Photo credit: Chicago Wolves – AHL Images
The Toronto Maple Leafs may need some bodies to cover some holes left behind by trades, and have one candidate who has been ready to get back into the NHL again.
With the Olympics now giving teams a two-week break in NHL action, the onus is now on front office staff to use their time wisely and figure out the next steps for the season be it trades, extensions, and everything in between.
With that though comes the need to add some bodies to the lineup, and while the team will likely get a couple pieces back who they can slot into the lineup; if they are down three or four players then they need to fill those gaps.
Bo Groulx putting in underrated season for Marlies
It’s a good thing then they have one player lighting it up in the AHL who is just waiting for his chance to get back into the NHL spotlight.
He’s added 36 points in 43 games (20 goals, 16 assists) while also adding a plus-seven and playing both the power-play and penalty kill, and has shown a real offensive stride recently for the Marlies:
One thing you’ll notice with Groulx’s goals is a lot of them come at the front of the net, and with him using all of his 6’3, 200-pound frame — he gets things done.
Toronto needs to fill lineup holes so why not?
Drafted 54th overall by the Anaheim Ducks in 2018, he has 65 NHL games under his belt with five points and a minus-nine in only 11:59 TOI.
He’s also one of only 14 NHL players born in France, and one of two in the AHL alongside Pierrick Dube with only Alexandre Texier playing in the NHL (though Shayne Gostisbehere also holds French nationality due to his father).
If the Maple Leafs are going to make deals for a player like Scott Laughton and even potentially Nicolas Roy, then the team is going to need centers with NHL experience to come in. Groulx has more than earned a shot, and it would behoove GM Brad Treliving to give him and Jacob Quillan more of an opportunity.
With the team retooling and still thinking about selling, there is going to be an onus on looking towards the future and making sure the team can still play games. Groulx is 25, has NHL experience not to mention is 26th in the AHL in scoring and can offer flexibility.
Why not give Bo Groulx a shot? He’s more than earned a shot and if the season’s a wash anyways: What’s the worst that can happen?
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Should the Maple Leafs call-up Bo Groulx from the Toronto Marlies?