Insider Trading: Pelley having one-on-one meetings with Leafs staff
TSN’s Hockey Insiders have the latest on the Leafs and MLSE’s president and CEO, an update on Sens defenceman Thomas Chabot, young stars set to reset the market with new contracts and Rick Bowness and Lindy Ruff on expiring deals.
TSNTSN.ca Staff

The Leafs have made no news other than the small tidbit above, so to fill in here today, a few things to understand:

The recalls of players from the AHL are public, you can just look at the AHL transactions page for them. But they don't differentiate between regular and emergency recalls. Sometimes the Leafs announce when recalls are of the emergency type – which means there were less than 12/6/2 players healthy at the time of the recall.

Dennis Hildeby came up to the Leafs for a day – all days are 5 pm to 5 pm – when Anthony Stolarz was hurt in case he was not going to be available the next day. It turned out he was, but a lot of things happen with rosters "in case" and there is no prize for guessing right about whether the in case becomes necessary, but there is a penalty for guessing wrong and choosing not to bother.

For any road trip they will try to carry extras, and they have lots of cap space, so it's not a problem. However, they don't have a lot of recalls.

Easton Cowan and Jacob Quillan were papered down and up on deadline day, so that's two recalls. Then there's Bo Groulx, and I think all three of those are regulars, because even though they subtracted forwards and Auston Matthews was hurt, they never went below 12. Add Michael Pezzetta and that's four. They also recalled Henry Thrun for a day, but that was also an emergency recall.

So, I think they have one left of the now allowed five recalls. You can only have four on the team at any one time, though, so they would have to send someone down to recall someone different.

And that is why Calle Järnkrok is going to play some games. And, honestly, there is no winger sadly languishing in the AHL who desperately needs 10 minutes a night in the NHL and can PK with something like competence, so he is not blocking anyone.

Speaking of the Marlies, their magic number is two, with nine games remaining, so they don't seem to be in any danger of not making the playoffs. They play in Rochester tonight, so they could clinch with a win.

In the OHL, Tyler Hopkins' team, the Guelph Storm, was shutout in their first playoff game. Harry Nansi's team, the Owen Sound Attack, were obliterated 8-1 in a penalty-fuelled affair that involved some serious infractions and some fighting.

Guelph Storm blanked in playoff opener

Flint Firebirds explode on offence, blow out Owen Sound in Game 1
Owen Sound will have to wait at least two more days before getting another crack at ending the team’s years-long playoff losing streak.
Owen Sound Sun TimesGreg Cowan

Ben Danford and the Brantford Bulldogs play tonight.

I post this not just because it's funny when Ottawa loses, but...

Senators fall to Penguins after Kindel scores shootout winner
Ben Kindel scored the shootout winner to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-3 win over the Ottawa Senators Thursday night.
Sportsnet.caCanadian Press

I noticed this the other day. This Ben Kindel, who has been noticeable in Leafs games vs the Penguins, was drafted 11th overall last summer. The only player taken before him in the draft with more NHL games played is Matthew Schaefer. In fact, they are the only two players drafted last year who are regulars in the NHL with Michael Misa a distant third in games played.

You'll be shocked to hear he's 5'11" and 180 lbs.

The Sceptres are finally back at it tonight, more on that later.

That's all you get for the FTB. There's a special post out later today with a little early recognition of a certain anniversary.

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