Photo credit: Bob Frid-Imagn Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs made a small roster adjustment during the roster freeze, as they demoted Marshall Rifai to the Toronto Marlies (AHL).
As the NHL takes its pause for the Winter Olympics, the Toronto Maple Leafs are busy making moves already, albeit one a pretty minor one.
On Friday, the team announced they have demoted defenceman Marshall Rifai to the Toronto Marlies (AHL) as he looks to get some more game reps as the team isn’t on an Olympic break; giving him time to gain more minutes
Surprisingly the move was announced not by the Maple Leafs PR account as per usual, but the Marlies PR account.
Rifai has spent the majority of the season recovering from surgery, and managed to skate in one game for the Maple Leafs this season which was against Vancouver on Jan. 31. He has no points in only three NHL games.
Toronto can use Marshall Rifai especially after an active trade deadline
Heading back to the AHL isn’t necessarily a bad thing for the defender and he very well could find himself called up in the coming weeks with more of an onus on play time especially if Toronto decides to deal a defenceman or two.
His time with the Marlies has been pretty decent and he feels like one of the players who always stick around the minors but never get a shot. In 201 AHL games he has 52 points (9 goals, 43 assists), a plus-32, and 289 PIM.
If the Maple Leafs do decide to trade names like Brandon Carlo, Simon Benoit, and even Oliver Ekman-Larsson, that will open up room for Rifai to slide into the NHL lineup though may have some competition with Henry Thrun and Matt Benning.
But for now, he at least gets a chance to play some more minutes and not worry about a two-week break really not doing too much. Let’s just hope that his stint this time around isn’t marred by an unfortunate suspension.
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The Maple Leafs made a quiet roster move during the Olympic break
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