Smaller roster lets Leafs peek at farm talent

By TIM WHARNSBY -- Toronto Sun
In an ideal world, the Maple Leafs would like to carry 22 players and have a roster spot open to rotate in a bunch of players from the St. John's farm team.

But the 23-player roster this season, down one from previous seasons, has not allowed Leafs general manager/coach Pat Quinn such a luxury.

When the Leafs broke training camp, they had an overcrowded dressing room. But veterans Sylvain Cote, Steve Sullivan, Derek King and now Todd Warriner have been traded and Quinn finally has his roster down to a workable number.

So in comes Adam Mair for a test run. Quinn and his management team want to see the progress the 20-year-old has made. Centre Kevyn Adams likely will be next and there is a possibility defenceman Nathan Dempsey, who suffered a concussion last Saturday, will be back later this season.

"For two years, we haven't done that because we were always at the max," Quinn said. "We were at 24 players last year and we've been at 23 this year.

"We would like to have that luxury of having an open spot. We would like the availability to look and add."

For example, Quinn would like to see his club add some physical spice to the lineup. Getting rid of Warriner allowed him to call up Mair, who isn't afraid of getting his sweater dirty in the corners.

"Basically what it comes down to is trying to manage the ingredients of your team," Quinn said.

If Mair and Dmitri Yakushin, who was an emergency callup because of injuries to Alexander Karpovtsev and Bryan Berard, are returned to St. John's, Quinn also admitted one option is to "sign somebody."

But for now, a look at the farm club is an option Quinn is pleased to have back.

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