With just one exhibition game remaining, Leafs GM Dave Nonis and head coach Randy Carlyle have some difficult decisions to get down to the 23 players, due to injuries and to the underwhelming performance of players vying for spots on the roster.
The 3-0 loss to the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena Monday night did not provide the Leafs hierarchy with a great deal of evidence to make their evaluations any easier, as the club took eight minor penalties which resulted in a pair of Red Wings power play goals and generated little offensive pressure in eight man advantages of their own.
“We look like we got frustrated, took some dumb penalties, in dumb areas…..that are going to be calls all year…(like) slashing on the hands, holding in the offensive zone.” Carlyle said following the game. “Those are the kind of things that are showing that we’re maybe we are little fatigued right now, with the number of games in the short timeframe we’ve played, but that’s why you play these(games).”
The club got down to 29 players prior to Monday’s game, sending forwards Troy Bodie(who successfully cleared waivers on Tuesday), Petri Kontiola and Sam Carrick, defenseman Petter Granberg and goalie Antoine Bibeau to the AHL Toronto Marlies, 2013 top pick Frederik Gauthier to the QMJHL’s Rimouski Oceanic, 2014 third rounder Rinat Valiev to the WHL’s Kootenay Ice and released veteran blueliner Henrik Tallinder from his professional tryout contract.
The Leafs are off to Collingwood, ON for three days of team building before their exhibition finale against Detroit at Air Canada Center Friday night.
Injuries to Cody Franson, David Booth and David Clarkson will factor into some of the choices Carlyle and his staff will make before the season opener versus Montreal on October 8.
Franson suffered a bruised knee against Buffalo in the third period on Sunday night and the length of time he will be out cannot be determined until the swelling goes down.
Clarkson’s partially fractured orbital bone is not expected to have him miss any games, but Booth fractured foot will keep him out of the lineup for four weeks.
With 10 forward spots locked up, seven forwards(Carter Ashton, Matt Frattin, Brandon Kozun, Josh Leivo, Frazer McLaren, William Nylander and Colton Orr) are fighting over three to four remaining spots.
Orr appears to have an advantage in making the team as an extra forward because of Carlyle’s continuing belief that an enforcer still has a role in protecting his teammates, while Ashton and McLaren’s inability to crack the lineup the last three exhibition games is an indicator that they will be placed on waivers to be sent to the AHL or traded.
Frattin has been given a number of opportunities to play on scoring lines in training camp and has been unable to find the net, but may be saved by his experience and willingness to play a physical brand of hockey.
“(Frattin) has had I would say a mediocre camp. ‘Frats’ needs to find a way to regenerate some enthusiasm.” Carlyle said “I feel sorry for him right now as a matter of fact. The puck is not his friend, it’s going away from him instead of bouncing for him.”
While Nylander has shown flashes of top-end scoring and playmaking ability, the 18-year-old continues to show the need to be stronger and more consistent, which only comes with time. Leivo has fit in well when teamed with scoring forwards after scoring 23 goals in his first pro season with the Marlies, but his youth and inexperience showed on Monday taking two minors that led to Red Wings goals.
Kozun has been a pleasant surprise and has opened the organization’s eyes with his blazing speed. The diminutive winger generated a pair of Toronto’s best scoring chances in Detroit, has been utilized on special teams and after two 100+ point seasons in the WHL and four AHL seasons in the LA Kings organization, appears ready to make the jump to the NHL.
It is possible that the Leafs will keep 14 forwards and retain both Leivo and Kozun in that group, but Kozun has the advantage in staying if they carry only 13. His league minimum $550,000 salary is a plus, but the 24-year-old would be at risk of being claimed by another NHL team if he was placed on waivers, while Leivo can move freely from the AHL to the NHL.
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