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The Toronto Maple Leafs hope to continue their turnaround after snapping a three-game losing skid against Minnesota earlier in the week as they face the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday. The Leafs played excellent defensively, got a pair of goals from Rocket Richard leader Auston Matthews, and 29 saves from Petr Mrazek in a 3-1 win over the Wild on Thursday, but will be challenged by the young Wings, who have scored four goals in a pair of losses to Toronto in late October and late January.
Winger Nick Robertson will make his season debut after being recalled from the AHL on Friday, but head coach Sheldon Keefe could not confirm what his lineup will look like against Detroit with the club dealing with a non-COVID related illness. Ilya Mikheyev took part in the optional skate on Saturday morning after missing the second half of the game on Thursday, but forwards John Tavares, Pierre Engvall, and defenseman Travis Dermott will be game-time decisions.
Jack Campbell (23-8-4, 2.46 GAA, .920 save %) will go for the Leafs in goal after struggling in a 4-3 overtime loss in Columbus on Tuesday, while Alex Nedeljkovic (14-14-5, 3.01 GAA, .907 save %) will be between the pipes for the Wings.
Robertson missed over three months after suffering a non-displaced fracture of his right fibula in mid-October, but since returning in early February, the 20-year-old has six points (3 goals, 3 assists) in six games with the Toronto Marlies and has been more focused at both ends of the ice.
"I'm just excited. It's kind of the first time playing with a lot of fans and to be in a familiar area like Michigan because I grew up here,… Robertson said. “It's nice to have some family friends come out for the game."
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Some Leaf-related notes from Elliotte Friedman in the latest 32 Thoughts column. The Leafs putting Jake Muzzin on long-term injured reserve and with other roster maneuvering, GM Kyle Dubas could have around $7 million in available cap space for the March 21st deadline, but that is if Muzzin remains out until the end of the regular season. The season ends on April 29, which is nearly nine weeks away, but with Muzzin on his second concussion and after missing a month after the first, it is not out of the realm of possibility that Muzzin could be out that long and return for the first round of the playoffs.
Friedman mentioned the name of Canucks forward JT Miller earlier in the week and indicated that Dubas has talked to Vancouver about him, but the cost for the 28-year-old who is scoring at over a point-per-game clip with a year left at $5.25 million would be prohibitive.
Toronto’s main area to address continues to be the blueline and reported they have checked in with Dallas on blueliner John Klingberg, but it is unknown whether GM Jim Nill will move the pending UFA with the Stars tied for the second wildcard spot in the West.
Dubas has made it clear that he will not move prospects Matthew Knies, Topi Niemela, Robertson, or Nick Abruzzese for a rental. One possibility that potentially could be on the Leafs radar is Rasmus Ristolainen, Friedman reports that the former Sabre is likely to get moved before March 21 because he wants to play in the playoffs before hitting the free-agent market in July. Philadelphia gave up a first-round pick and defenseman Robert Hagg to Buffalo for the 27-year-old and will likely be looking to recoup a top pick and blueliner in the deal.
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