The Toronto Maple Leafs have won three games in a row, but during that stretch the team has suffered losses to the defensive corps.
Defense has been a weakness for the Leafs this season, having allowed 38 goals against through 12 games, and thirty five of those have come at even strength. It’s only thanks to the offense and strong special teams that the team ranks eighth in the league with 14 points. Now, a group that was already struggling to make an impact has suffered multiple injuries, and the Leafs’ depth is being tested.
Chris Tanev remains sidelined after leaving the Leafs’ win against the Colorado Avalanche almost two weeks ago. He is reportedly traveling with the team for the upcoming four-game Western road trip. However, it is still unclear how long he will be kept on the Injured Reserve list with a week-to-week designation.
His stay-at-home style of play is something the Leafs lack elsewhere in the group, except for Jake McCabe, who suffered a high stick from Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kent Johnson and was fortunate that it wasn’t more serious. His absence allowed Nick Blankenburg more time in the lineup, with Marshall Rifai also being called up from the Toronto Marlies to provide further depth.
Blankenburg and Rifai have scored their first goals for the Maple Leafs this season, but both have now joined Tanev on Injured Reserve, also with week-to-week designations. Rifai left morning skate early before the Leafs’ 5-4 win against the New York Rangers, with Blankenburg taking a hit from the Rangers’ Will Cuylle during the game.
Defensive Injuries Raise Tough Question
The response to the Leafs’ growing list of defensive injuries has been to address it internally. Cole McWard and Dakota Mermis were both recalled from the Marlies and have traveled with the team. Ben Danford, viewed by many to be the team’s best prospect, remains with Toronto’s AHL affiliates, with head coach Jim Hiller stating that the Leafs have “good options” and that rushing young players can potentially be a mistake.
The decision to keep Danford in the minors makes sense, as the team does not want to affect his development negatively. He has only six regular-season games in his AHL career, having first joined the Marlies for the Calder Cup-winning playoff run last season after ending his time in juniors. With so little professional hockey experience, making the 20-year-old jump up to the NHL and try to cover over the cracks in the lineup is a difficult ask.
However, with the team having to call up players even further down the depth chart, pulling guys with limited NHL experience up from the minors, it raises the question of how long general manager John Chayka can wait before making a trade for a difference maker. Chayka has recently spoken about being willing to use premium assets to add such a player, and with injuries continuing to grow, the pressure to make a move could also be increasing.
With Tanev, Blankenburg, and Rifai all listed week-to-week, it could be a long time before the defensive group gets them back. Then there is the question of how long it will take them to ge readjusted and up to speed, especially with Tanev. The defense needed some reinforcements even before these injuries, but this has made the situation potentially worse, and the Leafs won’t always be able to outscore their problems.
If another player suffers an injury on the Maple Leafs’ Western road trip, it may just be enough to force Chayka’s hand and push him to make a trade.
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