The Toronto Maple Leafs dressed Ryan Reaves every night and had Nick Robertson on the bench the last time they were completely healthy.
Thus, “Is it too late to get a new coach before the playoffs?” is among the Toronto Maple Leafs’ most important current concerns.
Of course, I’m half joking.
The NHL Playoffs are nothing more than a completely and utterly random crapshoot, and the Leafs don’t have the squad to be a likely Cup Contender this season (though they could win it). If they don’t win, they’ll probably have to get a new coach.
That may sound like a good thing, but good luck with that. The person who signed Ryan Reaves to a three-year contract—truly one of the most embarrassing moves in a team known for them—will also most likely be the one to select the new coach.
How much time will Mitch Marner miss? He may be out for three months because of a high-ankle sprain, which is the same injury that caused Joseph Woll to miss work. Because of their general manager’s roster mismanagement, the Leafs are hardly a playoff team without Marner, but even without him, they are unlikely to overcome Boston in the first round.
Will Nick Robertson profit from this? Someone else stepping up would be one way to make up for losing Marner. Although Robertson deserves a slot in the starting lineup, players who are less valuable—like Jarnkrok, Domi, Gregor, and Reaves—are used before him.
About Jarnkrok, he’s had an injury once more. Although I like him and he’s a useful player, I’d much rather see the Leafs play young players who still have room to grow. Playing Jarnkrok before Domi makes sense. Robertson doesn’t play ahead of Jarnkrok.
Who will start in goal during the postseason? Of the last seven games, Samsonov has started five, but Joseph Woll should be the one. However, Woll started both of the games versus Boston, which at the moment at least made it
They lost both games, of course. Samsonov was on waivers, and regardless of how well he performs in meaningless games, I don’t believe the Leafs should have ever placed themselves in a position where he had to be on the roster during the postseason.
Brad Treliving will undoubtedly regret not trading for a goaltender for a very long time. Particularly in the event that Shanahan is fired by the MLSE President and the Leafs fail to win a round.
“How do you deal with the decline of TJ Brodie, and subsequently dressing three of the worst puck-moving defenders in the NHL?” is the last question the Leafs must answer.
