The Toronto Maple Leafs received some good news this morning.
The Toronto Maple Leafs and their fans breathed an audible sigh of relief this morning when the team’s star goalie returned to practice.
Andersen had been out since last week when he was injured in a game vs the Panthers.
Michael Hutchinson came in in relief and the Leafs lost. Hutchinson wasn’t much better in a Leafs loss to the Rangers two nights later, and after that the Leafs traded for Jack Campbell.
Campbell played in two games this weekend and was pretty good, all things considered.
Toronto Maple Leafs News and Notes
It appears as if Freddie is good to go.
Frederik Andersen looking very much like a goalie, manning his own cage, while Hutchinson and Campbell rotate through the other one.
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) February 10, 2020
Sheldon Keefe just barreled in on Andersen with an unsuccessful backhand attempt, which was fun
With Andersen back at practice, you can expect him to be taken off the I.R, then see Hutchinson put on waivers for the purposes of sending him to the Marlies.
If he is taking part in practice you have to assume he will play tomorrow when the Leafs play the Coyotes, an team who also may be getting back their injured started as well.
In other Leafs news, the team recalled Pontus Aberg.
Absences from #leafs practice today: John Tavares (ill), Justin Holl (ill), Zach Hyman (bumps and bruises), Kyle Clifford (personal).
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 10, 2020
Hence the Pontus Aberg recall.
Frederik Andersen will participate and is eligible to come off the IR for tomorrow's game.
Aberg has 38 points in 43 games for the Marlies this year, and would most likely look great on a line with Spezza and Clifford, though he could play higher if needed.
It is not surprising that some players are sick, considering that William Nylander missed both games over the weekend and players work in close proximity to each other.
Besides the Andersen news, it was also reported today on TSN that Ilya Mikheyev skated for the first time since getting the tendons in his wrist sliced by a skate.
Mikheyev is still expected to be out a while and it is not yet known if he will return this season, but it’s at least a good thing that he’s skating.
The Leafs are also without Morgan Rielly, who has a broken foot and may or may not be back before the end of the season.
Nylander was also back at practice today, and if Nylander and Andersen are back tomorrow, that’s a significant upgrade to the lineup they were icing on the weekend.
Nylander has eight goals in his last 13 games and is on a nine game points streak. He currently has the best possession rating on the Toronto Maple Leafs, and is the team leader in 5v5 points per 60 minutes of ice time.
Despite all the injuries and the bad scheduling that have worked to sabotage the Toronto Maple Leafs season so far this year, the ascension of William Nylander into one of the very best players in the NHL has been something to watch.