The Toronto Maple Leafs final outing of the 2013-14 season did not depart from the underwhelming performances of the last 30 days, as they lost 1-0 to the Ottawa Senators at the Canadian Tire Center in Kanata, ON on Saturday.
Sens captain Jason Spezza scored the only goal of the game midway through the second period on a power play and veteran Craig Anderson made 28 saves for his fourth shutout of the year. Most of the club appeared listless and going through the motions, but James Reimer made 36 saves and played well in what may be his final performance as a Leaf, while rookie defenseman Petter Granberg impressed in his NHL debut.
Reimer, who is a restricted free agent and will likely ask to be moved over the summer, struck a note of finality on his time with the Leafs following the game.
"I'm so blessed to be able to do what I do. And as hard as it gets at the end of the day, you're playing hockey in the NHL.… Reimer said to TSN’s Jonas Siegel. “Obviously, I would've liked to be better and I have high expectations for myself and I expect to be the best and get results, but I love this game, I love what I do and to be able to do it for three and a half years now for the best organization in the world it's been an absolute pleasure."
Granberg did not look out of place on the Leafs blueline, making a couple hits and breaking up a 4-on-1 Ottawa break late in the second period. The 21-year-old has been steady and solid for the Toronto Marlies in his first season in North America, leading the club with a +18 and honing his skills as a shutdown defender.
“He’s a puck mover and he’s a big man that plays physical.…Leafs coach RandyCarlyle said of the young Swede. “That was the encouraging thing that he came in and was able to handle the situation.…
With an expected shakeup of the defensive corps this summer, due to the restricted and unrestricted free agent status of Cody Franson, Jake Gardiner and Paul Ranger, it is likely that Toronto will give a long look to the right-handed shooting Granberg at training camp next September.
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The main focus over the next few weeks will be an analysis of the entire season with Carlyle, his coaching staff and the club’s management. The forensic investigation will not just be on the March/April death spiral, that saw the Leafs lose 12 of their last 14 games in regulation, but on the year as a whole.
“There is going to be a lot of thoughts and a lot of meetings taking place here over the next while,… Carlyle said following the game. “It won’t be a break for coaches. I know that with players, it’s a different story, but with coaching staff and management, we have an inventory that we have to go over and do an analysis of where we went and why we went and how we went and we have to look into what we(the coaches) did too.…
While Carlyle did not avoid accepting some culpability for the failings of the club, the feedback given behind closed doors will likely focus on the flaws of the club’s roster.
“It’s gonna take some time to decipher everything that’s gone on and again there will be a lot of questions and a lot of internal banter going back and forth.… Carlyle said. “There are always going to be things you think you could’ve done differently. Nobody here is absolving themselves of any responsibility.…
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Toronto’s potential wish list for a head coach to replace Carlyle could be short one prominent name, as CBC’s Elliotte Friedman reported Saturday that there are rumblings that Peter DeBoer and Devils GM Lou Lamoriello are in talks on a long-term contract extension to stay in New Jersey.
The former Toronto draft pick, who coached the Devils to the 2012 Stanley Cup Final is at the end of his three-year deal and has missed the playoffs the last two seasons.
The list of candidates available include former Florida Panthers head coach(and Canadian Olympic Women’s coach) Kevin Dineen, former Stanley Cup winner Peter Laviolette and could be expanded to include current Nashville bench boss Barry Trotz and Vancouver’s embattled John Tortorella.
The expectation is that new Team President Brendan Shanahan will have some input in hockey decisions but will work in concert with Leafs GM Dave Nonis. Reports indicate that Nonis would be willing to bring Carlyle back for his second full season, but that changes to the coaching staff and roster may have to be implemented.
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