The Maple Leafs recalled defenseman Stuart Percy from the AHL Toronto Marlies Thursday afternoon. The 21- year-old blueliner practiced but did not play with the Marlies since being demoted on Sunday, as were not in action until this Saturday, when they face the Rochester Americans at Ricoh Coliseum.
Percy had been one of the better defensemen on the club through seven games, registering three assists. It was assumed that his demotion was more because he could be sent down without clearing waivers, which allowed the Leafs to save money on the salary cap.
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Looking back at the Maple Leafs last season, their downfall was not solely the 2-12 collapse in the final month, the injury to Jonathan Bernier or the overuse of core players throughout the season. An ancillary reason for their downfall was their inability to win games against outmatched or severely hampered foes.
Toronto lost twice in November to the struggling Buffalo Sabres at First Niagara Center shortly after the club had fired GM Darcy Regier and head coach Ron Rolston. They also lost a pair of critical games late in the season to an injury-riddled Detroit Red Wings club, who had half of the Calder Cup winning Grand Rapids Griffins squad in their lineup.
With the Leafs struggling at the start the season and taking into consideration that they face a tough opponent in the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, Friday’s contest against the short-handed Columbus Blue Jackets has to be put in the “must-win” category.
The Blue Jackets are 4-5-0 through nine games, receiving good offensive performances out of top center Ryan Johansen(leading the club with five goals and seven assists) and ex-Flyer Scott Hartnell(10 points), but are playing without top forwards Boone Jenner, Brandon Dubinsky and Nathan Horton.
The injury bug has bitten Columbus once again, with forwards Nick Foligno and Matt Calvert out day-to-day and losing starting goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky(broken finger), defenseman James Wisniewski(broken finger), forward Mark Letestu(groin) and forward Artem Anisimov(concussion) this week.
The club recalled forwards Sean Collins, Alexander Wennberg and Brian Gibbons from the AHL’s Springfield Falcons and will likely start backup Curtis McElhinney in goal.
Columbus has traditionally played Toronto tough throughout the years and dominated in all three games last season, going 3-0 and outscoring the Blue and White 13-3. The Leafs were able to step up their play against a tired Buffalo Sabres club in a 4-0 victory on Tuesday and must repeat that heightened effort against a wounded Blue Jackets club, since the prospect of earning points against one of the Western Conference’s top teams will be extremely difficult.
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Rumors regarding the Maple Leafs interest in Carolina center Eric Staal will continue throughout the season, but are likely not realistic until later in the year, with the Hurricanes possibly in the race to get a top pick in the 2015 NHL Draft to select either Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel.
Carolina has been a budget team under owner Peter Karmanos and may look to divest themselves of Staal(who turned 30 Wednesday), who makes $8.25 Million and is under contract through the 2015-16 season.
The Canes captain holds all the cards in the situation, as he would have to agree to waive his no-trade clause. Staal stated this week that he has no desire to leave Carolina, but things could change if ownership or GM Ron Francis indicates a new organizational direction towards a complete rebuild.
Staal would be the top line center that Toronto has been missing since the departure of Mats Sundin and may be an attractive commodity to the new analytically attuned Leafs.
According to ESPN’s
Rob Vollman, the second overall pick in 2003 is one of Carolina's better puck possession players and has the size and ability to play an effective defensive game, as well as being a top scorer.
The question is whether Staal at 30 would be worth the exorbitant price in young prospects/players and/or draft picks to obtain and the salary cap room that it would take to extend the center past the final year of his deal.
TSN’s Darren Dreger indicated earlier in the month that a potential deal for Staal could include center Nazem Kadri or Tyler Bozak, defenseman Jake Gardiner and a 1st round draft pick.
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