Exploring the implications of Calle Jarnkrok’s return to the Maple Leafs’ lineup

Exploring the implications of Calle Jarnkrok’s return to the Maple Leafs’ lineup

In case you missed it in the chaos of yesterday’s Denis Malgin for Dryden Hunt blockbuster, Toronto Maple Leafs winger Calle Jarnkrok returned to practice on Monday morning.

Calle Jarnkrok returns to practice today for the Leafs. He takes the place of the traded Denis Malgin alongside John Tavares and Mitch Marner.
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) December 19, 2022

In 25 games prior to his injury, Jarnkrok provided five goals and four assists for nine points while averaging just over 13 minutes per night. With his return, what are the implications for the rest of the lineup?
It appears that Jarnkrok will slot back in on the left wing of Tavares and Marner on the second line for his return against Tampa on Tuesday night. This is a line that has been relatively successful thus far this season, carrying a 57.7% expected goal share despite only achieving an actual goal share of 50% through four games. Further, it seems that he will appear on the second power-play unit.
One might conclude that Jarnkrok’s return in combination with Denis Malgin’s limited effectiveness in his absence led directly to the trade this morning. If management now cannot see a spot in the lineup for Malgin, it follows that they might look to find him a new opportunity in the league. They have made such moves for similar …

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Author: Colin Hunter / The Leafs Nation

Finding a fit on the Leafs for Denis Malgin

Finding a fit on the Leafs for Denis Malgin

The Leafs have kept Denis Malgin out of the lineup for the past three games. This is somewhat of an interesting development given that Calle Jarnkrok has been out of the lineup and the path back into the Leafs lineup should have been an easy one for Malgin. Instead, the Leafs have opted to bring in Wayne Simmonds or to give Semyon Der-Arguchintsev his NHL debut, while continuing to try Nick Robertson as much as possible as well. Malgin is establishing himself as the odd man out, and it’s not without reason.
Malgin’s start to the season was strong. He was a high-energy presence in the bottom six and his 2 goals and 2 assists through the first 11 games of the season seemed like a reasonable bottom-six production, the 3 points in his first 7 games looked even better, but when you look now to no production in 7 games and 1 assist in 11 games that is not going to cut it as an undersized forward who should primarily bring some offensive energy to the defense-first group.

What has been interesting is that Malgin has been getting chances and perhaps it is with the increasing ice time that Malgin is strug …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

Unpopular Opinion: Give Denis Malgin a chance

The mention of Denis Malgin has already sent a lot of you to a bad place. Mason Marchment’s stat line is now playing over and over in your head and you are reflecting on how a 6’4 power forward the Leafs could have desperately used was dealt for a 5’9 winger who put up zero points in eight games for the Leafs before playing the next two seasons in Switzerland. The trade, one that seemed designed to give Mason Marchment an opportunity somewhere is understandably condemned. That said, Denis Malgin was prematurely condemned and it’s worth trying to see what can still be taken away from that trade.
The thing is, Denis Malgin has had two very productive seasons in the Swiss league. Yes, I am aware I just said the Swiss league, but being at the top of a European league is better than nothing. It’s also encouraging that he had 12 points in games at the World Hockey Championship. He can at least put up numbers against hungover NHLers. In short (pun not intended) Malgin has a bit of pro …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation