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. *******
With the NHL not getting back in action until Wednesday, the Boxing Day match at Scotiabank Arena between the Toronto Marlies and Belleville Senators is the only pro show in town. It was expected that goalie Dennis Hildeby would get the star, but the 22-year-old was not dressed.
Hildeby has been excellent for the Marlies in his first full AHL season, with a 7-4-2 record, 2.08 GAA (second in the league), and .921 save percentage, but instead, Newfoundland Growlers goalie Luke Cavallin got his first AHL start and Keith Petruzzelli served as the backup.
While this very well could be a nothing story and just a coincidence, anything having to do with goaltending within the Toronto Maple Leafs organization (as chaotic as it is) raises an eyebrow. The Marlies play in Cleveland on Wednesday and they simply could be holding Hildeby for that game.
Veteran Martin Jones has picked up the slack admirably with Ilya Samsonov suffering from a broken psyche, but with Joseph Woll out at least another month, the Leafs either need Samsonov to provide the club with better goaltending than the 11 goals he’s allowed in his last two starts, or GM Brad Treliving will have to add goaltender to his pre-trade deadline wish list.
*******
In the opening day of the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championships, both Leafs prospects Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan were in action for Canada in their 5-2 victory over Finland. Minten had three shots and two penalty minutes in 16:43, while Cowan had one shot on goal and two penalty minutes in 15:39.
*******
Please Subscribe to the Off The Post page on YouTube