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With their sweep of a two-game set in Winnipeg, the Toronto Maple Leafs have a stranglehold on top spot of the North Division with an eight point lead with just over two weeks left in the regular season. The Leafs hold their playoff opposition in their hands, with four of their eight games against the fourth place Montreal Canadiens and two against the Vancouver Canucks, but will likely be more concerned about getting their own house in order.
The projections for the return of injured veterans Zach Hyman and Zach Bogosian are around the start of the playoffs, which gives head coach Sheldon Keefe a chance to give players like Adam Brooks, Rasmus Sandin and possibly Ben Hutton a chance to get into game action, but the most critical area where the Leafs need to find out what they have on hand is in goal.
Jack Campbell bounced back from a three-game losing streak with two solid efforts against the Jets, but over the next two weeks it will be imperative that the Leafs find out if Frederik Andersen is healthy enough to return. After an off-day, the Leafs took to the ice at the Ford Performance Centre in Etobicoke, ON with Andersen on the ice for practice for the first time in over a month.
Frederik Andersen is on the ice before #leafs practice. He hasn't participated in a full session with the team since his last start on March 19. pic.twitter.com/jvG89V6If8
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) April 26, 2021
It’s been a process I’ve had to deal with. Right now, I’m just happy to be out with the guys.… Andersen said. "It's great if I can get in some game action. I think we have different options to try to do that. but right now my focus is more just to see how it progresses day by day and I think we still have some time to go and hopefully get into some game action."
It is unknown what Toronto’s plan is for Andersen prior to the playoffs, but if he returns before the end of regular season, it will necessitate a lot of cap maneuvering by GM Kyle Dubas and Asst. GM Brandon Pridham.
If it is the Leafs intent to activate Andersen and get him one or two games to knock off the rust, it is likely that Hyman and/or Bogosian would have to be placed on LTIR to fit Andersen’s $5 million salary under the cap. Another option could be to let Andersen play with the AHL Marlies on a conditioning stint, which would allow him to stay on LTIR through the end of the season, but not against NHL-level competition. *******
Lot’s of â¤ï¸ for the 💙ðŸ¤
— Norman James (@IamNormanJames) April 26, 2021
Convo on Podcast.#theleafsconvo https://t.co/Xdn3CDLVCI
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