The Toronto Maple Leafs face back-to-back games on the first weekend of the regular season, the first coming on Saturday against the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.
Head coach Mike Babcock kept the same line combinations and defensive pairings that played together in their 3-2 overtime victory over Montreal on Wednesday and confirmed at the club’s practice facility on Friday that Frederik Andersen will make his second start against the Sens, while backup Garret Sparks will be between the pipes on Sunday against the Hawks at the United Center.
With Kasimir Kaskisuo as the lone remaining netminder after both Curtis McElhinney and Calvin Pickard were claimed off of waivers, the Leafs signed veteran goalie Jeff Glass to an AHL contract.
The 32-year-old played for the Marlies during the 2016-17 season and played 15 NHL games for Chicago last season with starter Corey Crawford injured. Toronto was left without any NHL experience in goal if Andersen and/or Sparks were injured and with only Eamon McAdam as a backup option to Kaskisuo.
The Leafs goaltending situation may be temporary, as either McElhinney or Pickard could be placed on waivers in the next few weeks when Philadelphia or Carolina’s injured netminders return. Toronto will be first in line to reclaim each off of waivers and can place them with the Marlies.
The continuing saga of contract negotiations between the Maple Leafs and William Nylander does not seem to be getting anywhere closer to getting resolved. TSN’s Darren Dreger reported on Thursday that there has been little movement off an $8 Million-plus AAV from the Nylander camp’s on a long-term deal, an amount that is anywhere from $1.5 to $2 Million more per season than the Leafs are looking to sign the 22-year-old for.
Leafs GM Kyle Dubas is not seriously contemplating any trade options for Nylander, since his value is mitigated by his current status as an unsigned restricted free agent, but if the impasse continues into the season and the compromise is a two-or-three bridge deal, that likely would be the first step towards the winger’s eventual departure from Toronto.
Dubas is reportedly looking for a long term deal of six-or-more years in the $6 to $6.5 Million range, which would be a friendly number for the Leafs on the salary cap (in the same range as veteran Patrick Marleau), that would allow Toronto room to sign Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews on long term deals.
A bridge deal would allow Toronto to retain Nylander at a lower number (perhaps in the $4 Million range) for two-or-three years, but would allow him to get closer to unrestricted free agency and establish a stronger resume to demand more on his third contract. With Matthews likely making the same or slightly more than John Tavares on his next contract and Marner looking for big money next summer, Dubas may not be in a position to re-sign Nylander for a higher demand a couple years down the road.
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