All of the prospects that the Toronto Maple Leafs have been playing for the Toronto Marlies are now out until April 28th due to Covid protocols. The original date was April 21st.
On April 14th the American Hockey League (AHL) announced that the Marlies games for April 15th and April 18th against the Laval Rocket were being postponed as well as the Marlies game against the Belleville Senators on April 21st.
On April 20th, one day before the Covid protocols were to expire, the AHL announced that all Marlies games scheduled until April 28th have also been postponed.
For scheduling purposes, the Laval Rocket will now play the Belleville Senators on April 23rd and 24th.
Covid Protocol With Marlies Hits Close to Home for Some Toronto Maple Leafs
Leafs forward Nick Robertson was added to Covid protocol as a precautionary measure on April 14th. The reason for this was because he had spent time with the Toronto Marlies before being called up to the Maple Leafs. Robertson was cleared on April 15th and rejoined his Maple Leafs teammates.
As reported by the Toronto Sun’s Terry Koshan, when asked about the Covid situation affecting the Marlies, Leafs forward Zach Hyman was quoted as saying “hits really close to home. It’s a great reminder for us (to be diligent) heading into the final stretch.”
Hyman says the Marlies COVID situation "hits really close to home. It's a great reminder for us (to be diligent) heading into the final stretch." #Leafs
— Terry Koshan 🇺🇦 (@koshtorontosun) April 15, 2021
Two Toronto Maple Leafs Prospects Will Join Toronto Marlies Soon
Newly signed prospect Rodion Amirov and 2019 3rd round pick Mikko Kokkonen will both be joining the Toronto Marlies once the team is cleared to play.
Amirov who just recently signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs is currently in quarantine. He arrived in Canada shortly after Tolpar Ufa was eliminated from the MHL playoffs.
He will play with the Marlies for the rest of their season and then spend the summer working with Toronto developmental staff before returning to Russia to play in the KHL next season. Kokkonen was due to arrive in Toronto on April 16th and begin his quarantine. He will be joining the Marlies on a tryout contract as he is not signed by the Toronto Maple Leafs yet.
Once the Marlies season is finished, Kokkonen will be returning to Finland as he recently signed a two-year contract with the Lahden Pelicans of Liiga (Finnish Elite League).
Mikko Kokkonen will soon join the Toronto Marlies. The 2019 third-round draft pick will join the team on a tryout contract.
— Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) April 15, 2021
More info at @theathletic’s Real Time app: https://t.co/amkmbrkYH8
My Final Thoughts
It is a shame to see the Marlies miss about two weeks of action due to Covid, but hopefully, all the players and staff are feeling okay.
It will be interesting to see if Amirov and Kokkonen can make an impact here in North America when they join the Marlies on May 2nd against the Belleville Senators.