Keefe has plenty of options at his fingertips
His roster appears set for the Toronto Maple Leafs' regular-season opener on Wednesday against the visiting Montreal Canadiens.
For Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe, however, there will be numerous legitimate options if he doesn't like what he sees.
That goes for both forward and defence.
“We're starting to see the potential of guys like Joey Anderson and Adam Brooks (at forward) between the scrimmage and again (Saturday in the Blue and White game), those guys really stood out positively,” Keefe said. “Travis Boyd is getting more comfortable.
On the blue line, no one should bat an eye if Rasmus Sandin or Travis Dermott replaces Zach Bogosian at some point. In fact, considering the Leafs play backto-back in Ottawa against the Senators on Friday and Saturday, we would be surprised if Keefe doesn't use some players who had been idle.
What seems clear, for now, is that newcomer Mikko Lehtonen would have to play his way out of the lineup, even with his inexperience in the National Hockey League. Ditto for Alex Barabanov on the fourth line.
What does Lehtonen, named the top defenceman in the KHL in 2019-20, find among the challenges in transitioning to the NHL?
“I have to sometimes give the puck away (to an area to avoid danger), don't force the game, that's the biggest thing,” Lehtonen said. “You don't have that much time. You have to make a simple play.”
His ability to get the puck on net on Saturday stood out.
“He moves the puck with confidence, especially on the offensive side of the red line, gets it to the net,” Keefe said. “Probably the biggest positive of all is his attitude. He's a hard worker. He listens well, he asks questions. He responds to coaching.”
NICK KNOWS
Joe Bowen nailed it on Saturday night with his call of Nick Robertson's power-play goal in the third period.
“Wow!” Bowen barked into the mic with his trademark enthusiasm. “What a shot! Holy mackinaw! Nick Robertson shows you what everyone is talking about”
Indeed it was, the one-timer that Robertson unleashed on goalie Aaron Dell after taking a pass from John Tavares. Watch the replay and ask yourself how Dell might have stopped it.
Still, Robertson, 19, is bound to be on the outside looking in once the roster is set. The winger is taking his immediate future in stride, and no one could convince us it won't be long before Keefe gives him a look in a game.
LOOSE LEAFS
Among the many crucial elements for the Leafs will be the quickness with which Morgan Rielly and TJ Brodie find chemistry as the team's top defence pair.
“He's good at going back for pucks, he's a good skater, makes a good first pass. We're just going to try to build and get better as time goes on,” Rielly said … Curious to see what happens if Alex Kerfoot (leg) is not able to go against Montreal. Pierre Engvall played in Kerfoot's spot on the third line between Ilya Mikheyev and Zach Hyman on Saturday, and Keefe wasn't singing Engvall's praises. “I expect better from Pierre,” Keefe said.
Engvall scored, and Keefe noted that “we might be coming up, if not past, the one-year anniversary of his last goal.” Close. After Jan. 6 last season, Engvall scored once, and it was on Feb. 22 against non-NHL netminder David Ayres. The Leafs had the day off on Sunday.