Kasperi Kapanen called up, Frederik Gauthier sent down to the AHL

The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled Kasperi Kapanen from the Marlies and loaned Frederik Gauthier to the AHL in response.

Kapanen has 22 points in 27 games in the minors thus far this season with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, but has proved himself to have the skills necessary to perform at the NHL level.

On the other hand, Gauthier may well be running out of time to make a career of the NHL. With 1 goal in 9 games and an abysmal 38.2 CF%, the Goat has yet to show any signs of being able to contribute consistently in a league that’s rapidly moving away from the big, slow centre that he appears to be.

It’s hard to read too much into any one game of hockey, but last night had people clamoring for change after the 4th line was dominated at home by the Avs bottom 6 and a Colorado PK that managed to make an elite Leafs PK look pretty bad through the use of speed, something Kapanen has plenty of.

In practice today, Kapanen was already slotted into a new-look fourth line, while Matt Martin and Josh Leivo were left on the sideline.

What say you about the move?