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The Toronto Maple Leafs will begin life without Auston Matthews against the Calgary Flames at Scotiabank Arena on Monday. The injury that knocked the club’s leading scorer out of Saturday’s 3-2 comeback win over the Winnipeg Jets will keep the 21-year-old out for a minimum of four weeks.
“It’s tough for (Matthews), he did a lot of work this summer on his shoulders to get stronger, but sometimes these things happen.… Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said. The club is expected to place Matthews on injured reserve on Monday, but Babcock said after the club’s morning skate that he will not call up anyone from the Toronto Marlies to take the center’s spot on the roster.
The Leafs shuffled their lines after the Matthews injury on Saturday, and that spurred a third-period rally. Babcock shifted Kasperi Kapanen to the line with John Tavares and Zach Hyman, moved Par Lindholm up the middle and inserted Andreas Johnsson on the unit with Connor Brown and moved up Nazem Kadri between Patrick Marleau and Mitch Marner.
Frederik Andersen (6-3-0, 2.56 GAA, .916 save percentage) will make his fifth straight start in goal for Toronto and will be opposed by Mike Smith, who has allowed 13 goals in conseutive losses to Nashville, Pittsburgh and Washington.
Life without Auston....for awhile at least. #Leafs lose Matthews for 4 weeks or more. My piece for @sportingnewsca @sn_nhl https://t.co/s9XdyDMoOl #TMLTalk
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) October 29, 2018
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The injury to Matthews is not likely to have an effect on the contractual impasse between the Maple Leafs and winger William Nylander. There has been little news on any movement since GM Kyle Dubas traveled to Switzerland for a face-to-face meeting with the restricted free agent and his father on October 16.
With their leading scorer out for at least a month, the Leafs would benefit the return of Nylander’s offensive prowess, but the stalemate has little to do with this year’s salary cap and short term concerns, and more about the price point for 22-year-old going forward.
Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston reported on HNIC’s Saturday Headlines that Dubas busy travel schedule was even more extensive as previously thought. Besides a trip to New York to meet with agent Lewis Gross and scout the Rangers - Flames game on Sunday, the Leafs GM traveled to Philadelphia to watch the Flyers and Colorado on Monday, traveled with the club to Winnipeg on Wednesday, flew on to Minnesota to check out the LA Kings - Wild game on Thursday and then finished out the week in Raleigh at the Hurricanes - Sharks game on Friday.
This coupled with a pair of Leafs scouts at the Ottawa-Avs game in Denver on Friday and Carolina AGM Rick Dudley being at Scotiabank Arena twice in the past couple weeks just adds to the speculation that the trade option is being investigated in earnest by Dubas.
While the Leafs have until the December 1 deadline to sign Nylander before he cannot play in the NHL this season, procuring offers and considering every option well in advance of that date makes sense since it give Dubas plenty of time to maneuver.
It is hard to believe that the Nylander camp wants to push things to the brink and risk losing millions by signing at least a short-term bridge deal instead of playing in Sweden or the KHL for the rest of this year, with no tangible difference in his situation.
St. Matthews is hurt. So are we. Let’s discuss and find a feeling. Here’s our latest Leafs Convo collab. @MikeInBuffalo #TMLTalk #Leafsforever #TheLeafsConvo @AM34 @junotheleafs @davidnestico200 https://t.co/ZU5yTjlCnF
— Norman James (@NormanJamesTLC) October 28, 2018
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