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The inclement weather that is causing havoc in the Northeast and bringing snowflakes to Toronto (and Buffalo) has made the NHL alter the events leading up to the Stadium Series game between the Washington Capitals and Toronto Maple Leafs at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, MD on Saturday night.
A 60% chance of rain has forced the two clubs to move their practices indoors; with the Leafs taking to the ice and the Brigade Sports Complex in Annapolis on Friday morning and the Capitals skating at their normal facility in Arlington, VA.
The forecast for Saturday night’s game does not include any precipitation with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 40’s, but winds as high as 30 mph and gusts up to 40 mph could effect the quality of the play.
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Toronto Marlies forward Andreas Johnsson has followed up his selection as an AHL All-Star with being honored as the league’s Player of the Month in February.
The 23-year-old native of Gavle, Sweden leads the Leafs affiliate with 51 points (23 goals and 28 assists) in 50 games and in 11 February games scored 19 points (3 goals, 16 assists) and registered a point in all but one game last month.
An NHL scout who has watched Johnsson numerous times over the last few years believes that the former SHL Rookie of the Year is ready to make the jump to the big leagues next season, but questions whether it would be with the Leafs, since they have such a large stockpile of wingers.
There is no indication that Toronto intends to call up Johnsson before the end of the regular season, as they did with William Nylander, Connor Brown, Kasperi Kapanen and Zach Hyman after the trade deadline two years ago, even though the Leafs are comfortably positioned to make the post-season for the second year in a row.
Andreas Johnsson fights through a hold to bury his 22nd goal of the season.#MarliesLive pic.twitter.com/8HeFKA0pYR
— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) February 3, 2018
With the likely departure of James van Riemsdyk via free agency this summer, there could be an opening on the Leafs roster for a scoring winger, albeit someone more reliant on speed and playmaking than the bigger van Riemsdyk.
Johnsson, Josh Leivo and possibly 2016 second round pick Carl Grundstrom could be the focal point of Leafs training camp next September. How many of the Leafs young wingers make the 23-man roster could depend on head coach Mike Babcock and if he feels William Nylander is ready to play center on a full time basis.
Andreas Johnsson with a nifty backhand top shelf for his 21st of the season.#MarliesLive pic.twitter.com/asyrv8GNHX
— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) February 3, 2018
It is a theory that Toronto has kept Nylander not only because he and Auston Matthews make a lethal scoring combo, but that his salary demands on a new contract this summer would be significantly higher if he had played center more than just a few games.
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