8:10 PM — The team announced via Twitter that Marner will miss a minimum of a month due to the ankle injury. He will be re-evaluated by the team at that time. That will make him eligible for placement on LTIR as he’ll miss at least 10 games or 24 days.
3:55 PM — The Toronto Sun’s Terry Koshan reports that Marner underwent an MRI today on his right ankle, but Babcock had no other updates on his injury. “I texted him a bunch of times today. He said it was a little stiff,” said Babcock.
2:10 PM — Injuries have surrounded the Toronto Maple Leafs all season, but the team has another key injury to contend with after winger Mitch Marner went down awkwardly in the second period while getting tangled up with Philadelphia’s Carsen Twarynski and had trouble getting up. While little was known about Marner immediately after the game, head coach Mike Babcock announced that Marner would miss Sunday’s game in Chicago, the first game missed since his rookie year, according to The Athletic’s Sean Fitz-Gerald (subscription required).
“What are you going to do? It’s hockey; injuries happen and you find out more about other guys,” Babcock said. “I don’t know the extent of this. I don’t know if it’s a few days or weeks or whatever. There’s no sense in dwelling on it.”
The replay (video here) showed that Twarynski stick got stuck in between Marner’s legs and then got caught underneath his left skate, sending the 22-year-old sprawling to the ice. It appears that Marner’s weight falls on his twisted right knee and ankle. While there is no word on the severity of the injury and how long Marner could miss, the loss definitely wouldn’t help a team that is trying to gain some consistency. They are 5-2-3 in their last 10 games, but losing Marner is not likely to help. It’s possible, if the injury requires a couple of weeks, that the team could place Marner on injured reserve, which could free up the cap room to activate Hyman and keep some of their depth without shaking up the entire team.
The hope was the Maple Leafs might be fully healthy and active shortly with the expected return of forward Zach Hyman, who has been out since offseason knee surgery. The team recently got back John Tavares, who was out with a fractured finger, and Travis Dermott, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery.
That’s it fire Babcock it’s all his fault
Hey, easy there! Babs is a (more-or-less) equal opportunist – he tries to put almost everybody in a position to fail! That was just his way of saying “next time, don’t screw around in contract negotiations!”
That game was 100% babs fault if he had never thrown the 4th line and ceci our when they were down 2 or 3 they woulda dominated and won
Do you think it’s strange that Babs is allergic to using the Mix-master, when other bench bosses don’t hesitate when it becomes necessary? He stubbornly keeps lines/pairs together that occasionally need to be broken up, but never seems to acknowledge that flawed strategy. Damn aggravating, I say. They should have been able to handle the ‘Hawks tonight, but didn’t look capable of a focused, 60-minute effort. Almost like they think their just playing the team in the standings, not the team on the ice.
You can’t play with 9 forwards for 50 minutes
big daddyt,
How about some secondary scoring other then the top guys. Better yet having a capable backup!
After watching the game tonight in Chicago this team is at a crossroads as to what direction they want to go. Things cannot continue the way they are right now.
First point…I feel bad for Michael Hutchinson. Tonight was a big game for him and after allowing the first horrible goal off a weak effort by Cody Ceci things just unraveled. All the way to the third period when Toronto had the Hawks on their heels (not sure why the hell the Leafs waited until the third period to finally decide to take charge of things, got their heads out of their collective asses and play hard against perhaps the weakest, slowest Hawks team in about 10 seasons!). Still the first and 5th goal need to be stopped. Then we have huge problems with horrendous defensive plays by Jake Muzzin, Cody Ceci and Tyson Barrie. Still, this was his game to step up and earn a win in an even fair based back to back with both teams playing the night before and also getting the weaker of the two clubs (PHI/CHI). With youngsters like Kaskisuo/Woll/Scott all playing well and deserving of an opportunity, Toronto needs to send down Hutchison or cut him loose and start giving these young prospect goaltenders a shot at playing at the NHL level. Well and Scott may not be quite ready to make the jump to the NHL, so I would consider giving the Finnish kid a first shot being in the AHL for a few years now.
More on goaltending…the front office must also start to figure out what to do with Freddy Anderson. At age 28/29, Anderson is approaching one more season until UFA status. Is he or will he be part of the future of the Leafs past 2021? Or will the club put some faith and trust in the trio mentioned above? I think they need to talk about extending Freddy now or at least by the end of the summer of 2020. But I strongly feel that how Babcock treats his backup goaltenders, either decide what to do with Hutchison, or give one of the youngsters a shot. They have nothing to lose. And this is the mentality the Leafs should have the remainder of this season. I think this season is doomed. So why not try things with your own players in development. My take is bring up one of the kids now, cut Hutchison and see what they can do. Thats the only way to figure out what step is next as far as keeping Freddy Anderson in Toronto short term or longer term.
Defense… This defense is awful and NOT NHL calibre. Not even close! Its pathetic! I said it all summer long and I knew it would be a major issue similarly to not having a strong enough goaltending duo. If this team things Morgan Rielly is their #1 man on the blue line than they need to play him with a solid veteran who knows what it takes to win in the NHL. Cody Ceci isn’t the answer and I am not sure if Jake Muzzin is the answer like he was last season. At least not at this point. But the bigger issue is having a bunch of guys on your blue line who are all UFA after this season. Being a UFA and having so many of them that Dubas/Shanahan/Babcock are all relying on doesn’t help your game, your mentality or confidence on and off the ice. These are things that must be addressed very quickly and sooner than later…
Tyson Barrie seemed like a good addition in the Kadri trade and was supposed to be the big fish in the deal (Alex Kerfoot has been a welcome addition to the center corps) but being a UFA and age 28/29 and seems to be less and less noticeable on the ice and also admitted to not being acclimated well with the club yet, I think it may be best for the Leafs to trade him sooner than later and not wait to the trade deadline. If he isn’t helping the team now as a pending UFA, he sure isn’t going to help them later if and when the team starts to play to the level they are capable of. His UFA status will still be a detriment to both his game and the clubs. Right now, it makes no sense to offer him an extension and the Leafs probably don’t have that cap space for him either (especially an offensive minded defender which they don’t need and one with only 5 points and a minus 7 or whatever he is right now). My take for immediate future, is to play him alongside either Rielly or Ceci (Muzzin back with Rielly) and hope for the best. For him to admit he isn’t in a good spot chemistry wise with a guy like Muzzin who both played a lot in the Western Conference before isn’t a good thing. To me, it is almost as if he is asking for a trade. The bottom line, Babcock has got to stop pairing Rielly with Ceci and instead pair him with a veteran in Barrie or Muzzin instead. If that doesn’t work, then some of these guys need to be moved through a trade. I have no problem shedding some cap space by trading Barrie/Ceci. Muzzin I don’t think will generate much in return so keep him around with Rielly like last season when Reilly finally enjoyed his best season by far. If they continue to struggle, then let Muzzin walk away as a UFA this summer. I have no problem giving Timothy Liljegren and Rasmus Sandin a ice time with the NHL club the second half to start getting acclimated to NHL play. (Not sure if they are eligible to return or not, but I hope they are. If not, Toronto has really put themselves in a tough finish to the year and its their own fault.)
Forwards…This group is still far away from being dangerously competent on the ice as they were last year. Injuries don’t help. I honestly believe that Zach Hyman is their most important player on the ice. Not their “best” player or most skilled player, but the guy who does everything right, smart as hell and knows what it takes to win. He is one of those guys a team must have on the ice every night to get better and better and closer to the ultimate goal. However I wouldn’t suit him up until he is over 100% ready both mentally and physically. If the team sucks as they do now, no reason to insert him into the thick of the mess. I want him back badly but not until then. He makes all the top 6 guys that much better, stronger and more important mentally stronger. But the guys on the ice right now need to get it together first. Losing Marner for a month plus will hurt too. But it shouldn’t be a reason to rush Hyman back into the lineup. Tavares, Matthews, Nylander, Kapanen, Johnsson, and company should all be more than capable of righting the ship in the time being. (At least they all got hefty pay raises so now its time to put up or shut up). For me, the rest of the month up until the holidays is a try out for those in that group. Who should stay around longer, who is part of the Leafs future and who should be traded for capable NHL defensemen and/or other assets. I believe that the decision come between Nylander/Marner and Kapanen/Johnsson. Two of those 4 guys must be traded at some near future date to help put a solid balance on the ice for this team to finally have a decent shot at making deep playoff runs. Tavares, Matthews, Hyman along with Rielly and Dermott are obviously the guys to build around for future playoff runs. They have to be anyway the way the team is constructed. Hyman is also a UFA in 2 years time and also needs to be kept around.
Mike Babcock…I like Babcock. Great guy, love his accent. But his stubbornness is going to be his undoing. I have been noticing top six guys playing alongside bottom six guys all week and trying to figure it out what the hell he is doing. For me, Babcock needs to have his top 6 and bottom 6 finalized. Not keeping things simple makes things worse. Moreover, his stubbornness with goaltending duties also drives me crazy. Tonight I agree with the goalie assignments, but the previous 3 back to back circumstances, Hutchinson should have been given a chance to play against a weaker club at home instead of being thrown to the dogs the next night on the road against Washington/Boston/Montreal all had the previous night off, well rested and waiting for the Leafs to make the trip into town. Not much Hutchinson could do. But tonight was awful. Babcock could’ve helped the goaltending situation if he had saved Anderson at least once or twice for the tougher game instead of basically throwing the games in DC/Bos/Mont all away. But he didn’t, and threw Hutchinson under the bus thus leading to the crap tonight and the situation the team has now with their goaltending.
Overall, I give this team (given some the changes I have proposed if they ever came to fruition or if the staff maybe sees the same issues I see, and hope they do because they are pretty obvious) until the holidays or first couple weeks of January to get this turned around. And its not the end of the world if they don’t, but it could be the end of Babcock’s world in Toronto if they don’t. Changes need to be made, major decisions have to be made between now and through the holiday season otherwise it won’t just be this season that is lost…the next couple will also be greatly affected and that will definitely NOT be acceptable! Things are barely acceptable now!
@Brad Vanderberg – very interesting takes you have. I can sense the seething from here and my hat’s off to you for sharing. I’ve said much the same things for many months, whether here or elsewhere. Kyle’s philosophy of basically building a team that has to win 8-5 every night, can’t really succeed in the cap era. Babs needs a balanced roster to win regularly, but he has what looks to be an island of misfit toys. Just think, “Bonesy & Ralphie” are getting old before their time watching and broadcasting this mess!
With the way most of the guys are playing, who is willing to give up a competent defenseman for any of the guys you suggest being moved? And who has any surplus of dmen that they can afford to give up a top 4 dman for a middle 6 winger or under performing dman? Add the salary cap… most teams cant afford to take on a Marner or Nylander at this time. Its a lot of money towards a cap and not many can afford to take on money without sending some out.
You could pull Russell from Edmonton, but that is 4 mill added to the leafs, with a year left. Who does Toronto have in the 4 mill range the Oilers could use on wing? Ditto with Brodie from CGY. Except he is on his last year.
Your comments about Andersen, he has another year left so they cannot negotiate a new contract yet. I believe they can engage in negotiations starting Jan 1. Not before.
Maybe some of these talks have happened behind the scenes, like you hope, but they can’t be leaked as they are against the terms of the current CBA.
Understand the frustrations, but there are rules that need to be followed. This isnt 1996 anymore where the leafs, Rags, and Red Wings can just throw all the money at the top players to build the best on paper teams anymore. Teams need to be built with some rookie contracts, league minimum contracts, middle range, and top end contracts. Its on management to figure out who fits each bill and it appears the leafs have overpaid some and its costing them their depth. They have overpaid their top end guys and its now costing them middling depth, and there is no reason another team should help them out of that problem.
As long as Matthews, Tavares, Marner, Nylander, Reilly, and Andersen are making as much as they do, it will create problems in leafland. At least as long as they are leafs.
I know it might feel the sky is falling in Toronto but the season is hardly doomed. Plenty of time to figure it out.
I also agree with Babcock re:goalie deployment, I want those W’s at home. I’d rather play Anderson vs PHI than Hutchison at home vs PHI.
This recent back to back, I have no problem with Anderson at home vs Flyers and Hutchinson in Chicago. That was the right decision, but the previous 3 could’ve and should’ve been different at least once, maybe twice.
Thanks for clarifying that…so January 1st is the official timeline eh to negotiate or renegotiate contracts, sounds good. That is about the time they need to start working on Anderson. Meanwhile, the Leafs are going to give Kaskisuo a shot to fill in the backup role, and continue to give Woll and Scott more time to develop. Good decision, and was necessary. Feel bad for Hutchinson but he was brought in as a 3rd string guy last year with only Kaskisuo as the alternative to Sparks and Jeff Glass couldn’t be called up as a one way deal in the AHL. Clearly not the better option even over their own drafted/developed younger guys. Toronto needs to find out what they have in all 3 of these younger goalies before they start to finalize the long term plans of Anderson with the club. This is a good start.
Trading any of the guys mentioned isn’t going to be easy. Toronto will most certainly have to take back a contract or two back north of 3.5-4 million cap hit. I know that. What I am saying is that the Leafs may have no choice but to start moving guys and mixing things up. This team obviously isn’t working and doubt it will work even with the return of Hyman and now Marner out for extended period of time. For guys like Barrie and Ceci, they may have to wait until the trade deadline to move them to a team in need of defensive depth and also cap space. Right now, it is very unlikely and extremely difficult to pull off those moves without taking back another cap hit. But I am talking more about finding the right mix not only for right now but for the next year or two. Having Barrie, Ceci, Muzzin, Holl and Marincin all pending UFA, complicates things much worse. However, I wouldn’t think that moving someone like Johnson or Kapanen (even at this moment) is a bad idea. I would prefer they keep Kapanen but really doesn’t matter much. One of those two will have to go sooner or later. This team needs defense and defense that is under contract at least past this season. If Barrie or Ceci or Muzzin are part of the plans of 2020-21, then make the decision to keep one or two of them around. If not, and I don’t think any of the 3 should be, its time to start getting creative. You’re right it is all about being creative with the cap. Chicago and Los Angeles blew that up badly, lets see if Dubas/Shanahan and company are smart enough to figure it out. Right now this isn’t working, neither short term or long term solution. Work must be done, starting now!
. “However, I wouldn’t think that moving someone like Johnson or Kapanen (even at this moment) is a bad idea.”
made a typo there…I wanted to say that trading one of them right now ISN’T A BAD idea…
But they’ll most likely have to wait until the offseason to decide between Marner and Nylander. Who is most important and who is the best asset to have on a team that will help you go far in the playoffs.
Brad,
Your not the head coach you don’t get paid to make that decision where clearly Babs has the right. He and Dubas will never see eye to eye. Him caving into Nylander caused this whole mess. Lou woulda told him to go rot!
Brad,
Shoulda kept MCe, like Don Cherry said. You can’t keep wearing your goalie out like they do. We are a Anderson injury away from a total gong show. He’s signed for 1 more year and then I think he walks and goes elsewhere I don’t see him staying why to get peppered with shots with that d. The window of opportunity was when the young stars where on there entry level contracts. Now whats left of that windo? Im speaking as a Leaf fan that knows what hes talking about.
Brad,
How can you justify having Kapenen playing 3 or 4th line minute making the coin he does. You just cant have that on any team.
Brad,
Trade Marner i’d love to know WTF your smoking in the TDot!
I wish I did have a say in this!!! LOL … I am a coach/former player…but not at the NHL level lol.
Brad,
Sadly you don’t have the credentials. I too am a former player and coach but not at that level.
Brad,
Again with the crazy novels man!
Brad,
Your whacked in the head for not including Marner. Reilly is so overrated on any other team he would be a 4th d at best he’s horrible defensively !
I didn’t include Marner because I am speaking about the IMMEDIATE future, and the time with him being out. Still, I think the team needs to make some major decisions very soon. Marner/Nylander? Kapanen/Johnsson? Two of those four will be traded at some point and its impossible to keep all four of them plus Tavares, Matthes and Hyman all on the same roster with the cap issues and absolutely zero answers on defense.
And I also agree with you that Morgan Rielly isn’t a solid defender and I have always known he is most likely a 3-4 pairing on just about every team. Dually noted!
Sorry, I just had to write last night and write and write! All I can do after such a horrible sports day in Toronto…only thing worse would be a bomb dropped in the City…Ughh!
Brad,
He is the future of the Leafs… without him they are in trouble! Of course they do. But Matthews will sulk without playing with his BF Willie. They will have to go with the younger cheaper defense in the minors at some pt to offset.
I understand the need to write and write…maybe tone it down. No ones got the time to read all that lol. ‘
Its only horrible if you cheer for the soccer team/ raps won what ya complaining about?
I enjoyed the Raptors winning the NBA finals! Although not at all a basketball fan, more so college. I do coach HS and middle school basketball, played college hockey and call the Denver area home now. In college after hockey I was the head sports editor and my father is also a MLB baseball historian and writer, so thats where the excessive writing comes in…and very passionate as well about the teams I support and watch. Was a real shame yesterday to see everything turn into a complete disaster.
So, I get what you are saying that Mitch Marner is the future of the team, but do you think he is more so than Tavares, Matthews and even Hyman? To me all those three are much more important to the future successes of this franchise. Last year (or maybe this past summer) I would have traded Nylander and put that discussion away, but I actually see Nylander a better 2-way player than Marner and also a bit tougher physically. Plus he gels with Matthews extremely well. Still, tough decisions need to be made, keeping the entirety of this group together (Matthews, Tavares, Nylander, Marner, Kapanen and Johnsson) isn’t going to happen IF the Leafs are serious about winning a cup. Both LA and Chicago (even STL and Washington) had to give up key pieces in order to help bring a winning balance to their lineup. Toronto must be able to do the same to raise the Cup soon.
Also if you get the chance to, do you think that Tyson Barrie/Cody Ceci/Jake Muzzin/Justin Holl, any of those or all of them fit into the Leafs plans beyond this season? They had Rasmus Sandin out there a bit last year and this season before they decided to keep him in the AHL and not carry him on the main club (like the Hawks decided to do with both Kirby Dach and Adam Boqvist). I don’t think he is eligible to come back this season and not be sent down again for whatever reason….somehting having to do with entry level clauses and the 10 game window to make that decision. Not fully understanding of that to be quite honest. But I don’t think Timothy Liljegren has started that 10 game window yet, so perhaps they should also look into giving him a shot to stick around and try to help these defensive issues. However, I don’t think either Sandin nor Liljegren are ready for full time NHL duty. But given the play of everyone else, it couldn’t get much worse.
Brad,
Holl id keep he’s been much better this year . Muzzin I do like his game. Ceci, I’ll never like and Barrie wants too much for how he’s playing! Hawks went with those two out of offensive desperation. But both have played well. Not many other options unless you wanna call up Subban.
Brad,
Glad you did they got lucky GSW was banged up. Funny how Kwahi bounced! That’s fine. Not really it’s sports highs and lows. Part of the nature of being a fan.
1000% he is. Not at all but you can think what you want. Guys with Marner talent are one in a lifetime talents you keep. Love to know what your smoking. Nylander doesn’t go in the corners in playoff time. Marner was the leafs best player then Chara and bruins started hitting him more as that series prolonged. Matthews is too soft defensively and is too immature to ever be captain sulks when he doesn’t play with little willie. Mitch is one of the most dynamic players in the game he’s a magician on the ice.
I’m a realistic Leafs fan. The window is closing. Shoulda traded Nylander away