The Toronto Maple Leafs broke a three game losing streak with a 4-2 victory over the Washington Capitals on Saturday. The win improved the Leafs record at home to 8-3-0, but the club heads out on a normally difficult three-game Western Canada road trip beginning with Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday.
Leafs head coach Mike Babcock indicated on Saturday morning that he was looking for more effort and consistency from his defensive corps. Toronto did yield 35 shots to Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals, but a good chunk of that was in the third period, after Auston Matthews scored to make it 3-0.
Morgan Rielly had a good bounce back performance after struggling in New Jersey last Wednesday, assisting on Nazem Kadri’s third-period insurance goal and making an impressive dash into the Capitals zone that resulted in James van Riemsdyk’s power-play goal in the second period.
There have been rumors in recent days that Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello has interest in making some moves to alleviate the club’s roster squeeze and potentially upgrade on the blueline.
TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Tuesday that the Leafs are trying to trade center Peter Holland, who was a late addition to the lineup after William Nylander was scratched with an upper-body injury.
Holland went pointless in his first game since November 12, but played over three minutes on the power play.
Lamoriello reportedly is looking for a “shutdown defenseman” to shore up a blueline that has been chiefly responsible for allowing 69 goals against (26th in the NHL).
Calgary GM Brad Treliving was listed as being in attendance for the Leafs – Capitals game at Air Canada Center on Saturday, which may be an indicator of some trade interest between the Flames and Toronto. That speculation gained a bit more credibility, as
Sportsology’s Russ Cohen spotted Leafs Director of Pro Scouting Dave Morrison taking in the Flames – Flyers game in Philadelphia on Sunday night.
The Flames are having an equally difficult year defensively, (70 goals – 27th overall) and have a league-worst -19 goal differential, thanks in part to a slow start from center Sean Monahan and the loss of winger Johnny Gaudreau to a broken finger.
Calgary has depth on the blueline with Mark Giordano, TJ Brodie, Dougie Hamilton and Dennis Wideman on the blueline and could be looking to move someone out for budgetary reasons after signing free agent Troy Brouwer and Monahan and Gaudreau to long-term extensions.
Recent speculation has the Flames shopping the 23-year-old Hamilton, who is in year two of a six-year, $34.5 Million extension signed after being traded by the Boston Bruins to Calgary in June 2015.
Hamilton is a Toronto native selected ninth overall in 2011 with the second of the two first round picks traded by the Leafs in the Phil Kessel deal and would give the club a big right-hand shot defenseman with experience playing in the Atlantic Division and capable of playing in their top four, but acquiring him would surely cost Toronto a hefty price.
It is also possible that the Flames could be interested in Holland or possibly Josh Leivo, who was drafted by current Calgary Team President Brian Burke in 2011.
Toronto has a great deal of flexibility with their salary cap, since none of their injured reserve players (Nathan Horton, Joffrey Lupul, Stephane Robidas) have been placed on LTIR, that would allow the Leafs to add someone like Hamilton or perhaps an expiring contract like Wideman without much concern for their salary.
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The Toronto Marlies bounced back from a 5-4 overtime loss to Syracuse on Friday with a 4-1 win over the Utica Comets on Saturday at Air Canada Center. Colin Smith had a goal and two assists, Brendan Leipsic (who leads the American Hockey League with 22 points) scored his sixth goal of the season and former KHLer Jeff Glass made 22 saves in his first AHL start since 2009.
Glass was a surprise starter on Saturday after backing up Antoine Bibeau in Syracuse on Friday. It was learned following the game that goaltender Garret Sparks had been suspended indefinitely for violating team policy after an exchange on social media.
“(Sparks) was sent home for some team policy reasons when we were on the road,” Marlies head coach Sheldon Keefe said following the game. “I’m familiar with the circumstances, but we’re not going to comment any further from there. Management handled the situation.”
It is unknown how long the 23-year-old Sparks will be suspended, but his absence shines a light on the depth in goal in the Leafs organization.
Jhonas Enroth was signed to backup Frederik Andersen in August to a one-year contract as a stop gap measure, as neither Sparks nor Bibeau are thought to be ready for the NHL. Bibeau was AHL goaltender of the month in October, but has not shown many signs of being someone ready to jump to the next level.
Kasimir Kaskisuo is starting his professional career in the ECHL and has a 3.36 GAA and .884 save percentage with the Orlando Solar Bears and 2016 draft pick Joseph Woll is having a good freshman year with Boston College (8-3-1, 2.38 GAA, .920 save %) and could be in the mix for a spot with Team USA at the upcoming World Junior, but both are years away from possible contribution.
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