Maple Leafs recall former first round pick ahead of Wild game

The Toronto Maple Leafs recalled former first-round pick Brendan Brisson as lineup insurance as they look ahead to a must-win game against the Minnesota Wild.

There is a lot riding on the Maple Leafs' game on Thursday night. Not only do they need to just get a win and out of their miserable losing streak, but they need to at least prove to their fans that things aren't hopeless this year - or a repeat of 2025-26's disastrous season.

They are going to be without Chris Tanev for yet another load management rest day, and Colton Sissons is week-to-week on the IR, so the team is down even more reinforcements ahead of their game against the Wild.

Maple Leafs recall Brisson as injuries continue to mount

So with the team needing some extra help up front with Sissons out, they added some serious firepower and brought in one of the AHL's top scorers - Brendan Brisson.

-

Brisson, 25, is a former first-round pick of the Vegas Golden Knights (29th overall) in 2020 but hasn't had too much experience at the NHL level. In 27 career games he has two goals and nine points but it's in the AHL where he's been tearing it up.

In 14 games, Brisson has 17 points including eight goals, and sits sixth in the AHL in scoring. He's been lights out since the season started, and even put up a hat trick against the Hamilton Hammers on Oct. 11.

He signed a one-year, $850,000 deal on Sept. 4 as part of the team's plan to add some insurance and youth to the organization.

Brisson can add much needed offensive help to a lifeless bottom-six

Now here's the fun part of adding Brisson to the lineup and it involves the third line - Gavin McKenna.

Brisson and McKenna together have a chance to do some serious damage if they can gel, and McKenna getting someone who can actually score and be and offensive weapon will only benefit him.

Nick Paul is able to cover defensively (though McKenna needs to contribute) and Brisson is a solid enough defender and has an active stick that's constantly trying to disrupt and turn defense into offense.

He also gives McKenna the first real offensive player on the bottom-six, where he's been stapled recently.

Vinni Lettieri wasn't the answer, and Sissons is a defensive specialist who rarely scores. Brisson offers a new dimension on that line we haven't seen yet, and it could prove fruitful.

Is it a complete solution to fix McKenna and the rest of the Maple Leafs lineup? No, but at this point he offers them their best call-up option and he's certainly earned another shot to prove himself in the NHL.

Also read on Hockey Patrol :
Tkachuk Brothers' tone deaf Veteran's day tribute infuriates fans