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Is the rotation coming to an end? Marleau returns to Sharks

October 9, 2019, 6:59 PM ET [208 Comments]
Mike Augello
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have not played with the same lineup since the beginning of the regular season last Wednesday, but head coach Mike Babcock hinted on Monday after the loss to St. Louis that it may be time to go with a more stable lineup.

“We've rotated back and forth now for four games. Are we going to do it for two more or is this now, you know, the National Hockey League and the best guys play?” Babcock said.

At their practice facility in Etobicoke, ON on Wednesday, the Leafs went through their paces (in preparation for Thursday’s contest against Tampa Bay) with the same lineup that played against the Blues, including the fourth line unit of Nic Petan, Jason Spezza and Frederik Gauthier, an the bottom pairing of Rasmus Sandin and Justin Holl.

Every fourth liner saw less than 10 minutes ice time, but the unit did combine for an impressive goal from Gauthier that tied the game in the second period, while Sandin played a season-high 15:20, Holl 12:51 and both killed penalties against St. Louis.

“(The depth players) have had two (games) a piece. One of the reasons we play eight exhibition games, the NHL guys played four, it gives us a fair chance to evaluate everyone else.” Babcock said. “Anyway you look at it, the guys have had quite a bit and not only do we want to be right, we want give the guys a fair chance and we think we’ve done that, but that doesn’t mean that it will be the same next game.”

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Former Leaf Patrick Marleau was not out of the NHL for long, as the veteran winger signed a one-year, $700,000 contract with the San Jose Sharks on Wednesday. Marleau was dealt by Toronto to Carolina for either their 2020 or 2021 first round pick to clear his $6.25 Million cap hit, and was signed by his old team due to a string of injuries.

Marleau told Babcock via text that he wanted to return to the Sharks because it was the best thing for his family, but also said that the 40-year-old’s legacy in Toronto will be felt for years to come.

“He really helped out our young guys, he gave us a real good pro, an example of how to eat, how to workout, train, practice so we could get on the process of changing the culture. Then as time goes on and you get more and more guys and your own guys grow up, it's probably not as important. But it sure was off the start." Babcock said. “When (John) Tavares is looking for someone to phone, to find out whether he should come here or not, you got Patrick Marleau….he’s a pretty good guy to phone.”

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