Bo Groulx Clears Waivers: 3 Reasons Maple Leafs Fans Should Smile
Sometimes a team gets a little good news without making a trade or signing anybody. Bo Groulx clearing waivers might be one of those moments for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Groulx wasn't getting much playing time in Toronto, and with Dakota Joshua returning from injury, the roster squeeze was becoming difficult to avoid. But losing Groulx for nothing would have been a different matter. Maple Leafs fans should be pleased he’s staying in the organization for three reasons.
Related: Fuhr & Bobrovsky: 3 Things Great Goalies Have in Common
First, the Maple Leafs Keep Some Useful Organizational Depth.
Toronto hasn't lost a player who could still be useful down the road. Groulx appeared in only seven games this season, averaging just over eight minutes of ice time. He didn't record a point, but that doesn't mean the organization has run out of reasons to value him.
Players move in and out of NHL lineups. Injuries happen, opportunities open up, and teams need players who can step in without having to start from scratch. Groulx gives Toronto another option when that happens. Clearing waivers means the Maple Leafs can keep that option available.
Second, the Marlies Get an Important Player Back.
The second reason might be even more immediate. Groulx was outstanding with the Marlies last season, scoring 28 goals and 52 points in 59 regular-season games. He then added 14 points in 23 playoff games as Toronto's AHL club won the Calder Cup.
That's not a small contribution. The Marlies are off to a 6-4-1-0 start, and adding a player with Groulx's experience and offensive ability should help. He knows the organization, understands the league and has already shown what he can do at that level.
Third, Groulx Gets a Chance to Get His Game Going Again.
Finally, there's Groulx himself. Sitting in the press box every few nights isn't necessarily the best way for a young player to develop or find his rhythm. Returning to the Marlies gives him a chance to play regularly, contribute offensively and remind everyone what made him valuable in the first place.
Nobody knows when another NHL opportunity might come along. But it is easier to make a case for yourself when you're playing well.
For Maple Leafs fans, Groulx clearing waivers isn't exactly headline-making news. Still, Toronto keeps a useful depth option, the Marlies get a proven contributor back, and Groulx gets an opportunity to play. Sometimes that's a pretty good outcome for everybody.