For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter
The Toronto Maple Leafs hope to salvage the final game of their final Western road swing of the season, as they take on the expansion Seattle Kraken at the Climate Pledge Arena on Monday. The Leafs came up empty in regulation losses to Calgary and Vancouver, scoring only four goals after generating over 100 shots on goaltenders Jacob Markstrom and Thatcher Demko.
The Kraken (16-28-4) will not be a pushover, as they have played .500 hockey over the last 10 games and are coming off a 4-3 victory over Anaheim on Friday.
Team USA on top! 2-1 early in period 2.
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 13, 2022
📺: @USA_Network and @peacockTV
💻: https://t.co/hGNASPOhqW pic.twitter.com/uBxngukOoe
Toronto is expected to go back to Jack Campbell in goal after Petr Mrazek started in the 3-2 loss to the Canucks on Saturday. Campbell struggled once again in Calgary, allowed five goals on 26 shots in the 5-2 loss, and has not been the same goalie since the beginning of December, with a below-average .893 save percentage and 3.28 GAA in 15 starts.
*******
Leafs GM Kyle Dubas has five weeks until the NHL Trade Deadline and for him to be able to make deals to bolster his lineup, he will likely have to make pre-emptive moves to open up cap space. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the club is attempting to do that by shopping winger Nick Ritchie.
The 26-year-old forward was signed to a two-year, $5 million contract last summer in hopes that he could fill one of the spots on left-wing vacated by free agent departures Zach Hyman, Nick Foligno, and Alex Galchenyuk, but early in the season it was apparent that Ritchie could not keep up with the pace of the play and the big winger found himself on the fourth line.
Ho-Sang âž¡ï¸ O'Dell
— CBC Olympics (@CBCOlympics) February 13, 2022
Josh Ho-Sang sets it up for Eric O'Dell who makes it 3-0 for Canada 🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/oRMZeGyL3g
Ritchie had nine points (2 goals, 7 assists) in 33 games before being placed on waivers last month and demoted to the AHL Marlies after the All-Star break.
Friedman indicated on Saturday’s Hockey Night In Canada broadcast that there has been some traction in getting a deal done, but a complicating factor is that Ritchie has a year remaining on his deal. Another hurdle may be the back-loaded structure of the deal, with a $2.5 million AAV and $3.3 million to be paid in 2022-23.
A buyout of the final year of Ritchie’s would be a negligible $300,000 cap hit next season, but Dubas is likely motivated to move him in the next few weeks, to give himself some maneuvering room in the weeks leading up to the deadline. *******
Lot’s of â¤ï¸ for the 💙ðŸ¤
— Norman James (@IamNormanJames) April 26, 2021
Convo on Podcast.#theleafsconvo https://t.co/Xdn3CDLVCI