On Saturday night, the Toronto Maple Leafs will be playing a Team Blue versus Team White scrimmage game. This could be the last chance for some players to make an impact on opening night lineup decisions.
With the Toronto Maple Leafs adding much-needed depth during the off-season, there are more than a few players trying to earn one of a few available spots. I believe that Saturday’s scrimmage game is the last chance for some players to prove themselves to head coach Sheldon Keefe.
Keefe will likely want to have his opening night lineup selected before the team practices on Monday. Depending on how some players perform on Saturday night, Keefe might give them one more look at Monday’s practice before making his final decision.
Here is a look at a few question marks facing the Maple Leafs ahead of Saturday’s scrimmage game.
Question Marks On Toronto Maple Leafs Forwards
In the off-season, the Leafs changed the dynamic of their forward group by adding guys like Wayne Simmonds, Joe Thornton, Jimmy Vesey and bringing back Jason Spezza. These four players all have to clear waivers if the Leafs want to take more than one of them out of the lineup, giving them a leg up on the competition for jobs vs players like Nick Robertson who don’t have to clear waivers.
At the top of the list for bubble players trying to make the team is Robertson. The Leafs second round pick from 2019 is hoping to make the lineup and begin his NHL career. If he doesn’t make the lineup for opening night, he’ll most likely be added to the Toronto Maple Leafs taxi squad.
Next on the list is another player the team signed this off-season, Travis Boyd. He has played in 85 NHL games over three seasons for the Washington Capitals. Boyd is said to be a strong defensive player and has a decent chance of making the team on the fourth line. He could also be another option for the team’s taxi squad.
Joey Anderson who came to Toronto from New Jersey in the Andreas Johnsson trade, will be looking for the opportunity to start fresh with his new team. Anderson has played in 52 NHL games over two seasons with the Devils. I think he would better suited on the Toronto Marlies rather than the taxi squad if he doesn’t make the team.
After parts of seven seasons playing in the KHL, Alexander Barabanov is looking to turn some heads at Leafs camp for a chance to play on the team’s bottom six. If he doesn’t make the team, he will be a great addition to the Marlies once their season starts on February 5th.
Question Marks On Toronto Maple Leafs Defense
The only real question mark for the Leafs blueline is who will be on the team’s third pairing? It looks very likely that the top two pairings will be T.J. Brodie with Morgan Rielly and Jake Muzzin with Justin Holl.
This means that newcomers Zach Bogosian and Mikko Lehtonen will be battling Travis Dermott and Rasmus Sandin for the final two or three defense spots. So far it seems like Keefe likes what Lehtonen brings to the team and I don’t see the team putting Dermott on the taxi squad.
I think the biggest battle here will be between Sandin and Bogosian. Which one will be the team’s seventh defenseman on opening night? as much as I love Sandin, I think the Toronto Maple Leafs will go with Bogosian and send Sandin to the AHL to get lots of playing time with the Marlies.
This means the taxi squad will most likely feature one or both of either Calle Rosen or Martin Marincin.
It is so good to see the Leafs have so much depth to work with. It will be interesting to see who slots in where by opening night. Hockey is back and it is wonderful.