As the Toronto Maple Leafs scatter to sunshine for the bye week riding the relief of a three-game win streak, now is a fine time to take the temperature of the Nation.
Here are a bunch of questions from the fan base about this roller-coaster of a hockey team that comes screaming toward the trade deadline with reasons to rejoice (Sammy’s back! Auston could hit 70!) and causes for concern (We’re gonna get trucked by Florida in Round 1, aren’t we?).
Let’s dig in…
Why doesn’t Sheldon Keefe switch up the power play? —@JakesMuzzie
Well, the coach made a vague threat to do just that in advance of Saturday’s victory in Winnipeg, where the power play woke up with a 2-for-3 performance, and John Tavares finally got off the schneid.
Heading into that game, the Leafs’ PP was in a 1-for-20 rut.
“You stay with it. How long you stay with it is a question you have daily,” Keefe said. “You want to stick with it and trust the guys who have had a great deal of success — and not just this season. If you look at the offence those guys have generated, even when the puck hasn’t gone in, we lead the NHL in a lot of categories when it comes to the power play.
“We have discussed some other options. But trusting the group and giving them a chance to work themselves through it is important, especially with a break looming. If we don’t get the response we are looking for, maybe we can start looking at other things.”
The NHL’s second-best power play of 2022-23 has tumbled to ninth place (24.6 per cent) under new assistant Guy Boucher. Which isn’t good enough considering how star-studded that top unit is and considering the Leafs’ PK ranks 24th (77.4 per cent).
Special teams have cost this group playoff series in the past.
Keefe sticks with it because the big guys get paid to deliver. And they wield great power.
The downfall, of course, is that good power-play guys like Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, and Nick Robertson don’t get many touches at all, which hurts their stat line if not their confidence. Further, there is little sense of internal competition which is comes to ice time on the PP.
One thing I was always curious about… Are GMs and organizational staff aware of when the TV camera is on them? Particularly when a GM is in the box, can they tell when a camera is pointed at them? I saw an odd side-eye of Kevin Cheveldayoff last night. —@Moosekokan
Yes, GMs in the press box generally do know that the cameras can catch them. Just as fans at sporting events should be aware that they, too, can be on film.
What the GMs don’t know is exactly when the broadcast might be showing their reaction. And when the camera is rolling for two-and-half hours, and you’re emotionally invested in the action on the ice, it’s not uncommon to forget you could be on film.
If you were a drink, what would you be? —@cowmoo123
As Bruce Lee said: “Be water, my friend.” Go with the flow.
I’d be coffee, which is just water with the necessary kick to stay up late and finish this dang game column already.
(Judging by your handle, cowmoo123, I’m guessing you were hoping I answered milk.)
Is this the year to go all in or restock the shelves what is management thinking or leaning towards? —@HockeyFanTML
Do you agree that Tre should keep his powder dry and not risk prospects or draft capital at the deadline as this roster is not a contender? —@Capital_Rob
Variations of “What should Treliving’s deadline strategy be?” dominated this edition of the mailbag, and for good reason.
With five more stabs at a Cup guaranteed in the prime Auston Matthews era, there is a feeling that Toronto should go for it.
I’d guard against a spending spree along the lines of the one Kyle Dubas executed at this time last year, however, as too many holes need plugging.
It’s impossible to watch this team play and objectively think: You know, they’re only one Chris Tanev away.
That said, Treliving should explore deals to shore up the blueline and centre position now and in the future.
In other words: Forget the Erik Gustafsson–Noel Acciari–Ryan O’Reilly quick fixes and see if there’s a Jake McCabe–Sam Lafferty type transaction out there.
Who are some players you expect the Leafs to target in a trade? —@ZackSmith44
The price on some of these players may be too high, and thus prevent Brad Treliving from pulling the trigger. Still, here are a few names of players that should be available and that the GM should consider.
Up front: Elias Lindholm, Sean Monahan, Adam Henrique.
On the back: Tanev, Noah Hanifin, Jakob Chychrun, Ilya Lyubushkin (the return!), Sean Walker, Adam Boqvist, Nick Seeler, Matt Dumba, Erik Johnson.
To be honest, we’re not blown away by the rental options said to be on the market at this point, and with few assets of his own to move, Treliving should exercise caution and try to uncover players with term.
How concerned are the Leafs that William Nylander was on a 120-point pace before his extension, and in the nine games since, he’s dropped to a 65-point pace? Forget the numbers, he doesn’t look close to the player he was before he secured his future. —@LeafsRag
Thanks to his blazing start, Nylander still leads the club in scoring (61 points) and ranks 11th in the Art Ross Trophy race.
That said, the first-time All-Star Game invitee’s production and presence have taken a step back since securing the $92-million bag, you’re right.
He’s not driving play or to the net at the level he was through December. Both goals he scored in Vancouver were from distance.
He registered at least a point in 33 of the season’s first 37 games, and has points in just two of the past nine games.
Nylander’s dip is symptomatic of the general slump of his entire line is enduring — John Tavares and Tyler Bertuzzi could use some points, too — and a power play that has gone ice cold.
When Nylander put pen to paper, I remember Keefe saying he was excited to coach “this version of Willy,” meaning the one who is consistently dangerous.
Toronto will need to weather some quiet stretches — and those will frustrate fans that believe he’s too comfy — but there is belief that when the games matter, Nylander will rise to the occasion.
He requested Tavares hang around after practice Friday to help him work on his game.
“Willy is a competitor,” Keefe said. “He set a high standard for himself early in the season. I think he has full expectations that was the player that he is and is what he’s capable of doing. When it is not going that way, he is going to continue to work at it and not just be content. We really like that about Will.”
Milk before or after the cereal? —@Zenghui_
After. I’m not a psycho.
And if there is extra milk, I reach for more cereal.
Would the Leafs consider making an addition to the roster if it was beneficial long term? A defenceman such as Braden Schneider (NYR) or Kaedan Korczak (VGK) versus the rental market? —@WTFMAN999
Absolutely, they would consider it.
Treliving once said: “I’m a big believer that you build your team in the summer.” In other words, he’s not overly keen on stretch-run rentals.
Further, the Leafs only have three D-men under contract for 2024-25: Morgan Rielly, McCabe, and Conor Timmins. So, they’re already thinking about how to fill out the corps as T.J. Brodie and Mark Giordano age out and RFAs Timothy Liljegren and Simon Benoit will want raises.
Trades for players with term are more difficult to pull off at this time of year, but if Treliving is to surrender any of his meaningful trade chips (first-round pick, Fraser Minten, Easton Cowan, Robertson), it should be for either a player with term or one he knows will re-sign.
Would you trade Nick Robertson and a 1st for Jacob Chychrun or Noah Hanifin? —@MassF
Yes, with the caveat that Hanifin is willing to sign.
As mentioned above, the Maple Leafs need defencemen who can play top-four minutes beyond just this season.
I’m rooting for Robertson, whose “try” level is amongst the highest in the room, but Toronto’s roster balance must shift toward the blueline. And I can see a shooter like Robertson, a pending RFA in need of a pay bump, getting more opportunity — top six, power play — elsewhere.
Chychrun is already under contract for a year beyond this one at a reasonable rate ($4.6 million), and the Leafs have expressed interest in the past.
Steve Staios is “disappointed” that Chychrun’s name is back in the rumour mill, but the Senators GM can’t pay three lefties — Thomas Chabot, Jake Sanderson, and Chychrun — top-four dollars long term. Something will have to give with Ottawa’s blueline.
Luke, what do you think the Leafs should do once Joseph Woll returns? Seems a challenge to carry three goalies. —@ianJohn_0321
For sure, the three-headed crease is never ideal, but a handful of teams have already used that strategy to guard against waivers this season. And the Maple Leafs may well do the same.
It’s not as if third-stringer Martin Jones — very much at risk of getting scooped off the wire at $875,000 — needs to eat up starts with the Marlies, and Toronto would prefer to give that work to prospects Dennis Hildeby and Keith Petruzzelli anyway.
A week ago, I would’ve predicted that Ilya Samsonov could clear again, but his week of focused solitude was like Luke Skywalker’s trip to Dagobah, and suddenly, he’s the second coming of Martin Brodeur.
Toronto is going to be extra cautious not to rush Woll back from his high-ankle sprain, and as long as the team keeps winning, that pressure goes away.
Woll only counts $766,667 against the cap, so this won’t be a financial issue.
It’s more about Jones dealing with some awkwardness, and he’s been a pro about his status all season long.
What was your favourite team growing up? Did you play hockey yourself? —@Cassand94237424
As a kid, I rooted for whichever logo was on the front of Wayne Gretzky’s sweater. I was a full-blown 99 stan, in awe of this phenom who shredded the record book.
An unrepentant frontrunner, wee Luke was gutted when the Oilers got swept by the New York Islanders dynasty in 1983 and overjoyed when they broke through the following season.
As bummed as I was by The Trade, I wasted no time saving up for a Kings sweater with a GRETZKY nameplate and was one of the few Ontario residents completely fine with how the 1993 Clarence Campbell Conference Final shook out.
Me and the Blues flirted for a minute, then my hopes slowly died rooting for the Rangers.
After Gretzky retired, I was partial to the Dallas Stars, because I have family in Texas and my first NHL coverage assignment, as a journalism student, involved interviewing the likes of Sergei Zubov, Ed Belfour, Jere Lehtinen, and Mike Modano. Man, that guy could fly. I can still see Modano’s jersey flapping through the neutral zone.
Yep, I’ve played since forever and still do a couple times a week. Shinny. Men’s league. Outside with my son.
I’m not any good, mind you. But once in a while, I’ll get in hard on the forecheck, create a turnover, maybe bang in a rebound, and all is happy in the world.
