The Maple Leafs were forced to call up a forward after placing injured Max Pacioretty on the IR, and fans are in disbelief with the player coming up. The Toronto Maple Leafs placed forward Max Pacioretty on <a href='https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/maple-leafs-place-pacioretty-on-injured-reserve-recall-jacob-quillan/' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>IR, retroactive to January 18</a>. In the process, the team called up a very unexpected player that left many fans in disbelief. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1882080919823306957'> </a></blockquote></div> <h3>Jacob Quillan gets called up to the NHL</h3> Jacob Quillan, 22, has spent most of this season as the Marlies' third-line center, notching six goals and nine assists in 35 games. <div align='center' class='pl20 pr20'><blockquote class='twitter-tweet' data-lang='en'><a href='https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1882078422169788465'> </a></blockquote></div> He signed a two-year entry-level contract last April after winning the NCAA national championship for Quinnipiac on an overtime goal and is in his first full pro season. If <a href='https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/player/jacob-quillan-8484901' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Quillan</a> dresses for the Leafs, it'll be his first NHL game. The numbers aren't overwhelming offensively, but he has heated up of late with three goals and two assists in his last five games. Meanwhile, the 36-year-old <a href='https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/player/max-pacioretty-8474157' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Pacioretty</a> was also scratched because of an upper-body injury he suffered when he was hit by a puck in Saturday's win over Montreal. In 32 games this season, he's tallied five goals and handed out seven assists. By going on IR, <a href='https://www.hockeylatest.com/nhl-team/toronto-maple-leafs/maple-leafs-deal-with-major-blow-as-one-of-their-top-six-forwards-unexpectedly-gets-injured' class='lien_marqueur' target='_blank' rel='noopener'>Pacioretty will be compelled to miss at least the next two games</a> against Columbus and Ottawa. The earliest he could return would be next Wednesday against Minnesota. The Toronto Maple Leafs will be looking to continue their hot ways tonight against the Columbus Blue Jackets, who have been quite the surprise this season, as they remain in the thick of the Wild Card playoff race.