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The Toronto Maple Leafs Have a Game Despite Big Trade

By James Tanner

TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 25: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks for a return pass against the New York Rangers during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on January 25, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Rangers 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, CANADA - JANUARY 25: Auston Matthews #34 of the Toronto Maple Leafs looks for a return pass against the New York Rangers during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on January 25, 2023 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Maple Leafs defeated the Rangers 3-2 in overtime. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs made a huge trade last night but they still have a game to play tonight.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will take on the Montreal Canadiens for the third time this season.

They lost to them at the start of the season.

They lost in OT to them a couple weeks ago.

If there was ever a game the Toronto Maple Leafs were 100% going to win, it is tonight.

Probably! 

Toronto Maple Leafs vs Montreal Canadiens

Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari are both expected to play tonight.

The Leafs have sent Pontus Holmberg down and Alex Steeves down.

Joseph Woll is starting in net, and with Ilya Samsonov apparently sick, they have recalled Erik Kallgren on an emergency basis to back him up.

This is one of the most anticipated games of the year, simply because of the trade. The trade might not be the Slam Dunk, Grand Slam some are making it out to be, but it’s clearly an awesome acquisition.

The Leafs haven’t had too much success lately, losing to Ottawa, then winning against Washington, but losing to Boston, then splitting a pair of games with Columbus, before winning against Chicago on Wednesday.

Clearly this team should be winning more than half of its games, but it’s also a long season and it’s not like the Leafs have played badly – they have been missing Auston Matthews and Ilya Samsonov didn’t play for most of those losses.

With wins tonight and tomorrow against the Blackhawks, the Toronto Maple Leafs can still go four out of five during this easy part of the schedule.

The Leafs are 13 back of Boston, and just one up on Tampa.  With the addition of Ryan O’Reilly and Noel Acciari, they should be even better.  Their lineup just got a ton more flexibility, skill, and toughness.

If they still act to add to this team before the trade deadline, they might just enter the playoffs with the best roster anyone has seen in the cap era.  It’s a possibility that can come true if they were to still pick up either Timo Meier or Jakob Chychrun.

Probably that’s a long shot, but either player could fit under the cap simply by sending Justin Holl and Alex Kerfoot back the other way.

Next. Trade Grade. dark

Speaking of Holl, he was healthy-scratched on Wednesday, but is back in the lineup tonight at the expense of Conor Timmins.

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