Backup plan just got stronger
Having Marlies on Canadian ice could provide roster relief for Leafs
Sure, there’s this 54-year-old Stanley Cup drought that comes up in conversation now and then.
But in terms of more modern times, specifically this COVID complicated NHL season, things are going pretty well for the Toronto Maple Leafs all in all.
As expected, they’re first in the North Division, with a darn good chance to reach the NHL’s final four this spring. Joe Thornton is back, they’re mostly healthy other than Wayne Simmonds and, despite a lacklustre performance Saturday night in a 2-1 loss to Montreal, Sheldon Keefe’s squad looks more confident, talented and cohesive than any team they have put on the ice for at least 15 years.
They’ve even managed to get out of being in the same division as Tampa Bay and Boston for a season.
When you look around the rest of the league, the Leafs are indeed in good shape. Check out down the highway in Buffalo. The Sabres are scheduled to play their first game since Jan. 31 against the New York Islanders on Monday night. Head coach Ralph Krueger was sick with COVID before returning to the team on Sunday, and it’s not clear whether he’ll be behind the bench on Monday. Buffalo still has seven players on the COVID list.
New Jersey is in similar spot, and has only played nine games. Jamming 47 into the remaining 86 days of the season is going to be a chore. Minnesota has had six games postponed. The Sharks got to play in San Jose on Saturday after a month of being exiled to Arizona, and a loss dropped them into last place in the West Division.
Columbus built an off-season plan around veteran centre Mikko Koivu, and then he abruptly retired. Ottawa abandoned the Alex Galchenyuk experiment after eight games.
By comparison, life is pretty good for the Leafs. Things will get a little better for them this week as the AHL Marlies get back to work — if not necessarily for the Marlies themselves. As a welcome-back gift, they get a week of minus-30 C weather in Winnipeg, which should mean GM Laurence Gilman won’t have to listen to many complaints about the high cost of living for AHL players in Toronto for a while.
The Marlies will face the Manitoba Moose four times in five days at the same time the Leafs are playing the Ottawa Senators three times in four days. The Marlies will then have four more against the Flames’ AHL affiliate, the Stockton Heat, in Calgary.
While COVID has played havoc with all hockey leagues, it’s come with added problems for NHL clubs in terms of their developmental systems and scouting plans at the professional and amateur levels.
The Leafs are somewhat fortunate, given their top four picks from the 2020 draft are Europeans and have been playing overseas. Other teams have been able to place a few of their ’20 draft picks with AHL clubs in the U.S., but they have only played a few games.
The Leafs currently have four players on their taxi squad: defenceman Martin Marincin, newly signed forward Scott Sabourin, Russian winger Alexander Barbanov and thirdstring goalie Joseph Woll. Sabourin and Woll haven’t played a game since March, and Marincin hasn’t played since the NHL’s summer playoff bubble. So they aren’t exactly game ready. Now that the Marlies have started, the Leafs can get more players they might need this season into game action.
Nick Robertson and Rasmus Sandin are both with the Marlies this week in Manitoba. Robertson could be back in the NHL soon after recovering from a knee injury.
Defenceman Timothy Liljegren is also down there with head coach Greg Moore’s group, as are centre Adam Brooks and winger Joey Anderson, picked up from New Jersey for Andreas Johnsson. Brooks and Anderson each got into one game with the Leafs this season. Liljegren, a former first-round pick, hasn’t played a game in 11 months.
Now, at least they can all get their seasons started in earnest.
The Marlies are returning as one of five affiliates of NHL teams playing in a newly arranged Canadian Division. Ottawa has Belleville, Montreal has the Laval Rocket, the Winnipeg Jets operate the Moose and Calgary has Stockton.
Having their farm teams in Canada will make life easier for their parent clubs if they want to recall players. So none of those Marlies, as long as they stay in Canada and follow COVID protocols, would have to quarantine first if they were called up to the Leafs.
Basically, that means the Leafs have suddenly doubled their reserve manpower. They don’t need it now, but they almost certainly will. Now those players should have a much better chance to contribute.
Edmonton has decided to continue to operate its farm club out of Bakersfield, Calif., which will complicate matters if GM Ken Holland needs a player. Any call-up would have to quarantine for 14 days.
Vancouver is operating its AHL team in Utica, N.Y., sharing with the St. Louis Blues. The Canucks also lent three players to the Moose, so at least they won’t be subject to a 14-day quarantine if recalled.
As an organization, then, the Leafs are getting a boost this week. Any edge you can get in this wacky season, you gratefully take it.