With so much talk about some talented Marlies working their way to the Air Canada Centre in the next couple of years, the whole farm club is about to try out the Leafs' home for size.

This weekend, the Marlies play the first of four Saturday games at the ACC, against the Montreal Canadiens' affiliate, the St. John's IceCaps, The game starts at 2 p.m., hours before the Leafs and Capitals meet.

"Based on our success there in previous Boxing Days, we thought we'd expand the matinee idea," a club spokesman said. "The renovations at the ACC for the world junior tournament gave us the extra dressing room area so our game doesn't conflict with the Leafs.

"We want to make it a bit like the old days in Toronto (when the junior Marlboros would play ahead of the Leafs at the Gardens)."

Other Marlies ACC dates are Dec. 26, Feb. 20 and March 26. Only the ACC's lower bowl will be open this Saturday, capped at around 10,000 seats, of which about 1,500 remained on Thursday afternoon. Prices start at $10 with further discounts for Leaf subscribers, including reduced admission for the Hockey Hall Of Fame between the AHL and NHL games.

The Marlies (14-3-1) play in Syracuse on Friday. After the Saturday matinee game, they also will be in a 1 p.m. match against the IceCaps back at Ricoh Coliseum on Sunday. It's an earlier start time to avoid conflicting with the Grey Cup.

GRAB BAG UPDATE

During training camp, the Leafs made a 5-for-1 deal with the New York Islanders to acquire winger Michael Grabner. While Grabner has yet to score, Maple Leafs head coach Mike Babcock has relied on him in penalty killing situations and has played him in all but two games.

As for the players the Leafs lost -- the main idea being to shed some contract space in the AHL -- they have met with mixed success with the Isles. Only forward Taylor Beck has been called to the big team from the farm so far, for two games.

Goalie Chris Gibson, No. 1 with the Marlies last season, has a record of 7-3-0-2 with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Defenceman Matt Finn, the highest-drafted player of the five (second round 2012) has played 10 games, forward Carter Verhaeghe five, with both spending time down in the ECHL. After 44 games with the Marlies last year, defenceman Tom Nilsson is back in Sweden with Frolunda after the Isles put him on unconditional waivers.

LOOSE LEAFS

A day off Thursday provided the Leafs with a break in practice and free time, as Babcock did not want to work them four straight days in a light week on the schedule. Toronto begins five games in eight nights Saturday ... Part of Babcock's plan to ease the load on captain Dion Phaneuf was having more Leafs be accountable to the media and excusing Phaneuf now and then from talking after practice days. Wednesday was the first time Phaneuf took the new coach up on his offer after he was requested for an interview.