Thursday Links:

  • Chris Johnston: Maple Leafs call up Colton Orr for season finale (Sportsnet)
    This has been a dark, dark season for the Maple Leafs. Even on a micro level there hasn’t been much to celebrate. But the decision to recall Colton Orr from the American Hockey League and give him one more NHL game should be. It is a fitting thank you for a player that embodied professionalism during six seasons with the organization.
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  • Rinat Valiev will join the Marlies with his WHL season in the books:

    The Marlies have oftentimes brought in younger eligible prospects at the end of their junior seasons to practice with the team and make use of their facilities; it’s not clear whether he’ll get into games or not.
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  • Anthony Petrielli: Leafs Notebook – April 9 (MLHS)
    If there was one thing I thought would be money in the bank for the Leafs this season, it would have been goaltending. Currently, they are 25th in the league in team save percentage. Last season stellar goaltending almost got them into the playoffs, and while poor goaltending hasn’t been their undoing this year, a return to form would change things in a hurry for the Leafs moving forward.
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  • Kyle Cicerella: Leafs management optimistic about their up and coming goalies (Kyle The Reporter)
    Toronto currently has three, young goaltenders— Christopher Gibson, Antoine Bibeau and Garret Sparks— who have all had some form of success this season in the minors, which has left Leafs assistant general manager Kyle Dubas optimistic about the club’s future at goal.
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  • Steve Simmons: Maple Leafs boss Brendan Shanahan facing major decisions (Toronto Sun)
    Nonis has three years left on his contract. That won’t factor in Shanahan’s decision. What will factor is this: Who is the best for the job now and going forward? Who can work best with him, with the assistants Shanahan has brought in, with the close-knit staff he is forming in the Leafs front office.

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