After being called up from the Toronto Marlies on Friday, defenseman Rinat Valiev is set to become the ninth rookie to make his NHL debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season when they visit the Ottawa Senators on Saturday.
"I've been waiting for this moment all my life," the 20-year-old told Terry Koshan from the Toronto Sun on Friday.
"I am just so excited to be here. Little bit nervous."
The Maple Leafs selected Valiev in the third round of the 2014 draft. After playing the last two seasons in the Western Hockey League, the Russian has three goals and 18 assists in his first season with the Marlies.
Valiev will join Brendan Leipsic, Byron Froese, Zach Hyman, Kasperi Kapanen, Viktor Loov, William Nylander, Nikita Soshnikov, and Garret Sparks as Maple Leafs to play their first NHL games this season.
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