Nazem Kadri #43 of the Toronto Maple Leafs skates in the pre-game warm-up prior to a game against the San Jose Sharks on February 8, 2010 at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)Claus Andersen/Getty Images
Despite preaching patience with their young prospects throughout the early stages of the season, the Toronto Maple Leafs called up Nazem Kadri and Keith Aulie on Friday morning.
Mired in a seven game losing streak and with only 16 goals scored in their last 11 games, the Leafs are hoping the 20-year-old Kadri -- who has 14 points in 14 games with the Toronto Marlies -- can help kick start their offence. The Leafs host the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.
In his first season as a pro, Kadri was demoted to the Marlies in training camp after a poor showing in training camp. The small, skilled centre was Toronto's seventh overall pick in the 2009 entry draft after a high-scoring junior career with the OHL's London Knights.
Aulie, meanwhile, is a 6-foot-5 pound defenceman who has four points in 14 AHL games this season. Aulie, who played for Canada at the world junior tournament, was acquired from the Calgary Flames in the Dion Phaneuf trade.
Toronto returned centre Christian Hanson and defenceman Korbinian Holzer to the minors to make way for Kadri and Aulie.