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Per John Shannon of Sportsnet, the Leafs are closing in on signing 2016 second round pick Carl Grundstrom to a three-year entry level deal.
Grundstrom started for Team Sweden at the 2017 World Junior Tournament in Montreal and Toronto and led the Swedish Hockey League in goals early this season.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs bolted to an early lead in their 3-2 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday, but they allowed an undermanned and disorganized Detroit squad to climb back into the game and keep the outcome of the game in question until the final buzzer.
Mitch Marner and Tyler Bozak set up defenseman Alexey Marchenko and linemate James van Riemsdyk in the opening seven minutes to give Toronto an early 2-0 lead.
Marchenko’s opening goal was his first as a Leaf and came against the club that placed him on waivers last month. Van Riemsdyk’s 20th of the season came on the power play and was the big winger’s first goal in 15 games.
Alexey Marchenko finds the rebound and scores on his former team! pic.twitter.com/2H4zo9riPL
— NHL Daily 365 (@NHLDaily365) March 8, 2017
Nazem Kadri increased the lead to 3-0 with his 27th goal of the season, but Detroit made a game of it as Gustav Nyquist scored in the final minute of the middle frame and 36 seconds into the third.
Uncharacteristically, the Leafs were able to hold onto their third period lead, as Frederik Andersen made eight saves to preserve the club’s first win since February 21st.
“I've got all these great things I say(about preserving leads), but none of them seem to work. The reality is we're in a really good spot. You're up 3-2, you're at home with six minute or eight minutes left or whatever it is. Play the game.… Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said following the game.
When you're loose and driving, you're flying and on top of the other team and you look fast and you're playing right. When you're tight, you look slow. That's just the reality of being in the league and learning how to win and expecting to win every night and understanding what you've got to do to win.…
With the win, Toronto kept pace in the race for the second Eastern Conference wild card spot and closed to within two points of the idle Boston Bruins for third place in the Atlantic Division, who play the Red Wings at TD Garden on Wednesday.
Toronto has 72 points and was able to put some distance between themselves and the Florida Panthers, as former Leaf goalie James Reimer allowed four goals on 19 shots before being pulled in a 5-2 loss to the New York Rangers.
Florida remains at 69 points and has lost six of their last seven games after climbing into the playoff race with five consecutive road victories in mid-February.
The Leafs remain one point in back of the New York Islanders, who beat the Oilers 4-1 in Edmonton and remain two points in front of the Philadelphia Flyers, who pummeled Buffalo 6-2 at Key Bank Center.
The Flyers and Leafs victories set a key matchup between the two clubs on Thursday at Air Canada Center.
Games to watch
Detroit at Boston
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Listen to Tuesday’s interview with former Leafs Asst. GM Bill Watters, who gives his thoughts on the deals made at the trade deadline, where Toronto stands entering the final month of the season and talks about friend and former broadcast partner Joe Bowen, who broadcasted his 3000th game on Tuesday.
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