Calle Rosen finally gets his shot with the Maple Leafs this season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are finally making a move that many of their fans have been anticipating for a large part of the 2018 - 2019 National Hockey League regular season.

The Maple Leafs have had some serious struggles on their blue line in the later half of the season and although there was a big move from Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas when he acquired defenseman Jake Muzzin from the Los Angeles Kings. In spite of that acquisition the Leafs have continued to struggle on the blue line, especially with the absence of the injured Jake Gardiner, and it looks like now they are finally making another move to address the issue. Obviously given the time of year the Leafs will not be making another trade any time soon and instead will be promoting internally from within the organization.

According to comments made by head coach Mike Babcock on Saturday it now appears that American Hockey League stand out Calle Rosen will finally get another shot at the Maple Leafs roster, one he certainly deserves based on his performance during the 2018 - 2019 American Hockey League regular season. Rosen has only ever played games at the NHL level, all of which came last season, but the 25 year old blue liner has definitely shown enough skill this season to earn some additional games, and perhaps even a permanent spot on the Maple Leafs roster. 

Although he has suffered through some injuries this season Rosen has appeared in 54 regular season games for the Toronto Marlies, the AHL affiliate team for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and over those games he has recorded 7 goals and 39 assists for a total of 46 points. That is of course some icnredibly potent offensive production from the blue line and the Leafs could certainly use more consistent play in that department.

Fans have been frustrated that Rosen was not given a shot before this, but on Saturday head coach Mike Babcock indicated that unfortunate timing may have played a bigger role in that than the Leafs would have liked.

“We actually thought he had an opportunity at training camp,” coach Mike Babcock said as per Sportsnet.

“It didn’t go like he wanted, but he went back and had a good year. He would’ve been up a while ago, but he got injured.”

Well now he will get his shot but it won't be easy. According to Babcock the Leafs are throwing Rosen right into the fire with the young defenseman set to join the team is Long Island on Sunday, one day ahead of a highly anticipated rematch with the New York Islanders.