'Nothing Kind Of Seems To Faze Him': Inside Dennis Hildeby's Rise From AHL Rookie to All-Star with the Toronto Marlies

By mid-February, Dennis Hildeby would have travelled twice to California in 2024. Once in the NHL with the Maple Leafs and again as an AHL All-Star.

The 22-year-old rookie was named to the AHL's North Division All-Star squad along with teammate Alex Steeves. It's yet another stepping stone for the young netminder, who's playing his first season of professional hockey in North America.

"A great honour. It's special, and I take big pride in that," he called the recognition.

Hildeby stood tall in front of the lone camera at Coca-Cola Coliseum following practice on Thursday, giving thanks to his Marlies teammates and coaches for helping him reach this milestone. 

One coach in particular — Marlies goalie guru Hannu Toivonen — has assisted in the young rookie's everso-improving season in Toronto. Hildeby joked in a one-on-one interview with The Hockey News earlier this season that the two work so well together because of their "Scandinavian blood."

But when asked on Thursday what the goaltending coach has meant to him, Hildeby eagerly answered, saying: "A lot."  

"He's very focused on detail, very calm in his way of teaching. There's no stress and just taking it day by day. Small improvements, but always improving. It's been good so far."

The 22-year-old spent the last week and a bit up with the Maple Leafs before practicing with the Marlies on Thursday. Although he didn't get his foot onto the ice into NHL action, Hildeby was jubilant about the opportunity to be up there.

"The California Trip, that?" The 22-year-old joked when asked about what the last week-and-a-half has been like.

"It's a nice experience going up there, getting a feel for how it's being on the road with the big boys. Something I will take with me and use as preparation for next time."

When Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe fielded questions in Toronto on Wednesday, he said Hildeby was returned to the Marlies to have him get into a few games in the AHL.

Usually, when a player gets sent somewhere, the organization has a message of what they'd like from that individual. For Hildeby, though, he says no message was given. 

"I mean, I was on the bench a lot up there, so it's just going down here and get a game, try and get my games back," he said. "Take it day by day as usual. I don't think too much in the future."

In moments such as these, where a player is named an All-Star, it's always fascinating to hear what their teammates say about the honor. Hildeby, from afar and up close, is a very calm individual who appears unfazed by almost anything.

Marlies captain Logan Shaw would add that the 22-year-old is very serious about his preparation ahead of taking to the ice.

"He looks after himself in an elite way. You always see him stretching, cold tubs, eating healthy. He's really willing to do what it takes to be prepared and it's obviously paying off for him," Shaw said. 

"He's been our backbone already for the whole year, so I think it's nice to see him and Alex (Steeves) get rewarded. But it's nice to see, for him being a rookie, it's a big step for him."

When pressed to Hildeby where his strength in preparation comes from, the 22-year-old revealed that his parents influence it, adding he's "always been" pretty detailed.

"It's gotten more and more important the older I got," he said. "With speed of professional hockey, it takes more energy and all that, so it's gotten better because of that as well."

Marlies head coach John Gruden would agree, pointing to his calmness as one of the reasons why Hildeby's gotten off to a red-hot start and is now an AHL All-Star.

"I think the great goaltenders always have that demeanor," Gruden said. "He's calm, and I think a little bit of that has to do with his preparation. He prepares the right way and nothing kind of seems to faze him."