NHL News: Leafs recall Matt Frattin, Blue Jackets claim Darryl Boyce

By Bob Mitchell, TheStar.com

Rookie Matt Frattin is back for his third stint with the Maple Leafs this season.

But will Saturday’s game against the Washington Capitals be his last in a blue and white uniform or is the former North Dakota sniper back with the big club to help get Toronto into the playoffs?

Frattin, 24, has been playing exceptionally well with the Marlies since being sent down on Jan. 5.

But his name has also surfaced as being one of the young players other teams have been asking about should Leafs GM Brian Burke pull the trigger on a big trade before 3 p.m. on Monday. He could be showcased for such a deal.

With the Marlies, Frattin has scored 12 goals and four assists in 21 games. The 6-foot, 200-pound winger from Edmonton had five goals and five assists in 37 games with the Leafs.

Meanwhile, the Leafs lost Darryl Boyce. The hard-working and always personable penalty killer from P.E.I was claimed off waivers on Saturday by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

In many games this season, Frattin had plenty of chances to score. It seemed only a matter of time before the strong skating forward would start cashing in his chances. But with the Leafs injured players returning, Frattin was the odd man out mostly because Toronto didn’t have to put him on waivers.

He’ll likely play on the Leafs’ third line against the Caps Saturday with Tim Connolly and either Matthew Lombardi or Joey Crabb. One of them will be a healthy scratch against the Caps because coach Ron Wilson said earlier on Saturday that they wouldn’t be calling up anybody from the Marlies if they didn’t intend to play him.

Boyce, 27, had a goal and an assist in 17 games this season with the Leafs. He was a healthy scratch nine times but until being waived had been a solid member of Leafs fourth line with David Steckel and Mike Brown. He was recalled from the Marlies on Dec. 20. He had four goals and six assists in 20 games with Toronto’s AHL affiliate.

Columbus has the worst penalty killing in the league and Boyce should help them in that department going forward and into next season.

Jay Rosehill, 26, cleared waivers on Saturday and reported to the Marlies. A healthy scratch for 45 games, Rosehill had zero points in 16 games with Toronto.

2011-2012 Maple Leafs opening night 23-man roster

With the first game of the new NHL season just days away, it;s time for the Leafs to get down to 23 men from the current 29. So let's take 3 right off the top. Kadri and Lombardi will start the season on the injured list, and Scrivens will be given the starting job with the Marlies.

Now we have 2 goalies in (Reimer / Gustavsson), plus 24 skaters competing for 21 skating jobs. Looking at the remainder, let's examine who is locked-in and who may be on the bubble.

Stars

Phaneuf
Kessel
Schenn
MacArthur
Grabovski
Kulemin
Liles
Armstrong


Of these MacArthur is out the first two games on suspension, but will be back on Grabovski's top line after that. So let's count these 8 as in, and move to the next tier.

Lupul
Aulie
Bozak
Boyce
Brown
Komisarek
Orr
Frattin
Connolly

The next question is, with the 5 strong defencemen named above (Phaneuf, Schenn, Liles, Aulie, Komisarek), do we go with 7 or 8 on D. I believe we go with 8, dressing 7 and keeping one in a suit. Which would mean these 3 also make the team:

Gardiner
Franson
Gunnarsson


Considering the injuries and suspension of front, going with eight D makes even more sense. So now we have 2 goalies and 8 D, plus 12 of 13 forward positions filled. Here's where things get tough, as there are 3 players battling for the final forward position:

Jay Rosehill
Joey Crabb
Philippe Dupuis

If Connolly or Bozak isn't sharp and ready for opening night, look for Dupuis to get in, otherwise the Marlies are likely to get an extra boost for the early season, picking up both him and Rosehill, with Crabb being the 13th Leafs forward.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the injury list have a couple more names added to it, as that buys time, and increases depth on the practice roster.

Soon we shall see...

Connolly a smart sign for Leafs

2 year deal for battered vet shows faith in Colborne

Tim Connolly is a potential 65-75 point scorer as a first line centre, having exceeded 40 points each of the last 4 seasons playing lesser roles, including penalty killing. Paired with Kessel and possibly Lupul, Connolly will be given a chance to put some points on the board with Toronto.

The 2 year deal for a 30-year old with serious concussions in his past makes perfect sense. Longer term deals have to be reserved for players closer to the age of Schenn, Kessel, Reimer and Phaneuf. By acquiring him via free agency rather than trade, the health-related risks to the move are severely diminished. The move tells Joe Colborne to be ready, as TC hasn't played a full season in a while.

With Nonis landing Connolly, the icing on the cake for Leafs Nation would be Burkie and Schenn coming home from Afghanistan with terms agreed upon, allowing the Buds GM more time to focus on looking for another Top 6 winger.

Message to Leafs' Burke: Richards, Upshall, Ward

I have a feeling Brad Richards is going to head back to Tampa to try for an encore Cup, which means Scottie Upshall and Joel Ward may be Brian Burke's free agent signings for the Maple Leafs. Look for Burkie to also swing a trade for one more forward, possibly someone overpaid with a year or two to go on their contract.

Komisarek and Gustavvsson for Semin, anyone?