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Morgan Rielly To Resume Skating

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Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters including Luke Fox of Sportsnet that Morgan Rielly’s return to the ice is “imminent,” though a return to game action is still quite a ways down the road. The veteran defenseman was ruled out in late November with an MCL sprain and placed on long-term injured reserve, which will hold him out through at least December 17.

In his absence, Toronto has actually had incredible defensive results, with Mark Giordano and Rasmus Sandin stepping into the vacated minutes on the left side. When he is able to return, it’s not clear exactly who will come out of the lineup, given Conor Timmins’ recent stretch of strong play as well. The Maple Leafs, who are expected to be without Jake Muzzin all year, suddenly seem to have quite a bit of defensive depth.

Mac Hollowell Returned To AHL

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With Jordie Benn nearing a return, the Toronto Maple Leafs have sent Mac Hollowell back to the AHL. Given that the team is heading on the road, Benn’s activation seems imminent.

Hollowell, 24, received a chance to make his NHL debut when the Maple Leafs suffered several injuries to their defense and played six games with the team since November 23. In those matches he registered two points, showing off the offensive upside that made him a fourth-round pick even at his small stature. Still, that 5’9″ frame was also tested by the size and strength of NHL players, especially during his short time killing penalties.

While the Maple Leafs might have a useful depth piece, it seems unlikely that Hollowell will become a full-time option for the team at this point. He was essentially replaced in the lineup by Conor Timmins, who has now played in four straight games and had arguably his best game as a professional last night, recording three assists in 18 minutes of ice time.

With Timmins in place, a healthy T.J. Brodie back in the lineup, and Benn close to a return, the Maple Leafs suddenly seem to have plenty of depth at the position again. Morgan Rielly, Victor Mete, and Carl Dahlstrom remain out, but Toronto now ranks second in the league in terms of goals against, allowing just 70 through their first 30 games. Even if Hollowell’s play was relatively encouraging, it will be difficult for him to get many more opportunities if the group continues to get healthy.

Latest On Jake Muzzin

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Few players currently active in the NHL have had as stunning career revivals as Luke Schenn has had in recent years. Just a few seasons ago the 2008 fifth-overall pick would be known to most as a Toronto Maple Leafs draft disappointment who ultimately settled in as a bottom-of-the-lineup depth defenseman. Then Schenn signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning, won two Stanley Cups, and went to Vancouver where he has become a steady rock on an otherwise volatile defense. Now, his agent is singing Schenn’s praises on social media as a potential trade deadline acquisition for a contending team.

  • The Jakob Chychrun situation in Arizona remains unsettled, as the team has still not found a suitable trade deal for their star defenseman. Per PHNX’s Craig Morgan, they’re not going to budge on their asking price any time soon. According to Morgan, that price is two first-round picks and a second-rounder or a “good prospect,” and teams such as the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins, and Florida Panthers, among others, are “still believed to be in the mix.”
  • The Toronto Star’s Kevin McGran penned a closer look at the Maple Leafs’ situation with defenseman Jake Muzzin, examining not only whether he can return from the neck injury that sidelined him, but whether he should. Based on the comments of the health experts McGran interviewed, it seems Muzzin is facing the choice of whether to potentially risk his long-term personal health in order to get back on the ice.

Jordie Benn Returns To Practice

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  • Maple Leafs defenseman Jordie Benn took part in the morning skate today for the first time as he works his way back from an upper-body injury, reports Sports Illustrated’s David Alter (Twitter link). The veteran has been out for a little more than two weeks due to the issue, his second extended absence of the season after missing the first 13 games due to a groin injury.  Benn has a goal and an assist in six games so far while logging a little over 17 minutes a night on Toronto’s back end.

Prospect Kalle Loponen Loaned In Finland

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  • After splitting time this season between two different teams in Finland’s SM-liiga, Maple Leafs prospect Kalle Loponen will be dropping down a level as Kettera of the Mestis announced they will the defender on a long-term loan during the Christmas break. Loponen spent seven games with them last season after having a limited role in the top division.  Toronto has until June 1st to sign the 2019 seventh-rounder who has two assists in 18 games so far this season.

Nick Robertson To Miss At Least Six Weeks

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It has been somewhat of a frustrating year so far for Maple Leafs winger Nick Robertson.  Unfortunately for him, the news continues to be bad for him as Sports Illustrated’s David Alter relays that he will miss six to eight weeks due to the shoulder injury that he sustained on Thursday against Los Angeles.  However, he won’t need surgery this time around and will simply rehab the injury this time.

This is the third straight season that he has sustained a significant injury.  Two years ago, a knee issue limited him to just 27 games between the NHL and AHL and last season, a non-displaced fracture of his right fibula resulted in him suiting up just 38 times.  This setback will cost him upwards of 20 contests as well, more if he winds up being out longer than this projected timeline.

Robertson had a very strong showing in the preseason that saw him pick up eight points in five games but he didn’t break camp with the big club.  Early injuries that opted up Toronto’s ability to use LTIR landed the 21-year-old on the NHL roster soon after but he has been a frequent healthy scratch and hasn’t seen a lot of action when he has been in the lineup as he’s averaging less than 11 minutes a night over his first 15 appearances even though he has five points in those outings.

Robertson is still waiver-exempt through next season and it stands to reason that he’ll be back with AHL Toronto when he’s cleared to return in order to give him a few games to get back into playing condition.  From there, the battle to lock down a regular spot in the lineup for the Maple Leafs will continue at a time when it will be just a few weeks away from the trade deadline in early March.

Pierre Engvall Suspended One Game

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5:50 PM: The NHL Department of Player Safety has announced that Engvall will serve a one-game suspension for his high stick on Durzi.

10:13 AM: Match penalties given for intent to injure come with an automatic review from the league, meaning the NHL has some work to do following the Toronto Maple Leafs-Los Angeles Kings game last night. Pierre Engvall will have a hearing with the Department of Player Safety for his high stick on Sean Durzi, which earned him a five-minute major and an early trip to the showers.

The two players were engaged all over the rink, before meeting again at center ice. After they both raised their sticks to battle, Engvall ended up swinging his down and hitting Durzi in the back of the head and neck. The Kings defenseman did not suffer a major injury, but Engvall may end up missing more than just the remainder of that game.

Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe afterward said that he didn’t think Engvall meant to make such heavy contact, explaining that “you’ve all watched Pierre play for long enough to know he doesn’t play with an intent to injure.” The 6’5″ forward had just six penalty minutes in 27 games before last night, four of which came against the Dallas Stars earlier this week for another high stick, this time on Jason Robertson.

Given the lack of injury and clean record of the 26-year-old, it seems unlikely for him to get a lengthy suspension. But the Maple Leafs should prepare for life without him for tomorrow’s game against the Calgary Flames. With Nick Robertson suffering a shoulder injury, the Maple Leafs could be down two players from last night’s lineup.

Toronto Maple Leafs Recall Joey Anderson

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With Nick Robertson out with a shoulder injury and Pierre Engvall facing a potential suspension, the Toronto Maple Leafs have recalled Joey Anderson from the minor leagues. It’s the first call-up of the season for the minor league forward, who cleared waivers at the start of the year.

Anderson, 24, does have 58 games of NHL experience under his belt, but only six of those have come since he was acquired by Toronto in 2020. A third-round selection of the New Jersey Devils, he has spent most of his time with the Toronto Marlies the last three seasons, where he continues to produce as a top-end AHL player. In 21 games this season, Anderson has 11 goals and 19 points.

A great example of a player who appears to be good enough to provide some value at the NHL level but who hasn’t received much of an opportunity, injury issues will likely be the only way Anderson finds his way into the Toronto lineup on a regular basis.

While these situations usually at least mean a bit of a pay raise for the recalled player, Anderson doesn’t have to worry about that. He is on a one-way deal, meaning he’ll earn $800K no matter which level he plays. The Maple Leafs are known for enticing a few players with the promise of NHL salaries in the minor leagues; Kyle Clifford and Adam Gaudette are two others on one-way deals in the AHL.

Latest On Nick Robertson

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Just after getting an important veteran defenseman back from injury, the Toronto Maple Leafs may have lost another player due to injury. The Maple Leafs have announced that forward Nicholas Robertson will not return to tonight’s contest against the Los Angeles Kings due to a shoulder injury. Robertson sustained the injury after taking a hit from Kings defenseman Michael Anderson. Anderson’s hit drove Robertson into the corner, and Robertson remained on the ice for some time before heading straight to the dressing room.

Toronto Maple Leafs Activate T.J. Brodie

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For the last few weeks, it seemed as though every headline revolving around the Toronto Maple Leafs was devoted to a new player heading to injured reserve. Today, the script flips. As first told to the media by head coach Sheldon Keefe (relayed by Sports Illustrated’s Mike Stephens) and confirmed by CapFriendly, Maple Leafs blueliner T.J. Brodie has been activated off of injured reserve.

Brodie, 32, landed on injured reserve nearly a month ago after suffering an oblique injury. The blueliner’s absence became part of a growing trend of the Maple Leafs losing defensemen due to injury. Even after Brodie’s activation today, the Maple Leafs still have Morgan Rielly, Jordie Benn, and Jake Muzzin (who is out indefinitely) on the injury list.

As a result, Brodie’s return to the ice is a welcome development for Toronto. Keefe has been relying on Mark Giordano as the team’s number-one defenseman in the face of all the blueline absences. While Giordano has performed admirably, it’s certainly fair to wonder if the 39-year-old will be able to handle such heavy usage as capably as he once did.

Brodie has averaged over 21 minutes of ice time per game in each year he’s played in Toronto, so even if Brodie’s offensive game remains in its diminished state his ability to weather significant minutes will be highly valuable.

So, while Brodie himself wasn’t off to the best start this season (he has just two points in fifteen games), he gives the Maple Leafs an experienced, capable veteran blueliner to help ease Giordano’s workload.

The Maple Leafs (4th in the NHL without a regulation loss in their last 10 games) haven’t missed a beat despite their beleaguered blueline, so adding Brodie back to the mix will only help Toronto remain the regular season juggernaut they have proven to be in recent years.

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