Maple Leafs Struggle with Tough Call on Injured, High-Priced Bottom-Six Forward
The Toronto Maple Leafs could make a move to put Calle Jarnkrok on the LTIR until the playoffs, but with the team needing depth now: Should he come back early?
All the headlines recently have centered (no pun intended) around the Toronto Maple Leafs looking to make a trade as they search for their coveted third-line center. Wanting scoring depth and defensive prowess, Brad Treliving has a wealth of options to choose from.
But with those options come risks, whether it be overpayment or the wrong fit, it's tough to definitively say that the move is going to pan out.
Toronto shouldn't risk their future for a chance to win now, but they do have enough pieces to get something done.
One forward who hasn't made an impact this year is Calle Jarnkrok, and after dealing with a groin injury that required surgery, he's working towards a return though that's a big unknown at this time.
But what if he's the answer Brad Treliving is looking for? Should Toronto take a risk on the forward to help them now, or do they play the waiting game until the odds are a bit more in their favor?
Toronto's Struggle With How To Use Calle Jarnkrok
Jarnkrok, originally envisioned to be Toronto's third-line anchor, he suffered an injury in training camp that evolved into a much more vicious groin injury requiring surgery.
No timeline was given for his return, and he currently sits on the LTIR.
Toronto keeping him there is a godsend for their cap situation as his $2.1M comes off the books and Toronto would be a lot worse for wear without it.
But the team also needs someone to help out their very inconsistent third line, and would bring what Craig Berube needs, but it does come with a cost.
Last season he put in a slower season with only 10 goals and 11 assists but in 2022 had a 20-goal outburst to go along with 19 assists and providing great defense, faceoff success, and penalty killing.
He doesn't hit or block many shots, but what he lacks in that physicality he makes up for with intelligence.
Always having a knack for being in position on defense or offense, Jarnkrok never gives up on the play and is often an under the radar performer even if the scoresheet doesn't always show it.
The issue with bringing him back now is he counts against the cap, but if the team waits for the playoffs, there's no cap situation so he could slide into the lineup no problem. It's a tough decision to make considering Toronto has to keep their and Jarnkrok's best interests in mind.
Brad Treliving is coming up on crunch time, and the only hope is he creates a diamond after all of this pressure.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 10 | 1542 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Struggle with Tough Call on Injured, High-Priced Bottom-Six Forward Should Calle Jarnkrok be activated off the LTIR or should Toronto wait until the playoffs? | ||
| Do it now! | 398 | 25.8 % |
| Wait until the playoffs! | 1144 | 74.2 % |
| List of polls | ||
