Just as the Vancouver Canucks are once again struggling through injuries and with their depth on defense a constant question mark, Frank Corrado returns to town with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
It’s a quick visit. The Leafs and Canucks do battle on Saturday, with the hosts wearing their famous ‘Flying Skate’ logo from the 1990s.
But the return of Corrado with a different team provides a juicy storyline in Vancouver.
The Canucks waived the 22-year-old defenseman in October.
He was claimed by the Leafs, which ended his time in Vancouver when it previously started with promise and optimism.
He quickly ascended as a prospect after being selected in the fifth round five years ago. But when training camp rolled around this season, Canucks GM Jim Benning was of the belief that Corrado had been passed in the depth chart by a few other defensemen in the system.
The move has been criticized in Vancouver because the Canucks lost an asset -- a 22-year-old right-shooting defenseman with potential -- for nothing.
Corrado had some interesting things to say about how his time in Vancouver eventually played out, as per Josh Clipperton of the Canadian Press.
Two examples:
Asked Leafs D Frank Corrado if he got a fair shake in his time with the Canucks. He said "that's a tough one."
— Joshua Clipperton (@JClipperton_CP) February 13, 2016
Last quote from Corrado on playing Canucks tomorrow: "Would I love to have a good performance to prove some people wrong? Absolutely."
— Joshua Clipperton (@JClipperton_CP) February 13, 2016
Corrado has played 10 games for the Leafs this season, with three assists. He made his Leafs debut more than two months after being claimed.