LEAFS GEAR UP FOR SEASON
Veteran defenceman John-Michael Liles put on waivers as roster trimmed ahead of tomorrow’s opener against Habs,
MARK ZWOLINSKI Morgan Rielly may not be the only young gun poised to start the season with the Maple Leafs.
Carter Ashton also has a shot at the opening-night lineup now that the Leafs have adjusted their roster to meet the NHL submission deadline and reduced their payroll to meet the lowered salarycap ceiling for this season.
Rielly emerged as the big story out of camp — a 19-year-old defenceman who stole the show from veterans like JohnMichael Liles and Korbinian Holzer, both of whom were placed on waivers Sunday.
But the Leafs also placed enforcer forward Frazer McLaren on injured reserve (broken finger), which appears to have opened a roster spot for Ashton.
The Leafs also traded centre Joe Colborne to the Flames for draft picks late Saturday night after coming to a crossroads with the big-bodied, likeable Calgary native, who never quite clicked in Toronto. Colborne will now get a positive change of scenery and a chance to make the roster of his hometown NHL team.
It all came together during a complicated day of waiver moves, a trade and injury assignments, as the Leafs readied their roster for submission to the NHL by Monday’s 5 p.m. deadline (nothing is official until then). The club opens the season Tuesday in Montreal, and is likely to start the campaign with 11 skaters, seven defencemen and two goalies.
The 11 forwards for now are Joffrey Lupul, Tyler Bozak, Phil Kessel, Nazem Kadri, James van Riemsdyk, Nik Kulemin, Dave Bolland, Mason Raymond, Colton Orr, Jay McClement, and Ashton.
The club would have started the season with 13 forwards, but McLaren will be off the radar for at least 24 days while on injured reserve, and the suspended David Clarkson will miss the first 10 games of the season.
The seven defencemen include Dion Phaneuf, Carl Gunnarsson, Cody Franson, Mark Fraser, Jake Gardiner, Paul Ranger and Rielly.
Rielly and Ashton emerged from among a solid group of young guns in camp that included Troy Bodie, Jamie Devane, David Broll, Andrew MacWilliam and Stuart Percy. Virtually all of those players, and the other young prospects in camp, made solid impressions, and it wouldn’t be a stretch to see some called up during the season as injury fills.
But Rielly and Ashton stood out the most. Rielly seemed almost destined to make the Leafs, especially with Liles caught in a bad-news year in which his age (32) and high salary combined to make him a convenient candidate for waivers as the Leafs tried to reduce their cap to the $64.3 million limit, the lowest in the life of the new collective bargaining agreement.
But the youngster also showed poise and NHL-level skating, making himself a very tough choice for the Leafs to overlook.
Rielly led all Leafs in ice time in the final tune-up game Saturday, as management took one long, last look
“He’s played well enough to stay,” said Leafs GM Dave Nonis. “But if he doesn’t get in games, he’s going back. And he may not play a game. He’ll start as a No. 7.”
Ashton “opened eyes” from the moment he slashed McLaren and broke his finger during an intrasquad scrimmage early in camp. The big winger, who has never quite utilized his size and skill to their full potential, now appears poised to remain with the team, at least until McLaren returns.
“Each opportunity to get with these exhibition games, I think I improved each game. . . . I got more used to the speed of the game,” Ashton said after Friday’s preseason tilt in Detroit.
“I tried to be as physical as I could and do little things to find success. Whether it’s taking pucks to the net, forechecking, being defensively sound, I want to take advantage of each opportunity.”
Rielly led all Leafs in ice time in the final tune-up game Saturday, as management took one long, last look at him before making their decision. While the roster has not been submitted yet, it appears Rielly will remain in Toronto for at least nine games, the limit before the clock starts ticking on the first year of his entrylevel contract.
Rielly’s presence spelled the end for Liles. Rather than pay Liles the $11.25 million over three years remaining on his contract, it was easier to place him on waivers and realize a savings on the cap. The Leafs save $925,000 with Liles in the minors.
Toronto now has just under $125,000 of cap space available, with 22 players on the NHL roster.
In addition to Liles and Holzer, the Leafs also waived T.J. Brennan, Trevor Smith, Bodie and goalie Drew MacIntyre. Other NHL teams have 24 hours to claim waived players.
Liles and the five other waived players are expected to report to the Marlies if they are not claimed.