Fansided

5 Toronto Maple Leafs who need to step up in Mitch Marner’s place

By Mary Clarke

TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 07: Mitch Marner #16 and John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs take the ice against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period at the Scotiabank Arena on November 7, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - NOVEMBER 07: Mitch Marner #16 and John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs take the ice against the Vegas Golden Knights during the second period at the Scotiabank Arena on November 7, 2019 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 22: Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nic Petan (61) in warm up before a game between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 22, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – OCTOBER 22: Toronto Maple Leafs winger Nic Petan (61) in warm up before a game between the Boston Bruins and the Toronto Maple Leafs on October 22, 2019, at TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. Nic Petan, C

Canadian journeyman Nic Petan is set to get another crack at the Maple Leafs’ lineup in Marner’s absence, as the 24-year-old forward was recalled by Toronto and played in Wednesday night’s game. Petan has been in and out of the Maple Leafs’ lineup, and back and forth from the minors a handful of times this season.

His latest recall will no doubt be a chance for Petan to prove himself as an NHL player. This season, Petan has one point in six NHL games on the fourth line for the Maple Leafs. In the AHL, however, Petan has seven points in three games with the Toronto Marlies and has 96 points in 111 total AHL games played.

The back-and-forth carousel on Petan likely hasn’t done the forward many favors, but he may be here to stay in the NHL thanks to Marner’s injury. Petan is confidant in his abilities as a hockey player, and made a bold statement after his recent trip down to the AHL that he belongs in the NHL full-time.

Petan will have the chance to prove that in the coming weeks, and make a difference on the Maple Leafs while he’s at it.

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