The Toronto Maple Leafs backup goaltending situation is back to where it started from, as Friday the club demoted rookie Antoine Bibeau and recalled veteran Jhonas Enroth from the Toronto Marlies.
The 28-year-old native of Stockholm, SWE was 0-3-1 in four starts, with a 3.94 goals against average and .872 save percentage with the Leafs before being placed on waivers on December 5th and played one game for the Leafs AHL affiliate, allowing three goals on 27 shots in a victory over the Hartford Wolf Pack on December 10. The 22-year-old Bibeau made his NHL debut on Sunday, allowing two goals in a 3-1 loss to the Colorado Avalanche.
In spite of GM Lou Lamoriello’s assertion that the demotion of Enroth had nothing to do with the signing of veteran Karri Ramo to a professional tryout contract, the 30-year-old Finn’s struggles with the Marlies is likely the main reason why Enroth has been recalled.
"There is no plan right now. In other words, we don't know where (Ramo is) at," Leafs GM Lou Lamoriello told the Canadian Press earlier this month. "He hasn't played in a while. We'll keep every option open. We wouldn't be doing our job if we didn't keep every option open, but there is no plan in place."
Ramo underwent major knee surgery after suffering an ACL tear with Calgary last February. In his three starts with the Marlies, the ex-Flame has gone 0-3, with a 3.80 goals against average and .880 save percentage.
Toronto’s schedule during their five-game home stand has allowed head coach Mike Babcock to go mostly with Frederik Andersen. The Leafs primary starter won in Boston on Saturday and started shootout losses to San Jose and Arizona on Tuesday and Thursday.
With days of rest in between, it is likely that Babcock will go with Andersen against Pittsburgh on Saturday and Anaheim on Monday, but Toronto has a pair of back-to-back road games (against Colorado and Arizona on December 22nd and 23rd and in Florida against the Panther and Lightning on the 28th and 29th) that will necessitate using the backup.
With Ramo’s performance being an indicator that he is not physically up to being an NHL backup yet and Bibeau perhaps not being ready for multiple starts with the Leafs, Enroth appears to be the club’s best option as a backup for the immediate future. Based on the lack of confidence that Babcock showed in the 5’10… goaltender prior to his demotion, his return to the NHL could be short lived.
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Auston Matthews scores his 14th goal and shows off some defensive prowess in the Leafs 3-2 shootout loss to Arizona.
Elite two-way forward @AM34 closing out the first period in style. pic.twitter.com/Yh91eYQxig
— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) December 16, 2016
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The Leafs also announced on Friday that defenseman Martin Marincin will be out for four to six weeks with a lower body injury. Marincin suffered what appeared to be a back injury after being tripped into the end boards by Boston’s David Krejci in the first period last Saturday.
Marincin will likely be placed on injured reserve, which will open up a roster spot, but it is unknown whether the Leafs will call up another defenseman, a forward or stay with 22 players.
Babcock responded to comments made by defenseman Frank Corrado after the club’s 3-2 shootout loss to the Arizona Coyotes on Thursday. Corrado expressed frustration in being a healthy scratch in all but one game this season and indicated that GM Lou Lamoriello has been supportive, but the Leafs head coach has chosen not to play him.
“I'm disappointed (Corrado) feels that way. If you think me liking you has anything to do with whether you play or don't play, you're missing the boat big time. I love the guys and I'm hoping for all of them that they do well.… Babcock said. “Whether you go in the lineup or not is based on how you play, period, nothing personal. It becomes personal and it's just unfortunate that he feels that way.…
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Listen to my interview with former Toronto assistant GM Bill Watters, as we discuss the current state of the Leafs, the NHL going to the Olympics and the Florida Panthers situation.
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