The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a roster move, calling up Marshall Rifai from the American Hockey League (AHL) Toronto Marlies on Sunday. The decision comes as the team faces several absences. First, Mark Giordano is missing for personal family reasons because his father just passed away. Second, Morgan Rielly will sit out the fourth game of his five-game suspension. And, third and finally, William Lagesson suffered an upper-body injury in the 9-2 Maple Leafs win over the Anaheim Ducks.
Rifai’s call-up is on an emergency basis; however, he is expected to make his NHL debut Monday against the St. Louis Blues. In 34 AHL games this season, Rifai has shown promise. He scored two goals and added nine assists (for 11 points). His strong performance with the Marlies has allowed him to showcase his skills at the NHL level.
Who Is Marshall Rifai? What Is His Hockey Story?
Rifai is a 26-year-old undrafted left-shot defenseman from Beaconsfield, Quebec. Standing 6 feet tall and weighing 185 pounds, he began his hockey journey in the United States Hockey League (USHL). There he played for the Omaha Lancers and the Des Moines Buccaneers.
In 2018-19, Rifai then moved to collegiate hockey, where he competed in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) for Harvard University. He played there for three seasons. In 2022-23, he moved to the AHl and signed a contract on July 1, 2023. There he’s continued his defensive development. His solid play in the AHL earned him a call-up yesterday.
Sheldon Keefe Praises Rifai’s Attributes
In an interview yesterday, Maple Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe shared his satisfaction with Rifai’s development after the defenseman’s recall from the Marlies. Keefe highlighted Rifai’s NHL attributes, including his strong skating ability, agility on the ice, physicality, and competitiveness.
Keefe emphasized Rifai’s progress and comfort level. He noted that the young defenseman has worked hard to prepare for this opportunity. Despite facing challenges last year, Rifai has shown significant improvement and readiness for NHL action.
Given the current Maple Leafs’ paucity on defence, it will be a good chance for Rifai to show his growth as a player. So far, the team’s defensemen have covered for the holes well. Perhaps tomorrow a new youngster will find himself on NHL ice, Maple Leafs fans can only hope With the organization’s confidence in his abilities, Rifai looks poised to make a meaningful contribution to the team’s success in the upcoming games.
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