The one-time defenceman with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who walked away from the sport eight games into the 2009-10 regular season, has signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization. That much we know.
Where exactly the soon-to-be 28-year-old defender fits into the organization and why exactly he retired so abruptly in the first place remains a mystery. The 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has a contract with the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League and is currently working hard to get in shape. There is a chance he will attend the Leafs main training camp, assuming there will be a training camp, that is.
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"He has been out of the game for personal reasons and sees an opportunity to get back into it and knows the environment we have created here and he feels this is an excellent opportunity for him," said Dave Poulin, the Leafs' vice-president of hockey operations. "This kid can play. I watched him skate yesterday and wow, he can fly. He had some personal challenges off the ice and he has met them and he feels he's in a good position to come back with an organization that is going to support him in every way possible."
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"I knew the type of player he was and he's also a great kid in the dressing room," Loiselle said. "To us it is a good story to see him trying to get back on track. He's been out of hockey for two and a half years and starting off with the Marlies is a good way to get him back into the game. When he played with Dan Boyle, he was a pretty good player. When he's on his game he's a top-four defenceman who can move the puck. He's a smart player that can play the power play. When I spoke with him last week he was really excited about this."
