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Leafs Q & A - September 22nd Edition, Sunday Convo

September 22, 2019, 7:32 PM ET [230 Comments]
Mike Augello
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are through half of their preseason schedule after a 5-3 loss in Buffalo on Saturday, but head coach Mike Babcock sounds if he is no closer to making some key roster decisions, as battles for spots at forward, defense and backup goaltender are not clear 10 days out from the start of the regular season.



In the upcoming week, the Leafs coaching staff and management are expected to cut down significantly to get more work for their starting lineup, but it is a good time to check in with Leafs Nation to see what is on their mind:



A - Babcock was not pleased with the group that played in Buffalo (Jordan Schmaltz, Kevin Gravel, Ben Harpur, Justin Holl) and of that group, Schmaltz was the player that was thought to have the best chance to make the Leafs because of his mobility and right-hand shot, but as it stands right now, the best tandem might be 19-year-old Rasmus Sandin and Martin Marincin.

Sandin has been calm, composed and mature beyond his years in game action so far and Marincin has been the best of a bad lot, who could be utilized as a penalty killer. Others like Harpur and Timothy Liljegren could still make a case for themselves, but time is running out.




A - That is a legitimate concern, and it cannot be proved or disproved until well into the regular season. Players like Jake Muzzin will be extremely important for his ability to throw checks like he did against the Sabres Victor Oloffson on Saturday, but if a player decides to take liberties like Rasmus Ristolainen did with Tyson Barrie, will there be someone who can send a message that is not acceptable.




A - If Kyle Dubas wanted to start the Sheldon Keefe era with the Leafs, he had the power to make that decision. The roster is more oriented to what Dubas wants than ever before and now it is up to Babcock to adapt or face the consequences. Babcock will get the season and the determining factor will be Toronto's success in the playoffs. If they make a fourth early exit, it is hard to imagine that a coaching change won't happen, but if the Leafs get into the second round or deeper, then I believe he will be safe.




A - Sticking with the forwards, Ilya Mikheyev has made the team and will play with Alex Kerfoot on the third line to start the season. The question is how successful he will be making the transition from the KHL to the NHL. Kenny Agostino played very well on Friday and is likely a fit in place of Kasperi Kapanen on the third line or on the fourth if Babcock chooses to move Moore up in the lineup. Gauthier will play wing or center on the fourth line to start the season, but could be the odd man out when Zach Hyman returns in November.




A - The Leafs do not have the cap room to make any moves unless they are trading out salary in the deal or sending someone down to the AHL. They are also at 49 pro contracts and if they choose to sign Michal Neuvirth, they have no space to pick up a defenseman on waivers. For those reasons, it is likely that someone currently on the roster will make up the bottom pairing to start the season and if they do not play well, then Babcock will not hesitate to bring up someone else and give them a look.




A - Neuvirth played two periods in Buffalo on Saturday and even though he faced 22 shots, was not seriously tested. The 31-year-old will likely see action in two of the remaining four games, but I'm not sure that will be enough evidence to convince the Leafs to sign the veteran goalie to a contract with their current constraints.

I could see the Leafs do the same thing that they did with Karri Ramo in 2016, signing him to a tryout contract and allow him to prove he can stay healthy for a month or so while Hutchinson backs up Frederik Andersen. If Dubas was open to the waiver option, then he would not have passed on Tampa's Louis Domingue earlier this week.




A - The answer is yes. The Leafs have used the entry-level slide on Liljegren the last two years while he has played in the AHL, but whether he plays with the Marlies or in the NHL, he will use up the first year of his deal this season.

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