Leafs Call Up Unexpected Forward in a Surprise Move After Placing Max Pacioretty on Injured Reserve
With Max Pacioretty out injured yet again, the Maple Leafs made a very important callup, but it wasn't a name that you would typically expect.
Although the Maple Leafs are riding a very solid three game win streak, they are currently dealing with some injuries to some very important players as they head into a crucial part of the season.
John Tavares and Connor Dewar are both injured, Anthony Stolarz is out for a few more weeks, and Calle Jarnkrok might not play this season. It's starting to feel like deja vu from earlier this season where they had several key players all out at the same time.
So it's yet again another unfortunate story coming out of Toronto as forward Max Pacioretty has been placed on injured reserve due to an upper-body injury and the Maple Leafs recalled a surprising breakout player to cover for him.
Jacob Quillan Earns The Callup After Breakout Stretch
The decision to bring up Quillan was not a hard one, espeically given how he's performed as of late. With five goals and 11 points over his last 14, he's not only provided the Marlies with a strong defensive game, but a big offensive spark.
Blessed with immense hockey IQ, Quillan will give Craig Berube a penalty killing demon who is relentless and aggressive everywhere on the ice. He's fast, he's strong, and he doesn't try to do too much with the puck. A natural playmaker, Quillan has a deceptively good shot as well.
He also has some pretty nasty handles too for a bottom line forward, something that could bring a lot of excitement to a typically boring but effective fourth line.
Quillan, a native of Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, is still only 22 years old and is the same age as breakout forward Matthew Knies when he showed he was good enough to hang, and perhaps Quillan will be the next.
Not to mention, Quillan gets to play for his childhood team and that's something much bigger than the game itself, even if it's only for a spell:
So, I think it was a good fit. Just a dream come true. But I'm just looking forward to the next step and hopefully I'll become a Leaf one day."
Well, considering he's practicing with the big club ahead of his [presumed] NHL debut, he's already hit that next step and then some.
An NCAA standout, Quillan scored a total of 38 goals and 55 assists in 116 games for Quinnipiac, and scored the clutch game-winner to bring the school its first ever title.
For the Maple Leafs it's just another game in an 82 game schedule, but for Quillan, even for one night only; it's a dream come true.
