In a bit of surprise news, Toronto Marlies forward Pavel Gogolev has been loaned to the Newfoundland Growlers.

The news was first confirmed by the official AHL Transactions page. Gogolev, 22, signed a three year ELC with the Leafs on July 29, 2021, so this move makes him the only current Growler on an NHL contract.

Gogolev was not drafted by any NHL team, but he came onto the Leafs radar after putting up 96 points (45 goals) in 63 games with the OHL’s Guelph Storm during the 2019-2020 season.

After joining the Marlies during the 2020-21 season, Gogolev scored 12 points (6 goals) in 13 games playing in a top-six/middle-six role. This season, however, he has been deployed almost exclusively on the fourth line and has struggled, scoring just 8 points in 30 games. The move to the ECHL is likely to see him gain a much higher role with more ice-time, which will be more beneficial to his development than being underutilized in the AHL.

The move was speculated yesterday, Mar. 3, when Gogolev did not join the rest of the Marlies on the ice at practice. Sources say that Gogolev will likely play tonight in the Growlers’ first of three home games this weekend against the Adirondack Thunder. In a corresponding move, the Marlies recalled Growlers’ leading scorer Zach O’Brien, who must play at least four more AHL games to qualify for the Kelly Cup Playoffs in accordance with the ECHL’s veteran status rule.