DEADLINE PRESSURE GROWING ON LEAFS
Leafs needs to fortify depth for playoff push
Will Saturday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes be an ideal time for a Toronto Maple Leafs team picture?
Because one or two might not be around for the next outing, or maybe some heads will have to photoshopped on old bodies after Monday afternoon’s NHL trade deadline.
Thursday’s win over Pittsburgh gave the players a feel-good moment, but the next 2½ days can’t deter general manager Kyle Dubas from trying to add a little more depth, especially on the back end.
The flavour du jour is freebie Zach Bogosian, who was in the process of being bought out by the Buffalo Sabres on Friday after being placed on unconditional waivers. But buyer beware, it’s not the Bogosian who was first round pick of 2008, but rather an injury-cursed soon-to-be 30-year-old, with just 19 games this season, whom the Sabres were trying to farm out.
Bogosian, who’d refused to report to AHL Rochester, would cost the Leafs or any team near minimum wage, but he’d have to turn his back on US$1.68 million of settlement money and get on a roster by Monday for playoff eligibility.
The bigger fish, such as oft-mentioned blueliner Mathew Dumba from the Minnesota
Wild, will definitely cost a roster player — in the Leafs’ case possibly Kasperi Kapanen — or maybe a Marlie of note. And with a playoff spot so precarious, there will be temptation to be a seller where defenceman Tyson Barrie is concerned, with the fading likelihood the Leafs re-sign him by July.
Boston and Tampa Bay — two teams ahead of the Leafs and possible first-round opponents — as well as Florida, its closest rival for third place in the Atlantic Division, continue to be active after Toronto moved earlier in the month to get winger Kyle Clifford and goalie Jack Campbell.
TIP OF THE CAP
Kapanen had Jared Mccann’s signature across the bridge of his bloodied nose as a badge of honour after Thursday’s game.
“I think he caught me early on,” smiled Kapanen of their fight, a rare one for the Leafs, rarer still for himself. “It’s good. If it wasn’t me (who went after Mccann for a hit on Leafs rookie Rasmus Sandin) I’m sure someone else would’ve stepped up.”
The whole evening, with the scrap, four nice goals, 50-50 puck wins and Frederik Andersen’s work in net had people wondering where this version of the Leafs has been hiding all month, particularly at home.
“It’s the way we have to play, keep our foot on the gas,” said Kapanen, who scored on a new line with centre Alex Kerfoot and left winger Pierre Engvall. “(Repeating it) is the trick, that’s what every team tries to do throughout the season. We beat (a division leader). That shows the talent we have. We play with emotion, stick with structure, the Maple Leaf way, that’s what happens.”
FACE TO FACE
At a shade under 53 per cent, the Leafs have held the league’s third-highest faceoff winning percentage with another great night against the Pens. Two John Tavares draws led directly to goals.
“You just try to be as well-prepared for those scenarios and take advantage when you can,” Tavares said. “We generate a lot just by working hard and fighting for space and that led to open ice and opportunities.”
LOOSE LEAFS
Many Leafs credited coach Sheldon Keefe with implementing a few “battle drills” at Wednesday’s practice to get them in the right frame of mind to fend off Pittsburgh. As Keefe put it, “enjoy finding your way through difficult times.” Though the players had Friday off, expect more of those charged-up workouts when the schedule allows ... Players were also impressed when Keefe sent out five forwards for the successful 5-on-3: Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, Zach Hyman at Barrie’s point post, with the goal coming from Nylander. “I can’t think of (seeing five power play forwards) off the top of my head, but it’s no secret the skill we have up front and the back end,” Tavares said. “We reviewed it (at Thursday morning’s video session) and it allowed us to be ready to use it.” Assistant coach Paul Mcfarland drew up the five-man plan ... Pete Babando, who scored the first Game 7 overtime goal in Stanley Cup final history for the Detroit Red Wings in 1950, died Wednesday in Timmins, Ont., at age 94. Babando scored 8:31 into the second OT against the Rangers, the only other such Game 7 win coming four years later when Detroit’s Tony Leswick eliminated the Habs. A year after Babando, his former Timmins juvenile teammate, Bill Barilko, scored the Cup winner in OT for the Leafs, coming in a Game 5.