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Andreas Borgman didn’t think he would make his American Hockey League debut with 48 NHL games on his resume.

That’s where the 22-year-old defenceman will find himself on Friday night when the Toronto Marlies hit the road for game against the Belleville Senators, a casualty of Travis Dermott’s strong play with the Maple Leafs and the return of Roman Polak from injured reserve.

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“You can’t go and be sad about it — you have to tackle it,” Borgman said on Thursday. “It’s one bump. I want to be up there, but I’m trying to think positive. I think I have done a pretty good job (with the Leafs).”

Sent to the minors on Monday, Borgman will be paired with Justin Holl, who scored in each of his two games with the Leafs last week.

“He sounds excited to come in and play a lot,” Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe said of Borgman. “We’re encouraging him to come and find his game and use his strengths. We expect him to use all the experience he got in the NHL in terms of what he knows he needs to do well to be a regular player for the Leafs.”