Toronto Maple Leafs rookie team forward Tyler Bozak slams Ottawa Senators defender Geoff Kinrade in to the boards during first period NHL rookie tournament action in Kitchener, Ont., on Thursday, Sept. 10, 2009.David Bebee/The Canadian Press
With his team mired in a 3-8-2 skid and falling further behind the pack, Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson strongly hinted at Monday's practice that the team would recall rookie Tyler Bozak from the minors in time for Tuesday's game against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Wilson also suggested Bozak, a 23-year-old centre in his first pro season after two years with the University of Denver, would play on the Leafs' top line alongside struggling sniper Phil Kessel.
"Maybe we're bringing a guy in who's not here today," Wilson said, declining to name the mystery skater. "I'm not saying that [it's Bozak] until it's announced."
The team made it official in the afternoon.
After a difficult start with the Toronto Marlies - including a bout of suspected swine flu that led to him losing roughly 12 pounds earlier in the season - Bozak has earned compliments from his coaches in the AHL of late.
Since returning to the lineup on Dec. 12, he has two goals and 10 points in 15 games for the Marlies, who sit in last place in the Western Conference. On the season, he has four goals and 20 points in 32 games in the minors and one assist in one game with the Leafs.
Bozak is one of three undrafted players Leafs GM Brian Burke signed in the off-season - the others being netminder Jonas Gustavsson and minor-leaguer Christian Hanson.
To make room for Bozak, Wilson said some of the Leafs' injured players (i.e. Mikhail Grabovski, Mike Komisarek and Wayne Primeau) will be placed on injured reserve.
"It hasn't been an ideal year for him but hopefully he can take advantage whenever we call him up," Wilson said of Bozak. "We'll give him an opportunity to show us what he can do. He's not a fourth-line guy so if or when we do bring him up, we'll give him quality ice time and play him with good players. That's what he has to do."
Rookie defenceman Carl Gunnarsson, meanwhile, will likely rejoin the Leafs this week after missing 21 games with an elbow injury, an addition that will mean either Jeff Finger or Garnet Exelby sits as a healthy scratch.
"Maybe [Gunnarsson]will play tomorrow night, but I don't think so," Wilson said. "I'm expecting him to be ready by Thursday [against the Philadelphia Flyers]
"He's very mobile, he really impresses - he was getting the pucks first. He's a good penalty killer. There's a lot of little things in his game. He's not a sensational player in the sense that he's going to go end-to-end but he makes good first passes and defends very well. Once he's ready, we'll get him in there."