Brendan Leipsic making Maple Leafs debut in Vancouver

Two days before the one-year anniversary of being acquired by the Toronto Maple Leafs, Brendan Leipsic will play his first game with the big club.

The 21-year-old prospect will make his debut Saturday versus the Vancouver Canucks in place of injured forward Josh Leivo. Meanwhile forward Nazem Kadri will miss his second straight game with a lower-body injury.

Leipsic has 14 goals and 34 points in 47 contests for the Toronto Marlies this season.

He joins fellow American Hockey Leaguers Mark Arcobello and Rich Clune, who are also filling in holes for Mike Babcock as he runs out a lineup ravaged by injuries and trades.

Leipsic was acquired last February along with a first-round draft pick from the Nashville Predators for defenseman Cody Franson and Mike Santorelli.