For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter The Toronto Maple Leafs appear to be on the verge of getting one of their injured defensemen back, as Travis Dermott participated fully with his teammates at the Mastercard Centre on Thursday and could be medically cleared to return against the Ottawa Senators in Kanata, ON on Saturday. “I’ve been taking my time, in here working hard with the strength, sports science guys and all the trainers. I’m pretty happy to be back at this point.… Dermott said. “That was our goal since the day I got hurt, just try to get look to see if I could get back for a few (games) before playoffs and get back into the rhythm of things.… Jake Gardiner also skated on Thursday, wearing a red non-contact jersey, but it is still uncertain whether he will be able to get back before the end of the regular season in Montreal on April 6 or be ready for Game 1 of the first round series vs. Boston, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, April 11. “I’m just trying to take it day-by-day, see how it goes and hopefully I can keep progressing,… Gardiner said. (Getting back before the end of the season) timing wise, getting back into the groove of things would be huge if I could.… Head coach Mike Babcock indicated on Friday that he hopes that Gardiner can get back into the lineup by next Thursday when the Leafs play their final regular season home game against Tampa Bay. As a bit of insurance, the club plans to recall defenseman Calle Rosen from the American Hockey League after playing this weekend. Rosen missed over a month with a foot injury and the Toronto Marlies play in Utica on Friday and Laval at home on Saturday. While most of the attention on the Leafs blueline is focused on how they will perform against the Bruins, GM Kyle Dubas has to be looking at the future of the club’s defense and how the pieces will fit for next season and beyond. Gardiner and Ron Hainsey are unrestricted free agents at the end of this season. The 28-year-old did not want to discuss whether surgery was considered for his back issues on Thursday, but if they persist it could have a chilling effect on what he can get on a new deal this summer and might keep Toronto in the mix on a short-term extension. Hainsey is a favorite of Babcock and is heavily relied upon as Morgan Rielly’s defense partner on the top pairing, but as we saw last season with the exodus of Leo Komarov and Roman Polak, being a trusted player of the head coach is not a guarantee of being back. After trading their 2019 first round pick, forward Carl Grundstrom and defenseman Sean Durzi for Jake Muzzin, it is likely that Dubas will make a push to re-sign the veteran defenseman (similar to how Tampa re-upped Ryan McDonagh after acquiring him from New York last February). The question is how much of a raise will Toronto have to give Muzzin from his current $4 Million AAV and whether he wants to stay with the Leafs. Dermott is eligible to sign an extension on July 1 and based on the proactive nature of Dubas to get Trevor Moore, Nic Petan, Rosen and others locked up, it would not be surprising to see the Leafs try to get the 22-year-old signed to a bridge deal or a long-term extension, especially with the likelihood that Dermott will step in for Gardiner as a puck carrier. *******
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