Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube told reporters on Thursday that forward Jacob Quillan will enter the lineup for the game against the New York Rangers.
The move comes after the Leafs traded forward Nicolas Roy to the Colorado Avalanche earlier in the day in exchange for a conditional 2027 first and a conditional 2026 fifth. It is the first trade the Leafs have made in over seven months and likely won’t be the last given that they sat out Scott Laughton, Bobby McMann and Oliver Ekman-Larsson on Wednesday for roster-management purposes and
will do so again on Thursday.
“It’s a tight-knit group in there. They won’t be happy about it,” Berube said on how the players are reacting to the Roy trade
via The Hockey News ‘ David Alter. “But, again, we put ourselves in this situation, so this is what happens.”
As Quillan will slot in for the departed Roy, there is a good chance he will find himself on the third line alongside Nick Robertson and Easton Cowan, though Berube has yet to determine the lineup at the time of filing. Depending on how many other moves the Leafs make before the deadline, perhaps Quillan could see himself getting a bigger role down the stretch.
Quillan has played in four games for the Leafs this season, but has not recorded a point. The 24-year-old has been highly productive for the Marlies, registering 12 goals and 33 points in 38 games.
“Q, he’s got great speed. He plays both wing and centre, but he brings speed to the game,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said prior to a November 18 game against the St. Louis Blues. “He’s a competitive kid, but his speed is what drives him. He’s fast, he’s powerful for a young kid. He’s going to bring energy to the game. He’s going to work. He’s going to compete, that’s what he’s going to bring to the game tonight.”
Maple Leafs’ projected lineup vs. Rangers
Matias Maccelli-Auston Matthews-William Nylander
Matthew Knies-John Tavares-Max Domi
Nick Robertson-Jacob Quillan-Easton Cowan
Dakota Joshua-Steven Lorentz-Calle Jarnkrok
Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo
Simon Benoit-Jake McCabe
Troy Stecher-Philippe Myers
Joseph Woll (projected starter)
Anthony Stolarz
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