The Toronto Marlies have an 11AM home game today. Why? Because they hate logic (actually, it’s a school day game, something they do a few times a season). To some, this isn’t very interesting on the surface (if it is? We’ll have a recap on TheLeafsNation), but a bit of an eyebrow raiser came in the form of Craig MacTavish being in attendance.

I can’t tell you exactly what he’s here for, but this is what we do know.

The Marlies don’t face Edmonton’s AHL affiliate, the Oklahoma City Barons for another three weeks.

Oklahoma doesn’t face San Antonio until March 2nd

If he’s scouting a Panthers prospect, there are multiple other opportunities to see San Antonio in Canada ahead of the Trade Deadline (17th and 23rd in Hamilton, 22nd in Toronto)

If he’s scouting a Leafs prospect, the Marlies play ten straight games at home through March 2nd.

With the Oilers in the middle of an Eastern road trip (Sabres/Rangers/Devils), this is a convenient time for him to check in on some players he’s interested in. Given the amount of New York-based teams in the AHL, however (including games in Binghamton and Rochester tonight), it’s unlikely that this is watching hockey for the sake of watching hockey.

The Leafs have a home game against Vancouver on Saturday night., but I don’t think it’s likely he’s here because he plans on keeping tabs on that game as well.

Edmonton and Toronto don’t face each other for the remainder of the season.

The Edmonton Oilers have five players and the head coach of the 2011/12 Marlies roster, and there’s still two guys from that team wearing AHL blue and white today (Korbinian Holzer, a defensive defenseman, and Jerry D’Amigo, a utility bottom six winger).

The Oilers just acquired Mark Fraser from the Toronto Maple Leafs a few days ago.

MacTavish has been a regular at Ricoh Coliseum for several years, even as his role and employers changed.

What does this mean? I couldn’t tell you for certain. But it’s a thing that happened, if nothing else.





