Toronto Maple Leafs Scrimmage Will Make or Break These 4 Players
A few Toronto Maple Leafs players will be treating Saturday night’s Training Camp scrimmage like it’s Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals.
The Toronto Maple Leafs roster is pretty much set, but there are four players who could use a huge game to secure more ice-time.
Since the Leafs have only played five games since March 11, 2020, it’s pretty easy to get excited about a team scrimmage. Typically, we’d only be able to watch highlights on Twitter and see the box score, but for the first time since I can remember, the team will actually be broadcasting this live.
Move over NFL Wild-Card Weekend, we’ve got a Toronto Maple Leafs game to watch!
The Leafs will be split into two teams on Saturday night at 7PM EST. Team Blue will face-off against Team Blue in a scrimmage, with each team rostering nine forwards, six defensemen and two goaltenders.
Here is the roster for both teams, assuming nothing changes from the January 6 scrimmage.
Rosters for today’s training camp scrimmage. #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/NU3HXN9XQn
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) January 6, 2021
Being able to finally watch the line combination of Joe Thornton-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner is going to be glorious. There has been a ton of talk about how great Thornton has looked on that top-line already in practice and I cannot wait to see it live.
Besides a few of the rookies, the next player that I can’t wait to see in a Leafs uniform is Jimmy Vesey. I’ve been talking him up more than almost anyone right now because I really think he’s going to seize his opportunity on the second-line. Having never played on a line consistently with players that are as skilled as John Tavares and William Nylander, I wouldn’t be shocked if he scored a goal during the scrimmage.
It’ll be great to be able to finally watch Toronto Maple Leafs hockey again, but there are four players that need a great performance to help their chances at cracking the everyday roster.
Let’s take a look at those four players now.
#4. Travis Dermott
Travis Dermott is going to play a number of games this season, but he’s currently slotted as the seventh defenseman on the Leafs depth chart. Despite being with the team for a few seasons now, he’s unfortunately been pushed aside for Mikko Lehtonen and Zach Bogosian.
Since Lehtonen was the KHL Defenseman of the Year and Bogosian is coming off a Stanley Cup victory with the Tampa Bay Lightning, both defensemen are going to get an opportunity over him to start the season. However, Dermott could show Sheldon Keefe and the entire organization that he deserves a top-six spot with a huge game.
Since the roster is split in half, Dermott is going to play a ton of minutes, which is only beneficial to him. Previously drafted 34th overall in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft, Dermott has the skills to become an everyday defenseman in the NHL.
His skating ability is elite and he’s at his best when he’s rushing the puck up the ice. However, it’s his defensive zone play that can be troubling. Dermott will most likely be playing against the Mikheyev-Engvall-Hyman line a lot, so if he’s able to shut down that match-up, it may help him get a few more games this season.
Obviously it’s just one scrimmage, but every game counts when you’re fighting for your job.
#3. Pierre Engvall
Talk about a fall from grace. Engvall seemed like a great secondary-scoring option with the Leafs and turned into someone who couldn’t crack the top-12.
With the many forward additions, Engvall has seemed like the odd-man out and someone who will fit perfectly on the “Taxi-Squad.” Although that squad is better than another season in the AHL, playing everyday minutes in the NHL is every player’s dream.
Engvall was previously outside of the top-12 but an injury to Alex Kerfoot has given him a great opportunity on the third-line beside Mikheyev and Hyman. Both of those wingers are sound defensively and can retrieve the puck, which should help create scoring chances for Engvall.
As a result, Engvall has a great chance to prove to the Leafs that he should be in the line-up every night, instead of on the “Taxi Squad” or AHL. Even if he scores a hat-trick, it’s not going to be enough to push Alex Kerfoot out of the third-line centre position, but a great game could make the Leafs think.
The “Taxi-Squad” is going to be an interesting wrinkle to the Leafs line-up this season, so a great performance by Engvall could make him a shoe-in to replace Jason Spezza on the fourth-line centre position every other night.
#2. Rasmus Sandin
In my opinion, Sandin could jump into the line-up every night, but at the same time, I don’t think he needs to. However, that could all change if he proves to be one of the best defenseman on the Leafs roster Saturday night.
Sandin is going to play a ton of NHL games in his career, but he’s still incredibly raw. In 28 games played last season, we definitely saw some good, but we saw a lot of bad. He was outworked physically a lot of the time and showed his age as a rookie defenseman in the NHL.
Sandin is only 20-years-old and will be on the team’s blue-line for a while. Although he’s slotted in as the eighth defenseman with little signs of moving up, you’d have to think he wants to show the organization that he’s capable of playing in the NHL every night.
Paired with Dermott, both players have a ton to prove. Sandin has the luxury of time and progression (compared to Dermott), but this is still a big moment for Sandin to showcase his talent.
If Sandin can play a great game this weekend, Leafs fans would be ecstatic to know that they have eight legitimate NHL defenseman on the roster. Injuries are going to happen and Sandin will most likely have to step up at some point this year, so a good performance from him Saturday will help his chances of getting more ice-time this season.
#1. Nick Robertson
Who’s going to win the 12th forward job? Alexander Barabanov or Nick Robertson?
Robertson has been treated as the 13th forward all training camp and it seems like the Leafs are set on starting Barabanov over him on Opening Night. However, this is his moment to shine.
Robertson is a flashy offensive threat and someone who should make his line-mates better. Playing alongside Adam Brooks and Joey Anderson, that young trio should make some noise during the scrimmage. Both Brooks and Anderson look set to be on the Toronto Marlies roster to start the season, but Robertson could make them look a lot better.
Similar to Sandin, Robertson is going to be with the Leafs for a very long time and have a great NHL career, but it may not be his time, yet. The offensive skill of this roster is one of the best in the NHL and it’s a tough line-up to crack. Despite the likelihood that he’ll be on the “Taxi Squad” to start the season, a huge scrimmage could help shift Sheldon Keefe’s mind.
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Robertson’s shot is unbelievable, so if he’s able to score one or two goals during the scrimmage, he could find himself as the 12th forward over Barabanov most nights.