maple leafs

Dubas says options may be limited at deadline; Leafs vs. Canucks

Mar 5, 2022 • 1:05 pm

Be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook! For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter *******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.******* The Toronto Maple Leafs hope that their poor outing against Buffalo was just a minor blip on the radar, as they take on the Vancouver Canucks at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday. The Leafs will have a slightly different look in their lineup, as defenseman Rasmus Sandin and winger Ondrej Kase are out of the lineup.

Sandin, who was on the ice for three even-strength goals in the 5-1 loss to the Sabres on Wednesday, is still not 100% after contracting the non-COVID illness making its way through the Toronto locker room and Kase will miss his third straight game with an upper-body injury. Rookie Nick Robertson will get his first chance to play in the top six, as he is slated to line up with John Tavares and William Nylander, while Alex Kerfoot will take his spot on the fourth line with Jason Spezza and Wayne Simmonds (playing in his 1000th NHL game). Timothy Liljegren will return and replace Sandin on the top pairing with Morgan Rielly, as head coach Sheldon Keefe continues to experiment with splitting Rielly and TJ Brodie.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are wearing special Wayne Train shirts ahead of @Simmonds17 1,000th @NHL game tonight. ðŸš‚

ðŸ“¸: @MapleLeafs pic.twitter.com/6qeqVkZLMY
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 5, 2022

Muzzin’s uncertain status leaves the Leafs approach to the deadline up in the air. Even if the Leafs are confident that the veteran blueliner will return before the end of the regular season, their primary trade target will be a blueliner (preferably a right-handed shooter to play on the second pairing). If Muzzin’s concussion issues leave his availability for the playoffs in doubt, Dubas may have to look for more than one defenseman to shore up his defense.

Toronto’s desire to add a forward may be tied to the need for a winger to play with Tavares, but names like JT Miller or Max Domi do not seem realistic based on their cap hit and what it would take to get them. If Dubas is looking for a forward, it could come at the cost of moving out the salary of Justin Holl or Travis Dermott.

*******