Testing out D options before the deadline; Leafs vs. Blues (maple leafs)

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Testing out D options before the deadline; Leafs vs. Blues

By Mike Augello

Feb 19, 2022 • 7:48 am

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Be sure to like HockeyBuzz on facebook! For the latest Leafs updates or 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.******* The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to finish off their short two-game homestand on a winning note against the St. Louis Blues at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday. Toronto is coming off an impressive 4-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Thursday, but is expected to have a tough time with the Blues, who lost to the Leafs 6-5 in St. Louis last month and are third in the Central Division with 62 points. The Leafs roster situation was clarified on Friday after the Winnipeg Jets claimed center Adam Brooks off of waivers. Defenseman Timothy Liljegren was recalled from the AHL Marlies after having been demoted earlier in the week to make room for Brooks. Head coach Sheldon Keefe once again is shaking up his defensive pairings, inserting Liljegren on the second pairing with veteran Jake Muzzin, moving Rasmus Sandin back to the left side with Justin Holl on the bottom pairing, and healthy scratching Travis Dermott. "It's good to be versatile, to be able to move around and play with whoever," Muzzin said after the morning skate on Saturday. The 2018 first-rounder has primarily played on the left side in the NHL, but played the right side at times with the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds and a bit with the Marlies, while Liljegren has been there for most of his four AHL seasons in Toronto. Sandin played nearly 16 minutes in the win over the Penguins but was caught out of position on Evgeni Malkin’s third-period goal. "(Sandin) was good, I mean it's not easy. There's a lot of different plays, reads, and stick detail that is completely different (on the right side)." Muzzin said. "(Timothy has) got lots (of upside), he sees the ice well, skates well, he shoots the puck well. He's playing with more confidence and the upside is huge for him." With just over four weeks remaining until the NHL trade deadline, the Leafs mixing-and-matching on defense makes a lot of sense, since they are likely looking to find out if Sandin and/or Liljegren are capable of stepping up into a top-four role in a playoff-type pressure situation.

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