After missing 14 games with a shoulder injury, center Auston Matthews makes his return to the lineup as the Toronto Maple Leafs face the San Jose Sharks at Scotiabank Arena. The Leafs (winners of their last five games at home) were able to go 9-5 during Matthews absence, but are happy to get the star center back in the lineup after a four-week absence.
“It’s nice to be back with the team, we’ve been playing really well lately.” Matthews said Wednesday morning. “(My goal is) keeping things simple and not getting too far ahead of myself. I haven’t played a game in over month, so still have to find your game back and get your legs under you.”
The club held an optional skate on Wednesday morning, so it is unknown what linemates the 21-year-old center will have in his first game back, but Matthews will replace Frederik Gauthier in the lineup, which likely means Par Lindholm being shifted down in between Tyler Ennis and Josh Leivo.
Head coach Mike Babcock indicated that he has not decided what linemates Matthews will play with, but will make up his mind prior to game time.
Frederik Andersen will make his 21st start of the season, coming off a 38-save effort against Boston earlier in the week. San Jose went with starter Martin Jones in a 3-2 loss to Buffalo in overtime on Tuesday and will go with backup Aaron Dell (3-3-2, 2.60 GAA, .914 save %) in goal.
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Toronto made a trade on Tuesday, but it was minor deal and not the much-anticipated move of restricted free agent winger William Nylander. The Leafs acquired winger Morgan Klimchuk from the Calgary Flames for defenseman Andrew Nielsen.
Klimchuk, 23, was selected in the first round (28th overall) in the 2013 NHL Draft, posted nearly identical point totals in his first two AHL seasons (43 and 40 points) and has 8 points (3 goals, 5 assists) in 17 games with the Stockton Heat.
Nielsen, 22, was a third round pick in 2015 and scored 39 points (14 goals, 25 assists) with the Marlies as a rookie two years ago, but his lack of discipline saw his stock drop in his second year (143 PIM’s) and the big blueliner fell behind Calle Rosen, Andreas Borgman, Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin on the Leafs organizational depth chart.
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The goaltending depth of the Leafs has not recovered from the loss of Curtis McElhinney and Calvin Pickard on waivers just before the start of the regular season.
The Marlies are in the top five in goals scored in the AHL and bottom five in goals allowed, as their three goalies (Eamon McAdam, Kasimir Kaskisuo and Jeff Glass) have sub .900 save percentages and the Leafs have no viable third option if Frederik Andersen or Garret Sparks gets injured.
That problem may be rectified as soon as tomorrow, as the Philadelphia Flyers placed Pickard Wednesday morning.
The 26-year-old went 4-2-2, with a 4.01 GAA and .863 save percentage with the Flyers.
Toronto would have been first in line for Pickard because he played in 11 games for the Flyers, but he will now have to go through the league as a normal waived player. The advantage for Toronto is that other teams would have to make space on their 23-man roster if they claim him, while the Leafs can place him with the Marlies since they lost him on waivers earlier in the season.
That is the same situation that occurred with the Leafs and Seth Griffith two years ago, who was claimed by Toronto from Boston, lost on waivers to Florida, played 21 games for the Panthers and re-claimed by the Leafs and placed in the AHL after going on waivers for the third time.
William Nylander skating on Wednesday with a junior club in Sweden, which should put aside the rumors that the restricted free agent is in Toronto ready to sign a contract.
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