Depleted Leafs about to have their depth tested

An excerpt from Kevin McGran’s Breakaway blog:

We’re going to hear the word “opportunity” a lot.

It will come from Maple Leafs coach Randy Carlyle, and GM Dave Nonis. That’s what those kind of folks say when the team’s depth chart is about to be tested.

Carter Ashton’s 20-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs created an opportunity for Matt Frattin to finally get into the lineup in Thursday’s 4-3 shootout loss in Colorado. Then Daniel Winnik and Jake Gardiner both got hurt.

Add to that injuries to David Booth (foot), Joffrey Lupul (finger), and Brandon Kozun (high ankle sprain) and it will be no surprise to see some Marlies follow Sam Carrick up to the bigs.

The Leafs are in the midst of seven games in 12 nights, starting that stretch 0-1-1 with road games in Phoenix and Colorado.

And up next are ack-to-back games Saturday at home to the New York Rangers and Sunday in Ottawa.

Then a two-game home stand Wednesday with Boston and Friday with Pittsburgh, followed by a game next Saturday in Buffalo. They will need all hands on deck. And now to some reader questions: Q: Does his (Carter Ashton’s) cap hit go away? A: Yes. Basically, drug violation suspensions hurt only the player financially. Ashton will not be paid about $170,000 for his mistake. While he’s suspended, Ashton’s salary will not be counted against the cap. Q: How close is Booth to making his debut? A: Not very. He hasn’t practised with the team yet. But that’s something we’ll be monitoring closely, along with other injured Leafs. In theory, Booth should be the first to return, as long as everything is progressing as it should with his foot. He was supposed to be out four weeks. We’ve hit that mark. Q: When and why did the NHL switch from home white jerseys to the dark jerseys? A: In the Original Six era, the home team wore the dark jersey. That changed, I believe, 1969-70 so that the home team wore white. Not sure why. The league changed back in 2003-04. The reason is generally believed to be around the alternate third jersey. It was typically dark, and teams wanted to wear it at home to generate sales. That, of course, made road teams where white. Those on long trips, therefore, had to bring both white and coloured jerseys, a needless weight on equipment staff. Q: Am I right to say the first to wear No. 99 was Wilf Paiement with the Leafs? A: Wayne Gretzky was the first, entering the NHL in 1979-80. Wilf Paiement was the second to wear it; Rick Dudley wore No. 99 with the Winnipeg Jets in 1980-81.