used with Kadri and possibly Kasperi Kapanen or Connor Brown.

"It's obviously a good team with a lot of good players, so it will be a tough competition," Johnsson said. "But I had a good run in the playoffs and I played well all season long. It gives me more self confidence."

Johnsson recorded 47 points in 75 regular season AHL games a year ago in his age-23 season. Anything in that range at the NHL level would certainly put him in a position for a big pay raise. Maple Leafs forward Zach Hyman, who recorded 40 points on Matthews' wing a season ago, subsequently inked a four-year, $9 million contract that will pay him $2.5 million annually. The salary cap is also expected to go up once again in the summer of 2019, and approach $85 million.