Maple Leafs shuffle lines with Matthews, Stolarz and Roy absent from practice
Photo credit: Toronto Maple Leafs - X
With Toronto missing several important players at practice on Monday, Craig Berube has shuffled his lines as the team looks ahead to Tuesday's game vs. St. Louis.
Trying to shake off the misery of a five-game losing streak, the Toronto Maple Leafs have an uphill climb as they continue with injuries to key pieces like Auston Matthews, Chris Tanev, and Anthony Stolarz.
When it comes to Matthews and Stolarz, according to TSN's Mark Masters, both men were absent at practice as the team continues to monitor their status.
Masters noted that forward Nicolas Roy was also absent, potentially dealing with an unspecified ailment.
The roster move to bring up Jacob Quillan is clearer now knowing that Roy was absent and could potentially miss time, though that has not been confirmed.
But there is still a practice to be run, and the team needs to put some bodies out there, so how did the team line up on Monday?
How today's practice lines reveal Craig Berube's latest lineup plan
The lineup had a very different look and we also get to see the new faces taking the ice.
Of course, these are practice lines and not confirmed game combinations, but they give a strong hint of Berube's plan for Tuesday.
Nick Robertson - John Tavares - William Nylander
Matthew Knies - Max Domi - Easton Cowan
Matias Maccelli - Jacob Quillan - Bobby McMann
Dakota Joshua - Steven Lorentz - Calle Jarnkrok
Matthew Knies - Max Domi - Easton Cowan
Matias Maccelli - Jacob Quillan - Bobby McMann
Dakota Joshua - Steven Lorentz - Calle Jarnkrok
Extras: Scott Laughton, Sammy Blais
Extras: Philippe Myers
The lineup shuffle was built from necessity, and it looks like Berube would prefer to have Quillan in the lineup over Blais, and Scott Laughton isn't yet close to returning.
There's a good reason too, as Quillan has 14 points in 14 games with the Marlies (AHL) and can also add some much needed defensive help to the bottom-six.
Troy Stecher is penciled in to make his Leafs debut after being claimed off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers on the weekend.
He gets the call over Philippe Myers, who has struggled recently and was on the ice for Chicago's tying goal on Saturday night.
Joseph Woll is expected to start his second consecutive game, and while he came out with the loss he put in a very solid debut against the Blackhawks.
How mounting injuries are forcing the Leafs to stretch their depth
Right now, it's not looking like the Maple Leafs can stay healthy.
Currently, the Leafs are dealing with a long list of injuries and absences:
- Auston Matthews
- Chris Tanev
- Anthony Stolarz
- Scott Laughton
- Brandon Carlo
- Nicolas Roy (absent from practice; status not fully clear)
- Chris Tanev
- Anthony Stolarz
- Scott Laughton
- Brandon Carlo
- Nicolas Roy (absent from practice; status not fully clear)
The team is missing their captain, best shutdown defender, top goaltender, as well as three key depth pieces in Carlo, Roy and Laughton.
That means Toronto has had to use some players they would rather not, like Myers and their lineup is a shell of what was expected when the season opened up.
The team's success can't rest solely on John Tavares or William Nylander's shoulders, and everyone needs to contribute at both ends of the ice and at least limit the damage.
This offseason it was stressed that the team needed depth, and clearly there was some foresight on Brad Treliving's part, because right now they're stretching that depth as thin as it can go.
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