Toronto Maple Leafs laying groundwork for Calle Rosen’s promotion

The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to bolster their defence ahead of the playoffs by promoting Calle Rosen after this weekend.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are planning to call up defenceman Calle Rosen once he plays another game with the Toronto Marlies this upcoming weekend, head coach Mike Babcock told the media on Monday.

Rosen made his return to the lineup for the Toronto Marlies Sunday night in Rochester. He had been out since Feb. 22 with a foot injury. He finished the game with an assist and five shots.

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The Växjö, Sweden native signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Maple Leafs in the summer of 2017 and recently received an extension.

He started his first season in North America in the NHL but only played four games, notching one helper in his short tenure with the Leafs. Rosen was sent down to the Marlies for more seasoning as he was clearly not ready to play in the NHL.

After heading down to the AHL, he played 62 games, finishing the regular season with four goals and 22 points. For a defenceman that was dubbed to have solid offensive tools, the output was a little underwhelming, especially in the minors. However, he came to life in the playoffs posting 11 points in 16 postseason games.

Rosen saved his best for last, as he managed six points in seven games in the Calder Cup Final against the Texas Stars. His crowning performance of that series came in Game 5, when he nabbed a pair of goals.

This season, before his injury, Rosen was making a case to win the Eddie Shore Award as the AHL’s best defenceman. The only other Marlie to receive the honour was T.J. Brennan, who won twice in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Rosen currently has seven goals and 45 points in 53 games, good for fifth amongst AHL defencemen.

While they wait for Rosen, the Leafs will have to make do with what’s currently available. They did, however, get some more good news, as Travis Dermott was cleared for contact and Jake Gardiner was skating after practice on Monday.

Babcock has been rotating Martin Marincin, Igor Ozhiganov and Justin Holl in the lineup so Rosen’s impending arrival would give the Leafs a more suitable option on the third pairing until Dermott and Gardiner return.

Fans have also been speculating on who Rosen will play with on the Leafs, with the majority assuming Travis Dermott but that’s still left to be determined.

Regardless of his position in the lineup, the 25-year-old already has the majority of people excited for his arrival.

What do you think of the roster move? Who would you like to see Rosen paired with? And how do you believe he’ll fare in the NHL? Let us know in the comments below!