Listen to the post-trade deadline edition of Leaf Buzz with Norman James of CTV London at 9:30. We will be talking Grabovski/Bozak and much more.
The Maple Leafs moved another step closer to their first postseason berth since 2004 with a 4-3 victory over the New York Rangers at Air Canada Center on Monday.
Phil Kessel scored twice, including the game winner midway through the third period. James van Riemsdyk and newly acquired Ryan O’Byrne also scored for Toronto, who move to 22-13-0-4 on the season and eight points ahead of ninth place New Jersey and tenth place Winnipeg.
James Reimer made 31 saves on the night, earning his fourth win in the last five games and improving his record to 14-5-4 on the season.
Rick Nash scored a pair and Derek Stepan tied the game in the third, before Kessel replied with the game winner 39 seconds later.
Henrik Lundqvist made 24 stops for the Rangers, who remain tied with the New York Islanders with 42 points for one of the last two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
Toronto will have a difficult task in the second half of the home-and-home at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday, as New York will be more desperate in front of their home fans, but Monday’s victory assures Toronto of at least a split in the two game match and will guarantee at least a four point cushion over the Rangers with just eight regular season games remaining.
The first line of Kessel, van Riemsdyk and Tyler Bozak combined for six points and played their most effective game in weeks. Bozak was particularly outstanding in the game, leading all forwards with 23:28 in ice time, setting up Kessel for the winning goal and winning a key draw in the defensive zone with 8.1 seconds in regulation to preserve the victory.
Conversely, center Mikhail Grabovski struggled for most of the game, playing just 10:39 for the game and sitting most of the third period. Coach Randy Carlyle moved winger Nikolai Kulemin to the checking line with Jay McClement and Leo Komarov and moved Colton Orr up to play with Nazem Kadri and Clarke MacArthur.
For most of this season, Bozak has been the go-to guy for faceoffs and continues to be a good fit and regular offensive contributor with Kessel and van Riemsdyk, while the emergence of Kadri as a scoring threat has relegated the more veteran Grabovski to primarily a checking role.
Bozak looks well positioned to hit the jackpot in free agency on July 5, but Leafs GM Dave Nonis undoubtedly recognizes that the former undrafted college free agent is a better fit as a first or second line center under Carlyle than Grabovski.
If Nonis is able to get Bozak signed to an extension before July 5th, it is almost a foregone conclusion that Grabovski will be the odd man out and shopped around the league during the summer. Some believe that Toronto will have a difficult time moving Grabovski’s $5.5 Million contract with another four years remaining, but the fact that Stephen Weiss, Derek Roy and Mike Ribiero represent the top three centers in free agency will undoubtedly leave teams who need help at center. In spite of Grabovski’s struggles this season, his pedigree as a three time 20+ goal scorer and playmaker are known and valued throughout the league.
More of a question is what Nonis might be able to get in return for Grabovski. It is unlikely that he will be able to get a high draft pick and clear $5.5 Million off Toronto’s salary cap, but it is very possible that Toronto could get a player back who fits better with Carlyle’s physical brand of hockey.
Are you in favor of signing Bozak and trading Grabovski? Letting Bozak go, moving Kadri to the top line and Grabovski back to his traditional second line role?
If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.
KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information click here.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»