Reporter identifies AHL defenseman as a dark horse who may actually play NHL games this season
While the Maple Leafs' roster looks more or less set ahead of training camp, there will be a few dark horses to watch out for, including defeseman Marshall Rifai.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were busy this off-season in regards to bolstering their back-end by acquiring Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson and extending Timothy Liljegren. Their top-6 defensemen appear to be set heading into training camp, however, the pre-season festivities will always bring about competition and surprises. One of those could be Rifai.
The 26-year-old from Beaconsfield, Quebec has had a slow start to his professional career but has really impressed the Maple Leafs brass over the last few seasons. With 2 seasons under his belt at the AHL-level, Rifai has amassed 6 goals and 35 points in 126 games while also accruing 189 PIMs. More importantly, he has been lauded for his physicality, smooth skating, and solid defensive game from key members at the top of the organization:
Rifai, among AHL defensemen, ranked in the 99th percentile at expected goals against per 60, 93rd percentile in shots attempts against per 60, so extremely good defensive numbers. That's why he got the call-up, world class skater as said by Ryan Hardy, can hang at the NHL-level in terms of those attributes."
-Kyle Cushman on Marshall Rifai
Rifai's biggest hurdle has always been that he sits very low on the depth chart and there are still a few names ahead of him heading into training camp. However, if he can stick to his game, hone his intangibles, and quietly remain one of the more underrated defensemen in the AHL, the Maple Leafs will have no option but to give him extended run at some point.
The 6'2 defenseman will have ample opportunity to impress at training camp this year and with several key members like Hardy and Wickenheiser already aware of his strengths, we might see Rifai donning the Blue and White at the NHL-level sooner rather than later.
Source for the interview: Apple PodcastsMarshall Rifai | Leafs Camp Countdown
Source: Hockey DBMarshall Rifai stats and bio
| POLL | ||
19 AOUT | 1685 ANSWERS Reporter identifies AHL defenseman as a dark horse who may actually play NHL games this season Will we see Marshall Rifai playing for the Maple Leafs this season? | ||
| Yes, he's too defensively responsible not to use | 376 | 22.3 % |
| No, there are too many defensemen ahead of him | 710 | 42.1 % |
| Depends on the injury front at the NHL-level | 599 | 35.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
