By the end of December 2019, the Toronto Maple Leafs were, without question, the NHL’s hottest team. A 9-3-1 month had them back in a playoff picture, with little doubt that they were playing their best hockey. However, this most recent stretch has left the Maple Leafs with more questions than answers. 4-3-3 in their last 10, capped by a 6-2 loss at home to the Chicago Blackhawks. Now, the Leafs sit outside of the playoff picture, with no games for the next 8 days. Toronto clearly needs a break. They’re battling injuries and fatigue, and they need to be sharp for the season’s final stretch. However, they can’t afford to lose any more ground to the rest of the Eastern Conference. Maple Leafs’ bye week a blessing and a curse.
All-Star Goalie?
Frederik Andersen was clearly recognized as one of the league’s top goalies, getting selected to represent the Atlantic Division at the NHL All-Star Game next weekend. However, Andersen has been pulled twice in six starts. He has a save percentage of .843 in his last five games. Something isn’t quite right. Whether it’s an injury or just a dip in confidence, he hasn’t been the Great Dane the Leafs need. The rest is well needed and deserved, as Andersen is among the busiest of goaltenders in the NHL. But is playing in the All-Star Game really the best use of his time off? Make no mistake, if Andersen goes down with an injury, the Maple Leafs will not make the playoffs, and then the questions will get even tougher to answer.
Defensive Deficit for Maple Leafs
The problems in the goal are well documented, but the next line of defence has been a much more prevalent issue for the Leafs. What didn’t make things any easier for Toronto was getting this news, the morning after an 8-4 loss to the Florida Panthers.
(1/2) The @MapleLeafs announced today that defenceman Morgan Rielly underwent a CT scan this afternoon after sustaining an injury in last night’s game against Florida and will be out a minimum of eight weeks with a fractured foot.
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) January 13, 2020
Arguably their best defenceman, Rielly hasn’t looked quite right all season. He certainly hasn’t looked like the 72-point blueliner he was last year. With Jake Muzzin also out with the same injury, things went from bad to worse fairly quickly for a thin defence corps. Rookie defenders Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren have both made NHL appearances since the injury was announced, but can’t be expected to shoulder that kind of responsibility. Tyson Barrie will now be relied on to be even more of a leader for the depleted Maple Leafs blue line.
Rest up, come back strong
Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner will join Andersen in St. Louis for the All-Star festivities. For the rest of the team, a break from the season, and a chance to regroup. Muzzin could be back after the break, a return that the Leafs will welcome with open arms. The onus, while mostly on the players, also falls on GM Kyle Dubas now. The trade deadline will come up fast, and there are holes to be filled on the back end. It’s time for Dubas and his team to get creative. He has no choice, the Leafs are running out of excuses, and soon, they’ll run out of games.
