The Chronicle Herald (Provincial)
Maple Leafs’ playoff roster nears completion
Jason Spezza took attendance at Monday's practice and liked how his Maple Leafs were ticking a few playoff boxes.
The options the club could have for the start of playoffs next week are becoming evident. Among forwards, Nick Foligno is back after a week away, Zach Hyman and Riley Nash were out of their red no-contact sweaters, and there were four goalies including a refreshed Frederik Andersen.
“It's taken a lot of (different) guys to get to this point and now to have everyone back is a definite boost,” Spezza said. “It wasn't a full skate today (and defenceman Zach Bogosian remains out indefinitely with a shoulder injury), but it's great to have the enthusiasm of those new guys.
“It was hard for them not being part of the group. You want to be heading into playoffs with a full roster.”
Hyman was the first-line forechecker for top guns Auston Matthews and
Mitch Marner when he sprained his knee a few weeks ago in Vancouver and was put right back to work as a netfront power-play presence on Monday.
“Great to be back and see all the new faces together,” Hyman said. “In order to do something special, you need to have tons of guys contribute. I feel we're building towards something special.”
Foligno, who had replaced Hyman on the first line, didn't get into specifics of his upper-body injury from last week. He hopes to play as soon as Wednesday against Ottawa.
“Just something I've been dealing with a bit that fired up on me at the wrong time. I still have to talk with trainers and coaches, but I'm encouraged.”
Whether the Leafs have to address an injury during playoffs or simply change their look against a certain opponent, they have more options than previous post-season shortfalls.
“Things happen in playoffs you don't foresee,” Foligno said. “Having depth at any point in playoffs is so crucial and looking around this room and seeing the names, it's cause for excitement. You have guys playing down the lineup who could be playing up anywhere. That makes you a dangerous group.”
Now for coach Sheldon Keefe to pick a starting 20 and utilize the last two regular-season matches this week for the recent scratches.
“First, we have to get these guys healthy and ready to even play games,” Keefe said of Hyman, Foligno, Nash and Andersen. “We're not there yet. Hyman and Nash, it was their first practice available for contact, but there was little of that today. Tomorrow will be a good step, whether it's them or Fred.
“The salary cap (governing the lineup in regular season) is a whole other beast I don't know a lot about.”
MONSTER NASH
Two-way centre Nash, acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets before Foligno, is coming back from his own leg injury.
“I always say he's a sneaky hockey player,” Foligno said of his friend. “He finds ways to get through to open ice. He does the subtle things, that if you're a real watchful person of the game, you appreciate them, the little things that allow you to win.
“He reads the ice so well. Guys will see how he plays and it will really complement this group nicely. Hopefully, we get him in there soon.”