The @MapleLeafs have recalled Martin Marincin from the @TorontoMarlies (AHL) while Nikita Zaitsev has been placed on the injured reserve list with a lower body injury. #TMLtalk
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Leafs recall Marincin; send Zaitsev to IR
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
By Ryan Hobart
Dec 17, 2017, 12:08 ESTUpdated: Dec 17, 2017, 12:14 EST
This morning, the Maple Leafs placed top-4 defenseman Nikita Zaitsev on Injured Reserve with what they are calling a “lower body injury”. Here is the announcement from LeafsPR:
Martin Marincin has been recalled as his replacement, who has been excellent in the AHL, with 7 points in 18 games and playing a very effective game for Sheldon Keefe and the Marlies.
The injury to Zaitsev will likely see Connor Carrick returned to the lineup in his place, with Marincin on the roster as the 7th defenseman. It’ll be interesting to see if Roman Polak is elevated in the lineup to play with Gardiner, or if Carrick joins a familiar partner from last season, jumping him ahead of Polak in the depth chart. The Saturday morning practice lines indicate it will be Carrick in, not Marincin:
#Leafs lines at practice: Marleau-Kadri-Komarov van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Marner Hyman-Nylander-Brown Martin-Moore-Kapanen Leivo Rielly-Hainsey Gardiner-Carrick Borgman-Polak Marincin
There is some question as to how Zaitsev received the injury, and Kristen Shilton has a good thought on when it might have occured:
Nikita Zaitsev blocked a shot from Niklas Kronwall in the second period on Friday. There was almost seven minutes after that where he didn't take a shift, but then continued to the end of the game. Guessing that has something to do with his lower-body injury.
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