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The Toronto Marlies are hoping to rebound from a sluggish start in the AHL North Division Final, as they take on the Syracuse Crunch at Ricoh Coliseum on Tuesday.
The Marlies trail 2-0 in the best-of-seven series after a lopsided 8-5 loss in Syracuse on Saturday, that saw dominated by an energetic home squad which held Toronto to only eight shots on goal in the first two periods.
Toronto will be without center Frederik Gauthier for the rest of the playoffs, who suffered a season-ending lower body injury (thought to be a broken leg) after being checked into the boards by Syracuse defenseman Jake Dotchin in the second period on Saturday.
Dotchin, who earlier this season injured Marlies forward Kasperi Kapanen with a low hit, was suspended three games by the American Hockey League on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old split time between the Marlies and Maple Leafs this season and was expected to challenge for the fourth line center spot at training camp, but Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe indicated that the recovery time from the injury could last well into the 2017-18 regular season.
“(Gauthier) had been playing as good a hockey as I’ve seen, and especially with how he’s been skating and the extra speed that he’s been bringing for us (has) really established him as our top center.” Keefe said on Monday. “(This is) a big blow to him, because I think it would have been big for his development to keep pushing along here in the playoffs and obviously this will effect his summer and his training and his push for next season.”
Keefe indicated that Brett Findlay will replace Gauthier in the Toronto lineup on Tuesday and that winger Kerby Rychel is day-to-day with an unspecified injury.
While the Marlies are focused on the short-term consequences of this injury, the parent Maple Leafs have to be concerned of the long-term ramifications.
Gauthier has made great strides in improving his skating since being drafted 21st overall in 2013 by working with Toronto skating consultant Barb Underhill, but it is unknown how a serious leg injury will debilitate his ability to keep up the pace.
The Leafs are set with Auston Matthews, Nazem Kadri and Tyler Bozak as their top three centers, but the loss of Gauthier, the expected departure of veteran Brian Boyle via free agency and the lack of viable options up the middle within the organization may force GM Lou Lamoriello to give Boyle more term or salary to stay and/or add reinforcements that can fill the fourth line role and/or play with the Marlies and step into the NHL when needed.
The signing of journeyman Ben Smith was thought to be solely for qualifying for expansion exposure purposes, but the 28-year-old filled a fourth line/faceoff specialist/penalty killer role well until suffering a hand injury last December.
The organization will likely add 2016 draft pick Adam Brooks to the fold next fall and possibly 2012 selection Dominic Toninato (who completed his senior season at Minnesota-Duluth), but neither are considered NHL-ready options.
Center is a position that Toronto may look to address for the future at the 2017 Draft in Chicago, but if Boyle decides to sign elsewhere this summer, Toronto will likely look for help at center from Europe or dip into the trade or free agent market.
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