Maple Leafs recall Brendan Brisson after placing Colton Sissons on injured reserve
The forward move comes as Toronto deals with 11 player absences ahead of a game against the Minnesota Wild.
TORONTO · The Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled forward Brendan Brisson from the AHL's Toronto Marlies and placed veteran forward Colton Sissons on injured reserve. The team announced the roster moves on Thursday ahead of its game against the Minnesota Wild. Sissons suffered a lower-body injury in a loss to the New Jersey Devils on Sunday and has been listed as week-to-week. Brisson was on the ice for the team's optional skate on Thursday.
Brisson, 24, is the son of NHL agent Pat Brisson and leads the Marlies in scoring this season with eight goals and nine assists in 14 games. He signed a one-year, two-way contract with Toronto on Sept. 4, 2026, which pays him the NHL minimum of $850,000 at the NHL level. The Los Angeles native was selected 29th overall by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2020 draft and represented the United States at the 2022 Olympics. "It's not clear at the moment if Brisson will play," The Hockey News reported. Forward Zack MacEwen, who was injured in Tuesday's game against the Colorado Avalanche, did not practice Wednesday and was seen wearing additional support around his wrist during the optional skate. The Maple Leafs have been forced to shift their lineup in response to a heap of injuries, now facing 11 absences including forward Kirill Marchenko and defenceman Morgan Rielly.
Sissons, 33, joined the Maple Leafs as a free agent this summer and had appeared in 19 games, scoring two goals and six points. He sustained his injury during Sunday's 4-0 loss to New Jersey and missed the third period of that game. David Alter of The Hockey News reported Sissons is out week-to-week. His placement on IR is retroactive to Nov. 8.
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Brisson has yet to make his Maple Leafs debut. He played last season in the New York Rangers organization, collecting one assist in three NHL games and 37 points in 66 AHL contests with the Hartford Wolf Pack. In 27 career NHL games split between the Golden Knights and Rangers, he has two goals and seven assists. Toronto will not need to slot Brisson in right away, with Teddy Blueger and MacEwen available to fill Sissons's depth role.
The recall comes as the Maple Leafs search for a scoring boost, having managed just seven goals in their last four games. Jack Roslovic and Ryan Tverberg have earned extra opportunity in the forward group amid the injuries. Sissons had offered a reliable, veteran presence, recording 38 hits and a 59.9 faceoff percentage this season. Nick Paul and Dakota Joshua took over the support role next to rookie Gavin McKenna in Tuesday's matchup. The Maple Leafs have two games left on their current homestand, continuing Thursday night against the Wild. Garbutt Disposal reported on November 11 that the team is coming off a fourth straight loss, a 3-1 defeat to the Colorado Avalanche.
With files from Sportsnet, Yahoo Sports and Pro Hockey Rumors