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The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled goalie Antoine Bibeau, centers Frederik Gauthier and Byron Froese from the Toronto Marlies on Tuesday, as the club prepares for a swing through Florida to end 2016.
The trio were demoted prior to the Christmas break and played in a 2-1 Marlies loss to St. John’s at Ricoh Coliseum on Monday, likely to get Bibeau in a game after not playing for over a week. Bibeau made only 13 saves in the loss to the Ice Caps.
Head coach Mike Babcock indicated following practice at the MasterCard Center in Etobicoke, ON on Tuesday that Bibeau and Frederik Andersen will split duties in the back-to-back games against the Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning this week.
Froese and Gauthier were recalled due to injuries to centers Ben Smith and Tyler Bozak and were likely demoted to save a few dollars on the salary cap, as both forwards and Bibeau are on two-way contracts.
Smith had hand surgery last week and is expected to be out until late January, but Bozak may be ready to return when the Leafs take on the Florida Panthers on Wednesday.
“I’m starting to feel better each day, so just take it day-by-day and hopefully I can get in there sooner than later.… Bozak said after Tuesday’s practice at MasterCard Center. “Everything felt pretty good, maybe just a little (winded), but that comes back pretty quick once you get into the games.…
Jhonas Enroth to this point has not been demoted, but the Leafs are currently at 24 players and have to reduce their roster to get to the 23-man roster limit. Froese and Gauthier were both recalled in case Bozak is unable to play on Wednesday or suffers a recurrence of his lower body injury during the short trip.
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TSN’s Bob McKenzie reported on TSN Radio’s Leafs Lunch that the Maple Leafs may sign forward Jeremy Bracco early in the New Year.
The 19-year-old scored a power play goal in Team USA’s 6-1 victory over Latvia on Monday and is fifth in OHL scoring with 51 points.
“(Bracco) is not a big player, he’s not a physically overwhelming player, but he’s got elite playmaking and passing ability.… McKenzie said.
Toronto does not face a signing deadline with Bracco as many teams have with unsigned 2015 draft picks, since the Long Island native started last season in the NCAA with Boston College, but left after just five games for the OHL’s Kitchener Rangers.
The Leafs retain Bracco’s rights for the full four years that they would had he remained in the NCAA, but that fact will be moot if they sign him early next year.
That unusual exception in the CBA would also pertain to 2014 draft pick JJ Piccinich, who played one year at Boston U. before joining the OHL’s London Knights.
Toronto does however face a June deadline to sign 2015 selections Martins Dzierkals, Stephen Desrochers and Nikita Korostelev.
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