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Leafs waive Arcobello, sign Clune

Maple Leafs Red Wings Hockey

Toronto Maple Leafs center Mark Arcobello (33) hits Detroit Red Wings goalie Jimmy Howard (35) as Drew Miller (20) defends in the first period of an NHL preseason hockey game in Detroit Friday, Oct. 2, 2015. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

AP

A day of change in Toronto.

Shortly after the club announced Air Canada CEO Michael Friisdahl would replace Tim Leiweke as MLSE president, the hockey team put center Mark Acrobello on waivers, and signed tough guy Rich Clune.

Acrobello, who signed a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Leafs this summer, had appeared in seven games this season, going scoreless while averaging 11:20 TOI per night.

No stranger to the waiver wire -- he was claimed twice last year, and played for four different teams -- Acrobello could be snapped up by a club looking for depth down the middle.

If not, he’ll be off to the Marlies.

Speaking of the Marlies, that’s the team Clune was playing for prior to inking today.

An energy guy that’s not afraid to scrap, the 28-year-old has produced well offensively this season -- five points in eight games -- and received high praise this summer for his Players’ Tribune piece on overcoming addiction to drugs and alcohol.

On Tuesday, Toronto head coach Mike Babcock hinted that roster changes would be coming to his 1-5-2 club.

“Someone’s going to find a way to wear the uniform and be good every day,” he said, per Sportsnet. “And some guys don’t, and so different guys come and go. Over time there’s going to be changes in our lineup — that’s just the reality of the situation and the growth we’re going to go through as a team.

“We’re going to find out how hard guys want to compete.”

Reading between the lines, it looks like Clune’s aggressiveness and grit won him a spot at the NHL level.