Prospect Johnsson gets a shot
Speedy Swedish forward leads Marlies in scoring, will join fourth line
The looks in their eyes were different, but Auston Matthews and Andreas Johnsson were focused on the same thing Tuesday: getting into the Leafs’ lineup.
Matthews’ look was determined. Out for six consecutive games with a shoulder injury, the team’s star centre is inching closer to a return from a separated shoulder, though there remains no timetable. Matthews has joined the team for three workouts now and remains in a non-contact jersey.
“I’ve felt better every day,” Matthews said Tuesday, after spending an extra 20 minutes on the ice while his teammates were back in the dressing room. “It’s nice to get back on the ice with the guys and take reps and be (involved), and not skating by yourself. You have to get your timing back, which is a key to returning.”
Johnsson’s look was easy to recognize: He had a mile-wide smile the day before what should be his NHL debut Wednesday night against Dallas. Johnsson and defenceman Calle Rosen were called up from the Marlies on Tuesday. Rosen was an emergency fill-in for a team missing blueliners Nikita Zaitsev and Travis Dermott to illness. Johnsson was getting an opportunity.
The 23-year-old Swedish forward was tied for second in the American Hockey League in goals (26) and fourth in points (54). He has been a player of the week and an all-star. But the Leafs lineup has been tough to crack. Forwards Dominic Moore, Josh Leivo and Matt Martin have been in and out of the mix with the parent club.
“We haven’t had a lot of opportunity to give him a chance,” Leafs coach Mike Babcock said. “Even now, someone else will have to sit. But we have three games this week to give him a look. We’ve seen him on TV and live, and he’s had a good season. (The Marlies) really like him down there … he’s an ultra competitor.”
Johnsson skated on a fourth line with Tomas Plekanec and Kaspari Kapanen on Tuesday. That might have been the Leafs’ quickest line.
Johnsson also got reps on the second power-play unit, with Patrick Marleau, William Ny- lander, Jake Gardiner and Leo Komarov. That group could use a boost; the first unit has six of the Leafs’ last seven power-play goals. Johnsson had eight goals with the man advantage with the Marlies.
In addition to his speed, Johnsson has a strong hockey sense — he gets the puck, he protects it well, and he skates well in tight spaces, all skills important to the power play.
“I’m trying to be as intense as I can be as a player, I’d rather shoot before I pass,” said Johnsson, when asked to describe himself.
Johnsso is probably getting a look with the Leafs until Matthews returns. He would likely be better off getting top minutes for a championship-level Marlies team and joining the Leafs as needed in the playoffs. And with the future of van Riemsdyk and Bozak uncertain — both could be free agents this summer — this could be an important audition.
“I didn’t expect this call-up at all,” Johnsson said. “It’s an adrenalin rush all over your body, it’s exciting.”
Matthews, meanwhile, appears to be ahead of schedule. He’ll need to take part in a fullcontact practice first, which means he won’t return before Saturday against Montreal or, more likely, in Tampa Bay on Tuesday. But it looks like he’ll be back about three weeks after separating his shoulder; the normal timeline for that type of injury is about twice that.
“I don’t buy into that notion,” Matthews said, when asked if this forced rest will re-energize him for a playoff run.