Friedman: Bracco, Timashov and Harpur Have Asked Leafs Management to “See What’s Out There”

For Bracco and Harpur, this is relatively understandable.

Bracco finished second in the entire AHL last season in points and has established himself as arguably the most gifted passer in the Leafs organization. He had one of the most prolific offensive seasons for a 22-year-old in AHL history in 2018-19 and became a dominant force on a terrific power play. And yet, as the Maple Leafs have continued to experience horrific injury luck this season, Bracco’s name has been passed over for a promotion time and time again — save for a brief emergency recall that ultimately only netted him a day or so of NHL wages.

If the Leafs aren’t keen on using his services, it’s not a shock that the 23-year-old former second-round pick would want a fresh start somewhere else.

Harpur, on the other hand, played in the NHL for the entirety of last season, logging 51 games with the Ottawa Senators. This year, a dismal preseason has left him stuck in the AHL. Him wanting to regain his status at hockey’s highest level is not a shock.

Timashov’s sort-of-but-not-really trade request is the most peculiar of all, however.

The 23-year-old was a surprise survivor of the Leafs’ final round of cuts out of training camp this year and has played in 28 of the team’s 40 games thus far. The fact that he’s even in the NHL at all, frankly, is something the vast, vast majority of fans and media alike did not see coming. Not to mention, Timashov has played pretty well. He’s seemingly the ideal fourth-line checking winger in a Sheldon Keefe system, and sits with a decent eight points — given his scant ice time.