The Toronto Maple Leafs recent run of bad play has coincided with some rough injury luck.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have only played a single period of hockey this season with their optimal lineup in tact, and recently have been without two of their top four defenseman.
Travis Dermott has a shoulder injury.
Jake Gardiner – who has been missed the most – has had a back injury.
Both players were on the ice yesterday and should be back soon.
Good news!
Gardiner and Dermott
Dermott said he'll probably miss a couple more games while getting back up to speed for #Leafs, and hopes Jake Gardiner isn't far behind him: "He’s moving really well. I’ve seen him progress exponentially. I’m excited to hopefully have him back not much longer after I come back."
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) March 22, 2019
According to TSN, Travis Dermott was in a non-contact jersey, but participated in practice with the team and should be back in a couple of games.
Dermott is in the midst of a breakout year and appears to be another home-grown star on the rise. His return will give the Leafs a massive boost, not only because he’s a great player, but because he’ll force Babcock to cut down on the ice time he gives to both Ron Hainsey and Nikita Zaitsev.
As for Gardiner, whom appeared to maybe be heading for surgery, and who people were talking about as if he’d played his last game as a Leaf, the news is even better.
Gardiner should be back just a few games after Dermott. This is the best possible news the Leafs could get as Jake Gardiner is a borderline elite player and easily the NHL’s most underrated star.
With Gardiner and Dermott, the Leafs actually have a pretty deep defense. Along with Morgan Rielly (having a Norris Trophy Season) and Jake Muzzin (scoring at a near 50 points pace since joining the Toronto Maple Leafs, and putting up crazy possession numbers whenever not paired with the skill sapping Zaitsev) the Leafs have one of the best top-fours in hockey.
While many still see defense as the Leafs weakness, it’s really not true. If healthy, their blue line is pretty good.
If, when healthy, they can get Ron Hainsey playing a more appropriate third pairing role, they stand a very good chance of getting by the Bruins and advancing in the playoffs.
For optimism on the Leafs, just consider what they’ve accomplished this year – sixth overall – and imagine where’d they’d be if they hadn’t had so many injuries.
Besides Dermott and Gardiner, the Leafs recently had Kapanen and Kadri miss games with concussions. William Nylander missed the first three months in a contract dispute. Matthews and Andersen both missed big chunks of time.
It’s not like other teams haven’t had injuries, but that isn’t the point. The point is that Leafs flirted with 2nd overall in the NHL all season without ever dressing their optimal roster. If they are healthy, they’re just as good as Tampa Bay.