Leafs waive Hollweg, tussle with each other

The Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday waived forward Ryan Hollweg and brought up veterans Boyd Devereaux and Bates Battaglia.

Hollweg hasn't played with Toronto since Jan. 10 and has two assists in 25 games, with 38 points. He will be sent to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League.

"We put him on waivers with the intention of assigning him to the Marlies or potentially he could get picked up by somebody," said coach Ron Wilson.

Hollweg was acquired in the off-season from the New York Rangers for a fifth-round pick in the NHL entry draft in June.

"If he's not playing here, it doesn't do him any good to not be getting into any action. He should go down and play," said Wilson.

Battaglia, 33, played a full season with Toronto in 2006-07 but has dressed for just 13 NHL games since, plying his trade in the AHL.

Devereaux, 30, appeared in 95 games with the Maple Leafs over the previous two seasons until being assigned to the Marlies coming out of training camp in September.

The two forwards fill the spots of Hollweg and Jeremy Williams, sent down earlier in the week.

Toronto (20-25-10) has lost four of the last five games. Frustrations boiled over in Friday's practice, with forwards Jason Blake and Mikhail Grabovski exchanging a couple of gloved punches before the matter dissipated.

Blake has been Toronto's most productive player in recent weeks, with 11 goals and nine assists in the last 18 games.

The Maple Leafs return to action on Saturday when they host the Pittsburgh Penguins (CBC, CBCSports.ca, 6:30 p.m. ET).