Simmonds playing his way up the lineup
Veteran’s hot streak, dedication to improve impressing coach Keefe
If Wayne Simmonds ends up on the second line in Thursday’s game with Vancouver, it won’t be because the Maple Leafs are taking a chance on him. It will be because he has earned it.
Simmonds, normally the anchor of the third line, practised with second-line regulars John Tavares and William Nylander on Tuesday. Part of that stemmed from the team’s injury bay, which added third-line centre Alex Kerfoot to a group that includes Joe Thornton and Nick Roberston, and from the struggles of Ilya Mikheyev, who is still looking for his first goal of 2021.
But head coach Sheldon Keefe is among many observers who have noticed Simmonds’ growing comfort in a Leafs uniform and his dedication to making himself a better player.
“I think on the road trip, he was a real standout for us,” Keefe said of Simmonds, who scored goals in three consecutive games against Calgary and Edmonton.
“With the injury to Jumbo (Thornton), it’s allowed us to move things around a bit, and it’s given him more opportunity … he got lots off the jump, he looks quick, he’s on the puck, he’s around the net, he found a way to score in three straight games for us. It’s given him a little extra confidence, a little extra boost.
“As for the lines, we haven’t made any decisions as to what we’re going to do there. We just wanted to give that a look there, and I thought Wayne looked great in practice today. We had him in a development session before practice, and he was one of our players (Monday) who took the option of coming in to get some extra work … he’s learned to really value the development sessions we have, whether it’s in the off-season or during the season here, he’s seen the value in that.
“He’s seen some areas he can improve on, took it upon himself to get the work … we wanted to give him a look with John and William (Tuesday).”
Keefe said Kerfoot is suffering “the same thing that Auston (Matthews) had,” which is believed to be a hand issue. Matthews missed a game, and Kerfoot’s availability for Thursday’s game is uncertain.
Simmonds, with his hot hand of late, might help Keefe and his staff address a decline in the team’s possession figures on offence. While the Leafs enjoyed a successful road trip and climbed to a North Division leading 7-2-1, the team’s normally dominant possession metrics in the offensive zone declined over the course of the trip.
Toronto’s offensive zone possession times in the last five games were 24:31 at even strength and 31:20 overall, down from 29:56 at even strength and 40:37 overall in the first five games.
“On this past road trip, we saw a dramatic reduction in our pace in how much we had the puck and played on offence,” Keefe said. “Some of that is the teams we played against … Edmonton and Calgary are good with the puck and good on the rush. We played with the lead for a good portion in those games but I don’t think we accomplished that well, There’s been a distinct drop from the first five games we played and the last five.”
Toronto has been battling its five-on-five offensive game for much of the season. The Leaf have lacked the speed and the pressure needed to break down defences and cause the confusion that creates good scoring chances and second chances.
Simmonds could be a cure. Every one of his 31 even-strength goals since the 2017-18 season came from the inner slot area or low in the faceoff circle.
“He’s had a lot of success in this league, he’s played with a lot of great players, he knows how to be productive in all areas of the ice, and certainly with his size and skating ability, he’s tough around the net and the boards,” Tavares said.