Maple Leafs send 2 players down to the AHL on Sunday.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a pair of moves that may appear to be curious to some, but it seems fair to suggest that this moves may be financially motivated as opposed to being motivated by hockey. 

According to an official announcement from the Toronto Maple Leafs department of public relations, the team has sent veteran forward Kenny Agostino and defenseman Timothy Liljegren back down to the American Hockey League. The move comes just one day after both players were called up to the main roster, and that in and of itself appears to be a head scratching move. However Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas has been juggling players all season long due to the National Hockey League's salary cap and it seems fair to suggest that both of today's moves are paper transactions. The Marlies don't play until the 31st of this month so it seems likely that both men could be called back up to the main roster before that happens. 

In spite of the fact that he could soon be back on the main roster fans will be disappointed to see Timothy Liljegren headed back down to the Marlies, once again without having been given a shot to play at the National Hockey League level. Liljegren has been a standout player for the Toronto Marlies on the blue line with 3 goals and 14 assists for 17 total points over his 27 games in the AHL this season and there are those who feel he should be given a shot over players like Matt Marincin.

Agostino on the other hand is a well traveled NHL veteran with experience as a member of the Calgary Flames, St. Louis Blues, Boston Bruins, Montreal Canadiens, and New Jersey Devils on his resume. Agostino has yet to play in a single NHL game for the Leafs but he has 16 goals and 10 assists for 26 points in 26 games with the Marlies this season, an impressive point per game pace. Naturally when a player produces that much offense you would like to see what he can bring to the table on your main roster, but it seems like fans will have to wait a little longer.