Maple Leafs prospect returns to camp after unexplained absence

Landon Sim made his return to training camp after being absent for Toronto's first split-squad preseason games, with absolutely no indication why he was left out.

With a tough training camp filled with several players fighting for that last spot as part of the Maple Leafs lineup, one player vying for his spot next year is Landon Sim. After a solid season with the Toronto Marlies that included a Calder Cup, it looked like he was ready to fight for a spot in the NHL.

But he was left off both the 'A' and 'B' squad for Toronto's first preseason game, with there being no news about why he was left off, or if there was an injury or something holding him back from competing:

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Landom Sim makes his return to Maple Leafs training camp

For someone who was meant to make waves, it was odd not to see him playing however that was rectified pretty quickly on Monday:

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Sim was seen as part of the second group of skaters on Monday, alongside a majority of the Toronto Marlies lineup, though Dakota Joshua was also seen in that group as he recovers from an injury issue.

Sim, 22, recorded three goals in 13 games for the Marlies last year, as well as six points in 18 games with Cincinnati in the ECHL. However he made a return in the postseason, where he recorded three points in 12 games while adding 47 PIM.

A former teammate of Easton Cowan in London, Sim is someone who can add a lot of energy, physicality and offence to the bottom-six, although he doesn't have a direct path to the NHL right now, though you can't overlook his OHL numbers where he had 124 points in 213 games; he can contribute.

Landon Sim could be a fan favourite if the Maple Leafs give him a shot

There's a lot to love though about Sim and what he offers to the team, and as fans saw last year in the playoffs his heart and tenacity are what bring him success. His talent is there, but he is often seen as a puck hound who is constantly badgering opponents.

While he may not be a top or middle-six forward, adding a young spark plug to the bottom-six as part of the new youth movement coming in over the next two years, and his familiarity with Cowan could lead to a partnership down the line at some point.

He's getting his shot in camp now, and there's a real chance for him to outplay some of the other Marlies hopefuls, and his addition as a key part of their Calder Cup run helps him out. While it may be a little bit before Sim wears a Maple Leafs jersey, he'd be a quietly solid addition to the lineup when he finally does.

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