The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced that newly-acquired winger Dryden Hunt has indeed arrived in Toronto and was present at Leafs practice on Wednesday. Not only was he taking part in practice - he was also skating in a regular white jersey, befitting a bottom-six roster player. Wayne Simmonds remained in extras grey.
Perhaps even more surprising, Zach Aston-Reese was also wearing a grey jersey during Wednesday's practice, indicating that he could be in line to sit on Thursday against the Philadelphia Flyers. ZAR has not registered a single point in his last 11 games.
While many had speculated that Hunt skating in a regular jersey meant that he'd make his Leafs debut immediately, Sheldon Keefe revealed following Wednesday's practice that Hunt's debut will not come on Thursday against Philly. Despite Aston-Reese's struggles of this season, he will likely remain in the lineup.
Hunt brings a lot of the same intangibles to the table that Aston-Reese does, so he should fit in well on the Leafs' 4th line. As far as who his line mates will be when he does get into the lineup, Keefe had the newly minted Leaf skating with Pontus Holmberg and Joey Anderson on Wednesday. I'd imagine that line will get a look at some point after the holiday break.
