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The Toronto Maple Leafs outlasted the Minnesota Wild in a dull, defensive-minded affair at Scotiabank Arena, with William Nylander scoring in overtime to give the Leafs a 2-1 victory on Friday. David Kampf scored in regulation, and Ilya Samsonov made 24 saves for his 21st victory of the season.
“It went the way we expected it to go. It was a game where we expected it to be tight. Every game Minnesota plays is tight all the way through.” Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said following the contest. “It is one play or mistake here or there that usually makes the difference. That is kind of the way it worked out. There was not a lot of excitement there.”
The Leafs practiced in Etobicoke, ON prior to heading west for the first of a five-game road swing against the Seattle Kraken on Sunday, but not before making some roster moves that will open up cap space in advance of Friday’s trade deadline.
After taking to the ice on Friday, Toronto activated goalie Matt Murray from long-term injured reserve. Goalie Joseph Woll and forward Joey Anderson were demoted to the AHL Toronto Marlies, and veteran defenseman Jordie Benn was placed on waivers. If Benn clears, it will open up an additional $750,000 in cap space and will have the Leafs carrying just 21 players (12 forwards, 7 defensemen, and 2 goalies).
It is believed that Toronto has around $2 million in cap space to work with, which depending on salary retention on the part of other teams, could mean that GM Kyle Dubas could fit Jackets blueliner Vladislav Gavrikov, Canucks defenseman Luke Schenn, and a few other economical rental options, depending on what the Leafs are willing to deal before 3 pm Friday.
Toronto got some clarity on what they will be working with early Saturday, as the Arizona Coyotes chose to take the Leafs 2025 second-round pick to complete the Nick Ritchie/Ilya Lyubushkin trade made last February. Toronto now has their third-rounder, along with a fifth and sixth-rounders in the 2023 Draft. A third-rounder is reportedly what Vancouver is looking for in a deal for Schenn, the Leafs 2008 first-round pick who is being scratched for trade-related reasons by the Canucks.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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