The Leafs look to the AHL for help

James Reimer:
2 NHL games; 29 AHL games

Darryl Boyce:
3 NHL games; 134 AHL games

Joey Crabb:
34 NHL games; 256 AHL games

The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for a trio of AHL players to provide a spark for the team. Reimer is still considered a prospect at 22 but Boyce and Crabb are career minor leaguers. So is Tim Brent who has 55 NHL games (36 this season with the Leafs) and 302 AHL games.

This is the depth of the Toronto Maple Leafs. Beyond Nazem Kadri and Keith Aulie, there is no one even close to being ready for the NHL on the Marlies.

Brian Burke is really caught between a rock and a hard place. As much as he would like to improve the Leafs there is nothing in the farm. He would like to deal excess defensemen for forwards but no one is interested in the Leafs overpaid and underperforming blue liners. Burke best offer is Valtteri Filppula for Kris Versteeg. This deal would likely only marginally help and certainly but at least provides some immediate assistance at centre.