Former San Jose Sharks defenseman Henry Thrun will be in the lineup for the Toronto Maple Leafs on Thursday, his first game in the NHL this season.
Thrun was traded by the Sharks to the Maple Leafs over the summer, with Ryan Reaves as the return. The Maple Leafs waived Thrun before the season started, so he’s spent the entire season in the AHL.
Tonight, that will change as the d-man was recalled from the Toronto Marlies after Dakota Mermis was placed on injured reserve by the Maple Leafs.
“I’m just excited to be in the lineup, get a chance to play,” Thrun said. “Just kind of luck of the draw. Obviously, [it’s] pretty ironic, but I’m just excited to play and help the team win.”
Thrun was paired with Simon Benoit in practice on Wednesday. Although a natural lefty, Thrun will likely play the right side against the San Jose Sharks tonight. In 19 games played in the AHL this season, Thrun has three goals and six assists.
“I’m happy with where my game’s at right now. I think they’re happy with it too,” Thrun said. “Continue to play my game, be steady, [and] be able to transport the puck out of the zone. At the end of the day, I’ve played enough NHL games; that’s how it works. It might take a minute to adjust the speed, but [after] a couple of shifts, it should be fine.”
The San Jose Sharks traded Thrun on July 10th, somewhat out of the blue. The off-season moves of bringing in John Klingberg, Nick Leddy, and Sam Dickinson in a full-time NHL role pushed Thrun out of the Sharks’ future plans.
“Was surprised by it. I was just at home hanging out, and Mike [Grier] called me, so when I found out where I was going, I was pretty excited,” Thrun said. “Toronto is the biggest hockey market in the world, so it’s pretty cool. It’s very noticeable the support we get from the fans and the city as well. The organization is second to none.”
Thrun played 119 games for the Sharks, scoring five goals and 20 assists. His first NHL goal came against the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 23-24 season. He remains close with many of his former teammates and told reporters that he grabbed dinner with Collin Graf on Wednesday.
“There’s a bunch of good guys on that team. A couple of Massachusetts boys, which is always exciting to see them throughout the summer,” Thrun said. “Certain guys I’ll text with throughout the year. I know Mario [Ferraro] had some exciting news with his family.”
Thrun will have a challenging task of defending against Graf while he’s on a line with Macklin, Celebrini, and Will Smith.
“Three really good players. Macklin is having a great year. Will is one of the best passers I’ve seen in the game now, and Collin has a unique element to be able to find his stick and his defensive plays. For a young player [that’s] pretty elite. I think he adds a good element to that line.”
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