With cap lifted, Maple Leafs face intriguing Game 1 lineup decisions
Maple Leafs coach Craig Berube will have more lineup options at his disposal for Game 1 of the playoffs. He could have some difficult calls for his bottom six.
TORONTO — As the regular season draws to a close, we turn the page to secrecy season.
Yes, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving addressed a larger-than-normal gathering of reporters at the club’s Etobicoke practice facility on Friday.
No, the executive did not tip his hand regarding the health of the club’s recovering players or the soon-to-be hotly debated lineup decisions that head coach Craig Berube will make in the next 48 hours.
“We’ll see come Game 1,” Treliving said.
The Maple Leafs’ regulars all used Good Friday as a day of rest before Saturday’s full and final team practice in advance of Easter Sunday’s 7 p.m. ET Battle of Ontario puck drop at Scotiabank Arena.
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Joining the injured and extra skaters for a light optional skate was enforcer Ryan Reaves, who was recalled to the big club Friday after being waived to the Marlies for cap reasons at the trade deadline.
The 38-year-old veteran returned to the American Hockey League for the first time in 14 years, scoring one goal in three games on the farm.
“That was a difficult conversation. Ryan’s a true pro. This isn’t goodbye, right?” Treliving said, upon sending his signing down to clear space for Scott Laughton and Brandon Carlo. “Ryan is still a big part of our locker room. He’s part of the team. Those are hard conversations. Good, good man.
“But you got to work within the guidelines there. But I’m glad that Ryan didn’t go anywhere.”
Those guidelines — the $88-million payroll and 23-man roster — loosen for the gruelling post-season, when teams are permitted to carry extra healthy skaters.
That makes it possible for Reaves, winger Max Pacioretty, and project defenceman Jani Hakanpää to contribute at some point in the tournament.
All three veterans were joined by the injured Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe, and David Kämpf (all upper body) for Friday’s skate.
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Berube said he is “fairly confident” those players will be available Sunday; Ekman-Larsson’s injury is believed to be the most concerning.
If Kämpf and Pacioretty are indeed ready to go, that will make for some difficult calls on Game 1’s bottom six, as bubble forwards Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg finished the season strong.
Despite the wounded, Toronto won its final five games and went 13-2-1 over its final 16.
“We’ve had a lot of participants, right? It hasn’t just been one, two or three guys; it’s been everybody — and that’s what you need at this time of the year,” Treliving said.
“(Robertson and Holmberg) have certainly played well. Really, that line (with Bobby McMann) has been, the last little bit, a solid line. So, I know Craig and the coaches will have lots of discussion here over the course the next couple days.
“But at the end of the day, you need lots of guys available. Bumps and bruises are going to happen.”
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To that end, the Maple Leafs have survived the winter grind in fantastic health, relatively speaking.
A clean slate awaits, and the team in blue will be coming in hot.
“Everything that’s happened in the 82 games is to prepare you to for what’s coming next. But none of it is relevant, and none of it gives you any kind of leg up starting Sunday,” Treliving cautioned.
“Now we’re ready to write a new chapter.”
