The 27-year-old recorded three goals and 13 points in 63 games with the Marlies last season. Rifai’s physicality, tenacity and ability to defend at the net-front are all qualities that head coach Craig Berube seeks from his defence corps, and he could be an asset for the Maple Leafs’ going forward, with Brandon Carlo out indefinitely.
“He had some games up with us last year and he worked so hard,”Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews said about Rifai during last year’s training camp. “You can just see he wants it and continues to progress, and I’ve been pretty impressed with him and the way he plays hard on both sides of the puck.”
The conditioning loan indicates that Rifai ought to be close to returning, and it’s possible he could be deployed Christmas. Toronto squares off against the Washington Capitals on Thursday, the first game of a three-game road trip, and it’s entirely possible he gets called up during this span.