Maple Leaf recalls Nylander, Kapanen to make NHL debuts Monday

The future is arriving for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Sort of.

The club has recalled William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen, Nikita Soshnikov, Zach Hyman, and Ben Smith from the AHL's Toronto Marlies in advance of Monday's game against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

And while head coach Mike Babcock confirmed they'll all be in the lineup, there's expected to be further maneuvering with the call-ups in order to ensure eligibility for the AHL playoffs, in which the Marlies will be heavily favored to win the Calder Cup.

The promotion to the big club does, of course, carry contract implications.

Nylander, 19, has recorded 18 goals and 27 assists in 37 games for the Marlies in a season that was interrupted by a concussion suffered at the World Junior Hockey Championship.

Kapanen, a key piece of the Phil Kessel trade last summer, has scored eight goals and added 14 assists in 32 games.

The Maple Leafs are expected to remain active in advance of the trade deadline, with P.A. Parenteau likely on the move.