The Toronto Maple Leafs have players on the verge of returning from long stints on the injured list and made some room on their roster Wednesday by placing forward Ben Smith on waivers.
The 27-year-old Smith has two goals and four assists in 16 games since being acquired from San Jose as part of the James Reimer deal on February 27th.
Leafs TV’s Paul Hendrick reports that forwards Byron Froese, Leo Komarov and Peter Holland could return in the near future, which would necessitate sending callups made on an emergency basis from the Toronto Marlies, such as Connor Brown, who had three assists in a 5-2 victory over the Florida Panthers on Tuesday.
Nikita Soshnikov may also returning from an upper body injury suffered against Buffalo on March 19th.
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Minnesota-Duluth goalie Kasimir Kaskisuo and forward Tony Cameranesi have been signed to amateur tryout contracts by the Toronto Marlies.
The 22-year-old Kaskisuo signed to a two-year entry level deal effective next season with the Leafs on Monday after posting a 19-15-5 record, .923 save percentage and 1.92 GAA in 39 games for the Bulldogs this season.
The 22-year-old Cameranesi was selected in the 5th round of the 2011 NHL Draft by Toronto and scored 10 goals and 26 assists in 36 games in his senior season.
The Leafs have yet to sign Cameranesi to an entry-level contract, but the amateur tryout contract is indicative that an agreement being close.
The Columbus Blue Jackets signed Zach Werenski to an ATO earlier this week to assign the defenseman to their AHL affiliate after the 2015 first rounder decided to leave the University of Michigan. Werenski signed a three-year entry level deal with the Jackets the next day.
Toronto has until August 15th to sign Cameranesi to a contract or he becomes an unrestricted free agent and can sign with another NHL team.
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Listen to myself and CTV's Norman James with the latest "Convo" on the Maple Leafs:
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