Crossing The NHL’s Atlantic Division: Week 28

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Toronto Maple Leafs

By Tim Bayer of Editor In Leaf

The Tampa Bay Lightning did us all a favour and put the Toronto Maple Leafs’ playoff chances out of their misery by winning 3-0 last night. The Leafs actually played pretty well in the early stages of the game, but couldn’t solve either Ben Bishop or his injury replacement, Anders Lindback. By the time the third period rolled around, the Leafs simply looked gassed and could hardly generate any offense.

With only two games left in the season, the only thing left for the Leafs to play for are their jobs for next season. 23-year-old winger Carter Ashton was called up from the Toronto Marlies before the Lightning game and was given an opportunity to play alongside Nazem Kadri and David Clarkson, but didn’t do much with the opportunity. I would expect other youngsters like Jerry D’Amigo (23 years old), Peter Holland (23) and maybe even Josh Leivo (20) to get some playing time as the Leafs wrap-up the season.

General manager Dave Nonis will have to make some decisions on veterans who are set to become unrestricted free agents on July 1, including Dave Bolland, Mason Raymond, Nikolai Kulemin, Jay McClement and Paul Ranger. I would be inclined to sign Kulemin and Ranger out of that group and let the rest of them walk. Bolland has missed all but 23 games this season due to an ankle injury from November that he still hasn’t recovered from, and is apparently looking for a long-term, big money contract. Raymond is a good offensive player but is allergic to defense and makes some poor decisions with the puck in his own end. McClement is nothing more than a fourth-line centre with a limited skill-set.

The Leafs wrap things up with a game against the Florida Panthers in Sunrise on Thursday, followed by the most meaningless Battle of Ontario ever against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. Go Sharks.