The Toronto Maple Leafs needed to do some roster juggling on Tuesday (Nov. 19) and Wednesday (Nov. 20), as accidents and a five-game suspension to Ryan Reaves have decimated the group’s ahead group.
David Kampf was moved to long-term injured reserve (LTIR) on Wednesday after being positioned on common injured reserve (IR) on Tuesday due to a lower-body damage. His preliminary designation prompted the recall of Fraser Minten from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League (AHL) in a corresponding transfer. On Wednesday, the Maple Leafs added Max Domi to the group’s prolonged IR checklist resulting from a lingering lower-body challenge and introduced up Nikita Grebenkin from the minors.
Accidents Proceed to Pile Up
As a consequence of a lightweight schedule, Domi can be eligible to be activated forward of Sunday’s (Nov. 24) house matchup in opposition to Utah Hockey Membership. Nevertheless, it could in all probability profit him to sit down out extra contests to make sure his damage doesn’t turn out to be a long-term headache. He had been skipping practices for upkeep whereas labouring by video games. He hasn’t scored a objective by 19 outings this season and went 13 straight contests with out a level earlier than being shut down by the group to fix his damage. Kampf’s ailment was far much less noticeable, and his placement on LTIR will sideline him till no less than Dec. 14 in opposition to the Detroit Crimson Wings. The Leafs utilized the cap house from the transfer to name up Grebenkin, in keeping with PuckPedia. Max Pacioretty, out with a lower-body damage, and Calle Jarnkrok, recovering from groin and sports activities hernia surgical procedure, are additionally on LTIR.
Auston Matthews is a unique story. He has missed six straight video games resulting from an upper-body damage and won’t play in opposition to the Vegas Golden Knights on Wednesday (Nov. 20). Eyebrows had been raised when the group introduced Matthews was in Munich, Germany, to obtain therapy. Nevertheless, the group has repeatedly reported that no setbacks have occurred, and surgical procedure will not be on the desk. For what it’s value, Matthews has beforehand labored with the physician in Munich, and the Leafs’ group doctor accompanied him on the journey. Treliving hasn’t dominated out a return for Matthews in opposition to the Hockey Membership; nevertheless, he believes a potential return to motion is extra probably in the course of the group’s upcoming two-game street journey, which incorporates contests in opposition to the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning on Wednesday (Nov. 27) and Saturday (Nov. 30), respectively.
Leafs Flip To In-Home Replacements
Alex Steeves was summoned from the minors on an emergency foundation on Nov. 12. He made his season debut versus the Washington Capitals a day later, logging 14:09 of ice time whereas posting three pictures on objective and one hit. The 24-year-old centre-turned-winger has 9 objectives and 12 factors by 10 AHL appearances this season.
Minten and Grebenkin will be part of Steeves within the lineup versus the Golden Knights. The 20-year-old Minten has hit the bottom working within the AHL, offering two objectives and two assists in 5 outings following his restoration from a high-ankle sprain. Grebenkin has generated 4 objectives and 10 factors by 13 minor-league showings. Though accidents made the transactions vital, all three forwards made viable instances for themselves to see time on the NHL degree this marketing campaign.
Minten has been lengthy considered a possible answer for the group’s third-line centre gap. Ideally, he would have spent extra time within the minors earlier than reporting to the large membership. Nonetheless, his scorching play and flexibility in all conditions might assist put him within the combine for an NHL roster spot prior to anticipated.
Associated: Maple Leafs’ Minten Earned His Name-Up & Deserves a Likelihood to Keep within the NHL
Grebenkin finds himself in the same state of affairs, although the necessity to have him within the lineup in all probability isn’t as pronounced due to his place. He turned heads together with his spectacular play at coaching camp (from ‘LEAFS NOTES: Nikita Grebenkin making noise as camp enters new part,’ Toronto Solar, Sept. 21, 2024). His willingness to have interaction, his excessive compete degree and his potential to play with and with out the puck had been evident throughout his preseason performances. After the numbers sport pressured him to begin the 2024-25 season within the AHL, he’ll lastly get to make his NHL debut.
Minten and Grebenkin Might Be Useful Depth Items
Minten and Grebenkin probably gained’t keep on with the group for the rest of the marketing campaign. It’s too early within the season, and one other roster crunch will come quickly. Matthews and Domi is probably not out for for much longer. Nonetheless, Minten and Grebenkin can set themselves up properly by making good impressions. In the event that they show they’re prepared for NHL roles, it might affect what administration does forward of the March 7 commerce deadline.
Even when the membership was wholesome, the Leafs required depth down the center and would drastically profit from buying extra right-wing forwards. It greater than probably gained’t stop Treliving from participating with GMs from different groups to reinforce the lineup, however Minten, a centre, and Grebenkin, a proper winger, can increase their profiles and affect the decision-making course of in the event that they ship depth scoring and consistency within the backside six. They might turn out to be replacements if the Leafs deal away roster gamers within the pursuit to improve the roster by way of trades. Because of this, their call-ups might function integral auditions.
