Toronto Maple Leafs: Can Prospect Sam Carrick Make a Mark in the NHL?

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced the call-up of Toronto Marlies forward Sam Carrick on Saturday. The move came on the heels of the announcement that winger Joffrey Lupul will miss three weeks due to a broken bone in his hand.

Per TSN's Jonas Siegel:

Carrick has played well in the AHL so far this season, though his statistics don't show it. Carrick has registered no goals and only one assist in his first seven games, posting a minus-5 rating and 13 penalty minutes.

That's not too impressive.

But Carrick's value to the Leafs is based on more than just his standard stats. Hockey's Future describes the pesky forward as:

"

A stocky, hard nose player with an offensive touch, Carrick can be a pain to play against. He is a capable player at both ends of the ice and is a very willing physical combatant. ... His hockey smarts allow him to get in good position on the ice. All these qualities make him a very desirable option for coaches as Carrick is adaptable.

"

Harry How/Getty Images

Though that "offensive touch" has yet to show up this season, Carrick's 13 penalty minutes show his peskiness on the ice.

If his offense doesn't pick up, Carrick may not be able to hold off challenges from more offensively productive Marlies like Connor Brown (six points in eight games) or Spencer Abbott (five points in eight games) for the next call-up. 

In the meantime, Leafs fans hope to see some of the toughness Carrick showed when he held his own against Chris Stewart during the preseason.