After a subpar defensive effort during Saturday's 6-3 loss to the Senators, it seemed inevitable that there would be changes on the Maple Leafs back end. The first shoe -- or skate, in this case -- dropped Sunday when the team signed veteran defenseman Roman Polak, and the next move followed Monday with rookie defenseman Calle Rosen being loaned to the Marlies in the AHL. To free up some salary-cap space, the Maple Leaf also placed veteran forward Eric Fehr on waivers Monday.
Rosen, 23, signed a two-year entry-level contract in July after two seasons with Vaxjo in the Swedish Hockey League. After making the club out of training camp, the rookie blueliner rotated with fellow Swede Andreas Borgman and Connor Carrick on the bottom pairing. In four games, Rosen earned an assist, picked up four penalty minutes and was a minus-three while averaging 12:47 worth of ice time.
The 31-year-old Polak came to training camp on a PTO after recording 232 hits in 75 games with the Maple Leafs a year ago. He broke his leg in the playoffs against the Capitals and did not receive any guarantees he would receive a contract following the PTO. Polak remained with the club the first few weeks of the season despite not having a contract.
"(The Leafs) were great,” Polak said on Monday. "They invited me to camp, they never promised me anything, just (told me) to try to work hard, try to stay positive every day and this is the result.”
Polak will make his season debut on Monday against the Los Angeles Kings, replacing Carrick in the lineup.
“We're not big on the back (end). We're not heavy on the back. We're not mean back there.” Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said, a nod to why Polak is now in the lineup.
Fehr, 31, who was acquired in a trade from Pittsburgh last March, alternated with Dominic Moore at fourth line center to begin the season. The Winkler, MB native had no points in four games, while Moore scored twice in four games and owns a 56.4 face-off winning percentage.
If Fehr clears waivers and is sent to the AHL, the Leafs will open up $1.025 Million in salary cap space.