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Pitiful in Pittsburgh, Johnsson done for the year, Leafs deal for Malgin

February 19, 2020, 5:02 PM ET [563 Comments]
Mike Augello
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The Toronto Maple Leafs could make the playoffs this season, but the 5-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday served to further illustrate what has been apparent all season. The Leafs are a group that succeeds up to a certain level on their talent, but when it comes to outworking their opposition, they come up short.

The Leafs left goalie Frederik Andersen out to dry in the loss, surrendering three power play goals, turning over the puck with regularity, and not putting up much of a fight until they trailed 5-0 late in the second period.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe was befuddled about the effort put forth by his club after a subpar effort in a loss to Buffalo on Sunday.



“It's a different issue again today. We've talked about that. It's been a little bit different each night. So if you had special teams on your bingo card of things that are hurting our group, then you're happy today and get that one filled.” Keefe said. “As we look at the different things, whether it's giving up leads in the third period a couple weeks ago or getting scored on early on home ice or today special teams or what have you, I think the common denominator is just that the overall urgency and competitiveness of the group.

Special teams (were) the issue today, but we get a power play early in the game, we get a chance to take a hold of the game on the road against a very good team and we're just not there. (Pittsburgh was) just competing at a higher level than we are and then they get their chance and they just make it pretty clear what the difference is.”

The loss of defenseman Morgan Rielly, and forwards Ilya Mikheyev and Andreas Johnsson have had a significant impact on the Leafs fortunes, having to play the likes of Frederik Gauthier and Martin Marincin, but undoubtedly their struggles this season have come down to their overall inability to improve as a two-way club and realize that playing competently in the defensive zone is just as important as scoring in the offensive zone.

It is uncertain whether GM Kyle Dubas will be able to make any moves to improve the Toronto roster before the NHL trade deadline next Monday, but it is hard to imagine that any move will make any difference. If the Leafs are to make the playoffs, they will have to play with more determination in the remaining 21 games than we have seen in a long time.

The club announced on Wednesday that Johnsson underwent successful knee surgery, but that the winger will be out a minimum of six months.

The Leafs also announced a minor trade, sending minor leaguer Mason Marchment to the Florida Panthers in exchange for center Denis Malgin. The 23-year-old native of Switzerland played with Auston Matthews as a member of the Zurich Lions in 2015-16 and was a part-time player for the Panthers this season, with 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in 36 games.



Malgin is known as a feisty and solid defensive center, and might be considered a better fit up the middle on the fourth line than the slow and plodding Gauthier, but the deal is puzzling in that it was made with the Leafs main competitor in the Atlantic Division and because they added another smallish speedy forward for a winger with size and sandpaper.

Marchment made great strides in his skating and offensive game over his four years with the Marlies, but continued to have durability issues and perhaps convinced the Leafs that they could not depend on him to be an everyday depth forward.

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