Leafs send down LW Battaglia

Dec 13, 2007 - 9:09 PM TORONTO (Ticker) -- Bates Battaglia will get a chance to shake off the rust.

Battaglia, who has not dressed for the Toronto Maple Leafs in nearly 20 days, was assigned to the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League for conditioning purposes Thursday.

Last appearing in the lineup November 24 against the Phoenix Coyotes, Battaglia has recorded seven penalty minutes and a minus-6 rating in 13 games with the Maple Leafs this season. Celebrating his 32nd birthday Thursday, the 6-2, 205-pounder registered 12 goals and 19 assists in 82 contests for the Maple Leafs last season.

Selected in the sixth round of the 1994 draft by Anaheim, Battaglia has collected 80 goals and 118 assists in 580 career games with the Carolina Hurricanes, Colorado Avalanche, Washington Capitals and Maple Leafs.

He enjoyed his best season in 2001-02 with Carolina, notching career highs of 21 goals and 25 assists in 82 contests and helping the Hurricanes reach the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in franchise history.