Young Leafs forward now just two games away from losing waiver exempt status

On the season he has laced up his skates 9 times but the first game was on an emergency loan, meaning tomorrow's game against the Washington Capitals and Wednesday's game against the Boston Bruins would become a transaction conundrum for the Maple Leafs' brass.

With Auston Matthews out of the lineup for the next 3 weeks, Anderson has a chance to enter the lineup and impress those evaluating him. He has 2 goals and 3 points in 9 games, including a goal last night against the Ottawa Senators and an assist the game before against the New York Rangers.

The 24 year old has only been able to play in 15 games over the last 3 seasons for the Maple Leafs so it remains to be seen if he's going to viewed as a long term piece, let alone during the next few weeks without Matthews. Becoming waiver eligible changes a lot but his gritty style of play might be the one thing that keeps him in the lineup.

The most likely outcome here is that Anderson either remains with the team for the rest of the season as an extra forward or he'll be sent back to the Marlies before he loses his temporary waiver exemption.