National Post (National Edition)
Defence has not been at rest for the Leafs
Attention please, the committee is now in session. That’s defence-bycommittee for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who will likely start the NHL season taking the best six or seven current blue-liners and let general manager Kyle Dubas worry about the much-discussed, but hard-to-land blue chipper to give Toronto depth for spring.
Travis Dermott has been at the practice rink all summer, new Russian Igor Ozhiganov the past few weeks and joining the informal skate on Tuesday were Jake Gardiner and Ron Hainsey. While the latter duo, and Auston Matthews, chose not to speak to the reporters before camp officially starts next week, the two younger Leaf rearguards intend to increase their profiles.
That’s going to be hardest for Connor Carrick, who didn’t play towards the end of the season as Dermott seized the day when called up from the Marlies and then later won the Calder Cup with the AHL farm team.
An astute surveyor of the hockey landscape at age 24, Carrick was among those who broke down how Washington and Las Vegas made the Stanley Cup Final without star power on the back line, or in other areas.
“You had two teams playing in June with a lot of recycled players, getting second, third and even fourth looks,” Carrick said. “They were finding themselves, finding their identity and doing very well.
“We’ve added a big piece, a big splash with (centre) John Tavares. I don’t know what else is out there, what moves (management) tried or didn’t try. It doesn’t matter, this is our team, you do the best with what you’ve got. You could sift through the rosters of the two teams in the final and maybe find the kind of players who weren’t in our lineup last year, but we were at home watching on TV. That’s how things go.
“I think you have our entire blue-line coming back with the (guidance) of our development staff, which is a very good one.”
Toronto has lost Roman Polak to the Dallas Stars and brought in Ozhiganov from the KHL. Hainsey and Morgan Rielly were a set, Nikita Zaitsev will be looking for a bounce-back year with his partner, the sometimes skittish Gardiner. Then it’s Dermott, Carrick, Ozhiganov and a push from firstround picks Timothy Liljegren, Rasmus Sandin and Marlies’ big man Justin Holl.
Dermott hopes his double dose of playoffs last season pays off.
“Personally, I wasn’t too happy with my showing (versus Boston). But it was my first NHL playoffs and I’m not too worried. You watch video, you break it down, you move forward and get better. Try not to think about your faults too much, try and learn from them. I’m a better player for it now.”
Carrick had his own philosophy heading into the off-season, after he wasn’t used in the playoffs.
“I was able to go home and embrace the hockey nerd of sorts, watch (other playoff teams). It’s demanding emotionally when you’re freshly (eliminated). Jealousy is a difficult thing to chew on. I’d joke about it by saying if you had three or four dogs and you gave them all treats, the last one’s gonna be upset. “Sometimes that treat in hockey is playing time, a personal role and closer to that, team success. You refresh, re-set and re-grow that love of the game and watch with a fresher set of eyes.”
Carrick found dealing with new GM Dubas a pleasure, taking a US$1.3 million deal for 2018-19.
“Lou always treated me with respect in negotiations. Kyle is a little bit more willing to have a discussion. Lou was always good to deal with, but it was a little bit more of a ‘management’ conversation. It’s ‘tone’ things. They’re very different.”
Newly married and immersed in some Hawaiian culture during his honeymoon, Carrick worked out with a group of players in his native Chicago area, including Patrick Kane, while playing in a competitive summer league.
Head coach Mike Babcock who was consistent in his post-season comments that the Leaf defence is not in dire circumstance its critics insist, did stay in touch with Dermott all summer.
“He’s not been in my ear, but he’s been following up with me, asking how summer is going, how workouts are going,” Dermott said. “I see him around here now and then. Once we get going he’ll be pushing everyone.”