Holland knows he needs to play better
Young centre may sit out with Bozak ready to return, emergence of rookie Froese
Peter Holland knows Mike Babcock is right.
The conscientious Leafs centre is experiencing the fallout that comes from not following the coach’s philosophies. He sat out Saturday’s game in Montreal, needing to improve in the faceoff circle, on special teams and with his overall effort.
And while he worked his way back into the lineup Monday against Arizona, Holland, like a lot of Leafs, didn’t shine and didn’t compete consistently enough to meet his coach’s expectations.
Now, Holland and the rest of the Leafs are finding out what it takes to maintain a roster spot. Holland could be a healthy scratch again Friday when the Leafs travel to New York to face the Rangers.
The best way for him to get back in the lineup will be through hard work and better faceoff performances, but Holland may also be left in limbo for a bit, with Tyler Bozak and perhaps Byron Froese looking like better options to the coaching staff at the moment.
Froese was sent to the Marlies Tuesday in an apparent cap-related move, with Casey Bailey coming up to replace him, but after playing with the American Hockey League team Wednesday, Froese could still rejoin the team in New York.
Holland can only worry about what he can control.
“Just work hard, focus on the little things, be more consistent in the faceoff circle, just take things one at a time,” Holland said after the Leafs were put through a fast-paced, purposeful practice Tuesday.
His dip in performance comes at a time when Bozak, one of the team’s top six forwards, is returning from injury. That takes away one centre spot and Froese has reduced the job opportunities further, grabbing Babcock’s attention in two games with solid faceoff skills and a strong overall effort.
It didn’t help Holland’s cause when the Leafs’ effort dipped dramatically for the first time this season Monday night, most notably in the second period. Babcock has stressed he will not tolerate such occurrences.
“It comes back to me,” Babcock said. “I take that personally and I hope the players take it personally, too. We have an unbelievable opportunity to represent the jersey . . . and our stick-to-it wasn’t worthy (in Monday’s game).”
Babcock talked about the paying customer expecting, at the very least, an acceptable effort from the players, and about the need for his team to work all out, all the time, since it is not dotted with gifted goal scorers who can pick up the slack for an underperforming team.
“There’s guys who are high draft choices, who can play in your top six forwards and score goals . . . abuse the competition and keep the flies off (when the rest of the team is having an off night),” Babcock said. “I don’t see those kinds of players here . . . so you coach the hand you’re dealt.”
Babcock also said it is essential for players to “not let your stall in the dressing room get to close to the door.”
Holland understands the message coming from the coach; he struggled earlier in his career in Anaheim, where he started in the AHL, was summoned to the NHL and almost immediately returned to the minors.
Holland couldn’t help but feel things weren’t going to work out with the Ducks; so far, he doesn’t have that feeling with the Leafs.
“Obviously, there’s some bumps in the road and everyone is feeling them,” Holland said. “And it sucks to be taken out of the lineup . . . but (Babcock) is meeting with me, we’re seeing video and talking, so I know he believes in me. He wants me to get better, and, at the end of the day, I have to be better.”