UPDATE:
The Maple Leafs have placed defensemen T.J. Brennan, Andrew Campbell, forwards Sam Carrick, Matt Frattin and Byron Froese on waivers for purpose of assignment to the Toronto Marlies.
Goaltender Antoine Bibeau, Garret Sparks, forwards Connor Brown, Rich Clune, Zach Hyman, Kasperi Kapanen, William Nylander, Nikita Soshnikov, defensemen Stuart Percy, Viktor Loov and Rinat Valiev have been demoted to the Leafs AHL affiliate.
In addition, blueliner Petter Granberg has been designated as injured, non-roster.
******
The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered a 2-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings at Air Canada Center on Saturday, finishing their exhibition schedule with a 3-5 record and five straight losses, but leaving many questions unanswered as the club gets ready to start the regular season on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens.
The Maple Leafs outshot Detroit 29-15, but the Wings made the most of their opportunities as rookies Andreas Athanasiou and Anthony Mantha tallied in the second period.
Brad Boyes scored the Leafs only goal early in the third, but a lineup close in composition to the roster that will start the season was unable to convert on scoring chances against Detroit goaltender Petr Mrazek and a squad of players mostly bound for the Red Wings AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids.
Head coach Mike Babcock indicated he was happy with the effort and saw incremental improvements in the team’s performance, but also admitted that it is going to take time for the Leafs players to become accustomed to a brand of hockey more conducive to winning.
The goaltending situation is cloudy, as Bernier got the majority of the work during the preseason, but was outperformed slightly by backup James Reimer. That likely will not matter when things get real on Wednesday, as Bernier(who signed a two-year, $8.3 Million contract extension this summer) is expected to get the most of the starts between the pipes.
The major challenge appears to be generating enough offense in the absence of sniper Phil Kessel as the catalyst. The Leafs were able outscore them opposition to cover up their defensive shortcomings in the past, but without be able to do so with Kessel gone.
Toronto scored four times in a loss to Buffalo on September 25 and registered just three goals in their final four exhibition games, as opposition rosters got closer to what they would look like at the start the season.
Toronto has to cut down from their current roster of 41 to 23 players by 5pm Tuesday. Babcock indicated in remarks after the game that the decisions have already been made, which could mean that GM Lou Lamoriello will announce the roster decisions Sunday or Monday.
The head coach said that he went with a more veteran-laden lineup in the last few games to get them ready, which provides another hint that rookies including William Nylander, Connor Brown and Kasperi Kapanen will start the year in the American Hockey League.
The only rookie that appears to have a good chance of starting in Toronto is blueliner Scott Harrington, who was part of the Kessel to Pittsburgh deal last July. The 22-year-old played 10 games for the Penguins last season and has looked comfortable in a defensive role, but has waiver exemption which could allow him to play with the Toronto Marlies and be recalled when needed.
Will update
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Former Leafs goalie Ben Scrivens lost the backup battle with Anders Nilsson and was placed on waivers by the Edmonton Oilers. The 29-year-old former Cornell University grad had a 3.16 GAA and 15-26-11 record with the Oilers last season.
See Previous Columns
Rookies Staying Or Going?, Over/Under Numbers, Leafs vs Wings
Zajac Staying Put, Roster Decisions & Flying Under The Radar
Leafs Showing Similarities, Struggles With Transition
More Competitive Under Babcock, Campbell Signed; Leafs Vs Sabres
Leafs Release Fraser, Signs With Sens, Radio Ruination (Update)
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