Maple Leafs' Corrado: Everyone on D gets a chance to play except me

Peter Holland wasn't the only member of the Toronto Maple Leafs unhappy about his ice time.

Holland was dealt to the Arizona Coyotes last week after requesting a trade following a string of healthy scratches. Now defenseman Frank Corrado has broken his silence, having found himself in a similar situation.

"It’s frustrating now," Corrado said, according to Dave Alter of The Athletic. "When you don’t get to play for a month and a half, and you’ve played in one game all year, it takes its toll on you mentally … Yeah, you’re in the NHL. It’s not that the novelty has worn off; it’s just that it’s time to play. It’s time to have a career. I feel like the more I’m not playing, that’s food off my table. That’s kind of the way I see it right now."

After being claimed off waivers from the Vancouver Canucks last season, the 23-year-old appeared in just 39 games with Toronto. After working hard to get in game shape this offseason, Corrado admits it's been extremely disheartening to have only suited up for one contest this year.

"Everyone on our back end gets a chance to play except me," Corrado said. "I’d love to play. I had a good camp. I put on 10 pounds in the summer. I sacrificed a lot to earn a job here when there might not have been one for me. I’m sure Holly’s situation was similar in ways, but for me, it’s really frustrating right now."

Corrado has spoken with general manager Lou Lamoriello, who insists that he wants him to stick with the team. In the meantime, Corrado believes what's holding him back is that head coach Mike Babcock doesn't like him, a notion Babcock shot down following the team's 3-2 shootout loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday night.

"I’m disappointed he feels that way. If you think me liking you has anything to do with whether you play or don’t play, you’re missing the boat big time," said Babcock. "I love the guys and I’m hoping for all of them that they do well. Whether you go in the lineup or not is based on how you play, period, nothing personal. It becomes personal and it’s just unfortunate that he feels that way. It’s too bad. We talk quite a bit and we’ll talk again. As a young guy he’s frustrated, he had his chance with the media today and that’s life."

So for now, it appears Corrado must wait - barring an exit similar to Holland's.