Maple Leafs make one lineup change vs. the Avalanche, and it could unlock a bigger move

Maple Leafs make one lineup change vs. the Avalanche, and it could unlock a bigger move

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Photo credit: Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images

Heading into a must-win game against Colorado, Craig Berube is trying to add some speed and youth in the lineup by inserting Jacob Quillan into Sunday’s game.

As Toronto looks towards a very tough schedule ahead of the Olympic break, they have the Colorado Avalanche; the NHL’s best team, ready to inflict even more damage.

Jacob Quillan earns the call over Calle Jarnkrok as Toronto faces must-win game

So to avoid that, Craig Berube is making a lineup change in order to give the team more of a fighting chance and add some youth and speed into the mix:

Berube has decided that Calle Jarnkrok is going to sit meanwhile Jacob Quillan will get the call as he looks to translate his AHL momentum into an NHL career and has a great chance to do it.

While we don’t know exactly where Quillan will line up, Berube gave some good insight into why he decided to bring in the rookie, admitting it gives him a lot more flexibility:

Just to get some young speed in there, some energy. Gives me some options, too, with Laughton. I like the way Laughts is playing.

He’s a real strong skater, works extremely hard. Those are his traits that – he’s going to be an NHL player here and over the years coming. And it’s his skating and those types of things that are going to make him a good player.

Quillan has been very solid this season for the Marlies and is showing a lot more offensive potential than expected given his knack for being a defensively sound forward.

Toronto needs as much help as they can get right now

In 28 games so far this season, he has 27 points (8 goals, 19 assists) while also playing both the power-play and penalty kill, and he’s not afraid to throw the body or get into the nitty gritty.

If Toronto comes out lifeless again versus Colorado and put themselves in a hole, then it could very well be time to clean house and we could be looking at a much different team come March.

But if he keeps up his consistency and proves to the team he’s worth keeping around the Jacob Quillan will be part of that new lineup in the spring, and Sunday’s the perfect chance to do ti.

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Maple Leafs make one lineup change vs. the Avalanche, and it could unlock a bigger move

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