At the rate that Toronto Maple Leafs players are falling, one wonders whether there will be anyone left to suit up by the end of their tumultuous 2015-16 season.
The Leafs announced on Tueaday that defenseman Matt Hunwick would have season-ending surgery to repair a sports hernia, joining veterans Joffrey Lupul and James van Riemsdyk in being shut down due to injury.
Rookie defenseman Viktor Loov was recalled on an emergency basis to replace Hunwick in the lineup, but the 23-year-old Swede suffered an unspecified injury during team practice and was unable to participate in Wednesday’s morning skate.
The injury necessitated the emergency recall of veteran TJ Brennan for the game against the New York Islanders at Air Canada Center. The 26-year-old leads all AHL defenseman and the Toronto Marlies with 55 points (22 goals, 33 assists) in 59 games and will likely pair with rookie Connor Carrick.
The Leafs have lost six games in a row and are 1-9-2 in their last dozen games, but are getting positive contributions from young prospects called on Deadline Day from their AHL affiliate.
Garret Sparks (3-3-1)has been rotating with veteran Jonathan Bernier since being recalled on February 29th, but will make his second straight start after a 24 save effort in a 4-3 shootout loss to Buffalo on Monday.
P-A Parenteau will return after missing five games with a muscle strain, replacing Brad Boyes in the lineup.
New York returned to Brooklyn after going 6-1-0 on a Western road swing and beat Pittsburgh 2-1 the Barclay Center on Tuesday, but lost goaltender Jaroslav Halak to a lower-body injury late in the third period. Thomas Greiss, who is tied with Halak with 18 victories and has a team-best .930 save percentage will be between the pipes for the Isles.
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While the reviews of most of the Leafs rookies have been positive in their brief NHL stint, head coach Mike Babcock has been more deliberate in his analysis of William Nylander.
“We’re getting (Nylander)as many reps as we can and we’re putting him out there and he has to find his way.… Babcock said on Wednesday.
The 2014 top pick has one goal in five games since being called up and has shown signs of being a potential impact player at the NHL level, but the Leafs head coach has found areas were Nylander needs to improve on before next season.
“Generating offense without cheating.… Babcock said was the biggest challenge for Nylander. “The problem with this league is if you turn it over or don’t play well defensively, they spend your whole shift in your zone.…
Nylander would play his 10th NHL game on St Patrick’s Day against the Florida Panthers and based on the Leafs struggles and the Marlies recent three-game losing streak, it is likely that the 19-year-old center will be sent back to the AHL before then.
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The long rumored outdoor game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings was announced by the NHL on Tuesday. The match between the Original Six clubs will take place on January 1, 2017 at BMO Field in Toronto. The Centennial Classic is a rematch of the 2014 Winter Classic in Ann Arbor, MI, in which the Maple Leafs won 3-2 in a shootout.
The 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic will feature the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on Monday, Jan. 2 and The 2017 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series will match the Pittsburgh Penguins against the Philadelphia Flyers at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Feb. 18.
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