The focus of the Toronto Maple Leafs is more the prospects on the Toronto Marlies than most of the players currently occupying their NHL roster.
The organization is hoping that players such as Kasperi Kapanen, William Nylander and Brendan Leipsic mature and develop in the American Hockey League and move up to the Leafs next season instead of being rushed before they are ready.
The Toronto Marlies capped a successful weekend, as the pair of 2014 first rounders combined for five points in a 6-4 victory over the Binghamton Senators at Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday.
Kapanen scored a goal and two assists, Nylander added his 10th goal of the season and Leipsic scored the game-winner with 3:54 left in regulation.
Marlies forwards Kasperi Kapanen and William Nylander celebrate a goal in the first period of the Toronto Marlies 6-4 victory over Binghamton on Sunday.
Image courtesy of Christian Bonin at TSGPhoto
The 19-year-old Finn returned to the lineup on Saturday after missing two weeks with a back injury and scored his fifth of the season 53 seconds into the first period on the power play. He also added an assist on Nylander and Arcobello’s goals in the middle frame.
Nylander’s two points increased his AHL scoring total to 23 and lead over Bridgeport’s Joe Whitney and Bud Holloway of the St. Johns Ice Caps to three points.
"(Kapanen) was just electric, moved his feet, played with incredible speed in both directions, towards their net (and) towards our net." Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe said following the game. "He and (Nylander) connected, that was really good to see. Same time Kapanen made Arcobello look pretty good with a backdoor pass."
Leipsic had gone without a point for four games during the Marlies recent road trip, but scored the overtime winner in Rochester on Wednesday, registered two assists in a 5-1 win over the Amerks on Saturday and tallied the game winner with 3:54 remaining in regulation.
"(Leipsic) is skating more, his feet are moving and when he's moving and playing fast, the skill set that he ends up creating holes and puts the defense in tough spots. When he's standing still and trying use his stick handling to make plays, it's a lot harder." Keefe said. "When he's moving, the game opens up for him."
Richard Panik, Mark Arcobello and Stuart Percy also scored for Toronto (who lead the AHL with 74 goals) and Antoine Bibeau made 32 saves for his sixth victory of the season and first win since November 1st.
The win gives Toronto a 14-3-1 record on the season, tops in the North Division and the league overall with 29 points.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost defenseman Petter Granberg on waivers, as the 23-year-old was claimed by the Nashville Predators on Sunday.
Granberg was selected in the 4th round(116th overall) of the 2010 NHL Draft and played eight games for the Maple Leafs and 126 games for the AHL Toronto Marlies since coming over from Sweden in 2013.
The loss of the right handed shooting defenseman represents another player drafted by Brian Burke/Dave Nonis to leave the organization via trade, waiver claim or free agency.
Due to the number of games played between the NHL and AHL, Granberg has to clear waivers to go down to the AHL and play regularly after missing all of training camp and the first two months of the regular season after an Achilles injury last July.
The Predators have a penchant for recognizing defensive talent and are fully stocked on the blueline with Shea Weber, Roman Josi, Ryan Ellis, Seth Jones, Mattias Ekholm and veteran Barret Jackman.
Nashville may have claimed Granberg to keep him in reserve on their 23-man roster while sending either Victor Bartley or Anthony Bitetto to the AHL, as Toronto has done with Frank Corrado since claiming the 22-year-old off waivers from the Vancouver Canucks in early October.
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