The Toronto Maple Leafs came into training camp with the clear intention of having more than enough bodies to fill an NHL roster. Healthy competition for lineup spots was part of the plan, but so was safeguarding against injuries.
The Leafs could now need more contributions from some unlikely names. Max Pacioretty took a push from behind from Montreal Canadiens defenceman Mike Matheson during the first period of Saturday night’s 4-1 win. Pacioretty looked to grab his left hamstring after he fell to the ice. He eventually had to be helped off the ice with what the Leafs called a lower-body injury.
Pacioretty will remain off the ice for “several weeks,” Leafs GM Brad Treliving said on Monday as the Leafs placed the left winger on injured reserve.
“Now, the good news is, leaving the rink Saturday night, I thought (Pacioretty’s injury absence) was going to be longer than the news we got this morning. So we’ll just have to see. We’ll see how he responds to treatment,” Treliving said.
Pacioretty’s recent injury history – three Achilles surgeries in eight months – adds to the concern around a player who had a tremendous start for the Leafs. Pacioretty played just five games in 2022-23. Those injuries occurred, however, on his right leg.
“He’s been through a lot. But I think he’s been a real good addition to our group and I think he’s had an impact in all the games he’s played in,” Treliving said.
Pacioretty’s absence leaves the door open for multiple players to step up. It sounds like coach Craig Berube doesn’t want to experiment too much with new formulas up front, instead preferring to swap in a player who brings the elements of a prototypical power forward like Pacioretty.
Monday’s practice didn’t exactly present a crystal clear image of who will slot in where: William Nylander and Max Domi didn’t skate Monday – the Leafs are calling it maintenance – and as a result, Nick Robertson skated with Pontus Holmberg and defenceman Philippe Myers while John Tavares skated with Bobby McMann and another defenceman, Matt Benning.
The most logical choice for a promotion is McMann. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound winger ticks the boxes: he’s got the size and willingness to use it, a scoring touch and brings a similar type of energy as Pacioretty.
What McMann hasn’t brought this season? Consistency. The winger was labelled “a little hesitant at times” by Berube in training camp and spent one game in the press box.
But let’s not forget McMann was going to be a healthy scratch against the St. Louis Blues on Feb. 13, 2024. It wasn’t until Tavares and Mitch Marner were held out of the game with illness that McMann had to slot in. McMann promptly netted the first hat trick of his career before scoring seven goals in four games.
Could this opportunity present the jump start to McMann’s game he needs to get an up-and-down season on the right track?
The other candidate for increased opportunity to produce is the player who seemingly stood to suffer because of the addition of Pacioretty in the offseason: Robertson. Both are left wingers who are looked upon to produce. Only one has: Pacioretty has six points in 13 games, while Robertson has just one goal – scored while the Leafs were down 6-1 to the Columbus Blue Jackets on Oct. 22 – and no assists.
That Berube wants a player who brings what Pacioretty does might be considered a knock against Robertson’s chances of second-lines minutes. Robertson was one of the last forwards to leave the ice after Monday’s practice.
Another option? On Monday, the Leafs waived defenceman Matt Benning, acquired in the trade for Timothy Liljegren. As it stands, the Leafs don’t have any space to add another contract. But by possibly moving Benning down to the AHL Marlies, the Leafs could bring up one of the multiple forwards who have contributed to the farm team’s red hot 7-1-1-1 start to the season. It could also allow the Leafs to activate defenceman Jani Hakanpää, who practiced with Leafs Monday but still has not been cleared to play.
Adding a forward from the Marlies could give the Leafs options ahead of back-to-back games at home against the Senators Tuesday then in Washington on Wednesday.
“We’re looking at that,” Treliving said succinctly.
Could that be Alex Steeves, who has nine goals in 10 games (tied for second in the AHL) and remains committed to adding the kind of physicality he knows Treliving and Berube desire?
Maybe Treliving gives Nikita Grebenkin a look? The 2022 fifth-round draft pick has just 10 games under his belt in North America. But he’s previously been lauded by both Treliving and Berube for his size. Throw that Grebenkin has nine points in 10 AHL games and hasn’t looked like a shrinking violet and a few games in the NHL doesn’t seem unfathomable.
Finally, the organization remain big fans of Fraser Minten. Though he’s only recently returned from a high ankle sprain, he does have four NHL games under his belt. Could they give him a look on the wing?
The idea of bringing up a forward with a long-term future in Toronto, even if they just spend a few days around the team, has some merit.
Connor Dewar, coming off offseason shoulder surgery, has also been cleared to play after his LTIR stint and feels likely to move to the third line with Robertson and Holmberg.
In other injury news, Treliving said Auston Matthews is “doubtful” to play against the Senators on Tuesday. Yet it does feel likely that Matthews returns soon enough as Dewar skated between Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies, acting as a placeholder for the reigning Rocket Richard Trophy winner.
Treliving added that Calle Jarnkrok, who has not played yet this season with injury suffered a “setback over the weekend.”
“We’re just going to kind of reset here,” Treliving said. “I think he’s going to New York to a specialist today or tomorrow to get looked at and we’ll see where it goes from there.”
(Photo of Nick Robertson and Max Pacioretty: Ed Mulholland / Imagn Images)
