The Maple Leafs' forward skipped Friday's practice after a rough game against the Dallas Stars that saw him take a nasty cross-check from Jamie Benn. The Toronto Maple Leafs have added another center to their lineup. The club announced on Tuesday that they have called up Pontus Holmberg from the Toronto Marlies and sent down Wayne Simmonds. Holmberg has two assists with the Marlies this season. He had two goals and two assists in six games with the club last season. The 23-year-old impressed during training camp with the club. In need of some offense, Holmberg is set to make his NHL debut when the Leafs host the Philadelphia Flyers on Wednesday. Holmberg centered the team's third line that featured Swedes Pierre Engvall and Calle Jarnkrok at practice on Tuesday and is slated to make his NHL debut when the Leafs host the Philadelphia Flyers. "We tried a lot of people at center on that road trip. We like the idea of having a natural center coming in," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of Holmberg. "Not a guy that scores at a high rate, but does a lot of things to contribute to winning so we're happy to have him." Some of those things are his ability to pressure the opposition into turnovers. Holmberg hounds pucks and his ability to win puck battles is just part of the positive report on the Swede that led to his promotion. The Maple Leafs are in search of giving their offense a boost following the team's five-game road trip that saw them finish at 1-2-2. The addition of Holmberg put an end to Toronto's experiment of William Nylander centering the second line. He was back up with John Tavares as a second-line winger at practice on Tuesday.. A sixth-round draft pick (156th overall) in the 2018 NHL draft, Holmberg has exceeded expectations. To make room for Holmberg on the roster, the Maple Leafs sent Wayne Simmonds to the Marlies. He has picked up one assist in three games this season. After Simmonds cleared waivers last month, the Leafs were afforded some flexibility to move him on and off the team’s roster.
