Leafs lean on Malhotra to scout Canucks

When head coach Sheldon Keefe assigned each of his assistants one of the Maple Leafs’ six North Division foes as a pre-scout project, he had the ideal man in mind for Vancouver.

Not that assigning Manny Malhotra took a lot of thought, but it’s just one more area where the former Canucks player and staffer has proven his worth to his new team. More than three years on the ice and another three on their bench has rounded out Malhotra’s resume.

The Leafs have a threegame home stand against the Canucks starting Thursday.

“Manny’s been a great help, in general and around the room,” Mitch Marner said after Wednesday’s practice.

“From power play (the Leafs’ unit is first in the league) to the faceoff circle. He’s been a big help on our bench with calmness. He’s another guy you can talk to for his thoughts on some plays. And it’s always good to get some of that (Canucks’ intel). You have to know what you’re going up against if it’s three games.”

TEACH Your CHILDREN

Black History Month 2021 comes in the wake of massive social upheaval in the united States and the world, a time of reflection for pro athletes such as Wayne Simmonds. The Scarborough-born winger was already on the front lines of addressing inequality earlier in his career with American teams and annual summer causes in his own neighbourhood.

“I have seen a little bit of strides here and there, but it’s on us as players and individuals to continue to speak up and use our platform for those who are underserved and underprivileged,” Simmonds said. “That’s the goal: have every child have the same opportunity as the next.

“There’s a saying, ‘If you can’t see it, you can’t be it’. I’ve followed up with that. I look to be a positive influence (on future Black players). You kind of pay it forward. I learned when I was little that a community really raises a child. Hopefully, all the kids will learn something.”

Simmonds was not alone as teammate Travis Dermott wore a Black Lives Matter T-shirt during Wednesday’s Zoom availability.

“There’s stuff we need to clean up, things that are completely not acceptable,” Dermott said when asked about what he’s seen in the past year.

OLYMPIC Dreams?

Marner was staying neutral when asked about Hockey Canada naming its 2022 Olympic management team, for which he might get consideration.

“It’s not really in my mind. You dream of playing on Team Canada at the Olympics, worlds or world juniors, but whenever that time comes and the camp comes, we’ll see what happens.”