Nick Robertson, Wayne Simmonds among call-ups for Maple Leafs

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With a surprise deposit in their home reno account, the Maple Leafs moved quickly to expand their dressing room.

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While the loss of Matt Murray for at least a month leaves a hole in goal, it opened up $4,687,500 in salary cap relief, enough to accommodate three more players. After netminder Erik Kallgren was summoned on an emergency basis from the AHL Marlies on Saturday when Murray hurt his adductor muscle in the morning skate, the Leafs recalled forward Nick Robertson and defenceman Victor Mete for Sunday’s practice. Forward Wayne Simmonds, who cleared NHL waivers with Mete, but didn’t report to the Marlies, was also restored.

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“The silver lining (to Murray being out a minimum of four weeks) is we get to add some bodies,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said. “We have people who in a different (cap) circumstance would have made our team. With that comes more competition, more accountability. That’s healthy for our team, keeps guys honest.”

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The Leafs play at home Monday against Arizona and Thursday versus Dallas, but Keefe was wary of leaving town Friday on a five-game Western U.S. road trip, three time zones from help, with just the minimum 20 players.

The Leafs can absorb Robertson at just under $800,000 on his entry-level contract, Mete at $750,000 and Simmonds at $900,000.

Murray’s groin issue, a setback for him and the team given the joint investment in his return to form, does bring a temporary solution to the Simmonds saga.

No one wanted to push a proud 34-year-old to the farm, where he’d never been assigned in his NHL career. So, the Leafs let him work out with a satellite group of players at Scotiabank Arena while looking for a possible trade the Scarborough native would accept.

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“Not the most fun,” was Simmonds’ assessment of the past few days. “But I worked to be ready for when I’m needed.

“At first you’re kind of shocked and stunned (to be waived) but the games don’t stop, life doesn’t stop. You never know what’s going to happen. You look around the league, there’s a bunch of injuries and a lot of teams playing short because of the cap.”

Simmonds provides a bodyguard element the Leafs hadn’t wanted to lose as they broke camp last week, but there was no choice. Some players might have accepted the demotion, even temporarily, but Simmonds is glad to kick such a decision down the road for now.

“In my mind, (staying near the Leafs) was the best route. I want to stay prepared, I did a lot of good stuff with the player development team.”

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Neither did he wish to leave a playoff contender for a rebuild, seeking to win his first Cup before Father Time catches up.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen (with the lineup), but I’m here for these guys. I’ve poured my heart and soul into this team the past two years and this is where I want to be. I’ll do anything in my power to stay in this organization.”

Robertson and Denis Malgin were neck and neck to be the second line left winger with John Tavares and William Nylander. But the Swiss forward’s positive camp led to fear of losing him on waivers, while Robertson could be moved freely back and forth from the farm team.

Keefe hinted Robertson would play sooner rather than later, perhaps Monday after Nylander was excused from practice for a maintenance day. That left Robertson and Malgin on Tavares’ flanks, with Robertson added to the second power-play unit. He had two good weekend games with the Marlies as well.

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“A mental grind for sure,” Robertson said of initial disappointment that his fine camp didn’t earn a spot. “But after a couple of days, I just grasped the situation, told myself just go out and play. I didn’t know anything about being called up until last night.”

Mete gives the Leafs a seventh defenceman.

“Our group has been rolling (two wins after a season -opening loss) and it’s on the guys who’ve been playing to keep their spot,” Keefe said.  

The Coyotes have been a trouble spot on the schedule for the Leafs. Despite their 6.2% chance of making the playoffs this year (MoneyPuck), they beat Toronto twice in this calendar year.

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