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Toronto Maple Leafs Notes: Fehr’s Debut on Hold, Iginla Will Play Next to Kopitar

By Chris Okrainetz

Nov 21, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Eric Fehr (16) skates with the puck against the New York Rangers during the second period at the PPG Paints Arena. The Rangers won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 21, 2016; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Eric Fehr (16) skates with the puck against the New York Rangers during the second period at the PPG Paints Arena. The Rangers won 5-2. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs will have to wait for Eric Fehr to make his debut, while Jarome Iginla will suit up for the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday night.

After arriving in Los Angeles late Wednesday night, Eric Fehr was able to observe morning skate, but his Toronto Maple Leafs debut will have to wait until Friday night against the Anaheim Ducks. Hopefully by then he will be more up to speed with the Leafs’ system and could potentially draw into the lineup for Nikita Soshnikov.

The Leafs do have an influx of bottom six wingers now, so it’s tough to say exactly when Fehr will debut, but based on Mike Babcock’s praise of Fehr, I think he will likely bump Soshnikov to the press box to join Ben Smith and Josh Leivo at some point.

Iginla Makes Kings Debut

The Kings will debut a new look on Thursday after trading forward Dwight King to the Montreal Canadiens, and acquiring veteran winger Jarome Iginla, who reunites with Darryl Sutter, from the Colorado Avalanche.

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Based on morning skate, it looks like Iginla will skate on Anze Kopitar‘s line with Marian Gaborik. The Kings have been searching for a winger to play alongside Kopitar and it looks like Iginla will get a chance to play with the Kings’ dynamic centre. I’d expect this line to play at a methodical pace and try to control and cycle the puck, which is when the Kings are at their best.

Playoff Implications

Standings wise, this is a big game for both teams, although, given how tight the playoff race is, I feel like I could say that about every Leafs game going forward. However, the Kings currently sit one point out of the last Wild Card spot in the West and are eight points out of third place in the Pacific Division.

As for the Leafs, they enter Thursday’s contest with 69 points and are in possession of the second Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference. However, considering only nine points separates the second Wild Card spot from last place, I’d say every team in the East is nipping at the Leafs’ heels.

Next: Filppula Reportedly Rejected Trade to Leafs

How do you think the Toronto Maple Leafs will do against the Kings? Are you happy with their acquisition of Eric Fehr? Let us know in the comments below.

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