LIFE IS A HIGHWAY SERIES
With division so tight, GM might not be done trading for more grit
There’s a lot of road left to travel, but if the Stanley Cup playoffs started today, Jake Gardiner and the Leafs would face the Canadiens in the opening round — one of the storylines to watch as the NHL season gets real,
The Maple Leafs will end an eight-day layoff and restart their push for the playoffs with a game against the Red Wings in Detroit on Friday night. From here on out, every game will be amplified in intensity. With the Leafs in a dogfight in the Atlantic Division with the Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins, every point matters. With that in mind, and 33 games remaining, here are some of the storylines to watch:
ARE THEY DONE TRADING?
Monday night’s deal with the Los Angeles Kings to acquire Jake Muzzin dealt with the one perceived shortcoming on the roster: a top-two defenceman with toughness. The Leafs could open the playoffs tomorrow with this roster and fully expect a deep run. But if GM Kyle Dubas is still looking to trade for depth, experience and more grit by the Feb. 25 deadline, there are a host of potential rental options. The Leafs gave up this year’s first-round draft pick in the Muzzin deal, but Dubas still has assets to offer, at the NHL and AHL level, that wouldn’t disrupt the core of the roster. The list of potential game changers thought to be available includes forwards Artemi Panarin, Matt Duchene, Wayne Simmonds and Kevin Hayes, and defenceman Colton Parayko. Other solid depth forwards out there: Derick Brassard, Mats Zuccarello, Jakob Silfverberg and Micheal Ferland. The Leafs have just over $4 million (U.S.) in cap space available, so there should be room — if the right deal is there.
THE PLAYOFFS
If the playoffs were to start today, the Leafs would face off against the Montreal Canadiens — a fantasy matchup for the fan base. With 33 games to go, however, the race is far from settled. The Leafs could also face playoff nemesis Boston in the opening round — the one team they have yet to consistently match up well against. At the moment, the Leafs sit second in the Atlantic Division with 62 points. Montreal is a point behind, while the Bruins trail by two. Toronto has a game in hand on Boston, two on Montreal. The rest of the way, the Leafs have 15 home dates and 18 away. The Canadiens play 16 of their 31 remaining games on the road. Both teams will play 22 times against Eastern Conference foes. The Leafs play 18 times against teams currently in a playoff position, the Canadiens 17. And they face each other three more times: Feb. 9 in Montreal, Feb. 23 in Toronto and on the final day of the regular season: April 6 in Montreal.
THE GOALTENDING
Frederik Andersen’s workload is bound to be a hot topic once again down the stretch and into the playoffs. Andersen started 66 games in each of the past two seasons and played more minutes than any other goalie in that span. He’s coming off a groin injury that led to a fourgame absence and enjoyed the benefits of an eight-day break, like the rest of his non-all-star teammates. The physical and mental break could pay off in the end. Andersen has started 34 of the first 49 games this season, and coach Mike Babcock has been giving him a day off when the Leafs play on backto-back nights. Toronto has six back-to-backs to go, so if the pattern continues and Andersen starts every game but those six, he will end up with 61games — roughly the target they were aiming for this season. The performance of backup Garret Sparks, however, will play a role in that decision making the rest of the way.
WHAT DOES VEGAS SAY?
Right now, the Tampa Bay Lightning — runaway leaders in the Atlantic — are the favourites to win the Stanley Cup, according to Sports Club Stats. The Leafs are considered a lock to make the playoffs, at 99 per cent, with the fourth-best shot at the Cup: 8.6 per cent, with the Calgary Flames rated second and Winnipeg Jets third.
ALSO …
Will Dubas sign star centre Auston Matthews to a contract extension by the end of the season? … Will Mitch Marner reach 100 points and, if so, what does that mean for his contract situation (as well as Matthews’), with his camp unwilling to negotiate during the season? … John Tavares, whose leadership has been crucial to the club’s success in his first season as a Leaf, has a huge road game coming up on Feb. 28 against his old club, the New York Islanders … Will Morgan Rielly win the Norris Trophy? … Will Jake Gardiner, in the final year of his contract, survive the trade deadline?