TSN SportsCentre reporter Mark Masters covers the Toronto Maple Leafs as they practiced at the Ford Performance Center on Wednesday ahead of their game against the Dallas Stars on Thursday.
After the 4-2 defeat on Monday Sheldon Keefe didn’t hold back to explain how his talented group fell short against the rebuilding Arizona Coyotes.
“The difference between us and Arizona is that we have elite players,” the coach said bluntly. “Our elite players didn’t play like elite players. They couldn’t make the difference.”
After a day off on Tuesday, Keefe checked in with his top players on Wednesday.
“He explained what he wanted to say and how it came out and I’ll leave it at that,” said the winger Mitch Marner said. “We’ve closed the doors here for a reason and we’re having conversations without you for a reason. We had this conversation today. We understand. We are grown men.”
“I used some of the wrong words to describe what I was trying to describe,” Keefe said, “which means the difference in the game was simply that we weren’t able to produce whether it was for a power play or a 5-on-5. And that’s really the difference with all the puck time we’ve had. But I didn’t mean anything else.
Austin Matthews broke into a smile when asked about the coach’s initial criticism.
“This is my seventh year here and I kind of get how it works,” said the 25-year-old center. “I think the talks that are going on behind closed doors with no media and stuff like that are more of a general discussion than just harping on guys.”
Marner added, “I don’t think anyone was hurt by the comments or anything like that.”
Keefe was asked if players are so touchy these days that he has to choose his words carefully.
“I don’t think we’re at that point,” he said. “I think we should always be aware of what words we use and how we communicate. Sometimes emotions overwhelm us in this game or in any competitive environment. You want to communicate well. That’s an important part of being a leader.”
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Matthews has scored one goal which is his only equalized point of the season so far.
“We’re four games behind us,” said the reigning Hart Trophy winner. “Obviously nothing’s going to be perfect… I’m still trying to find it a little bit offensive. I just work my way through some stuff and find a rhythm. Sometimes things take time.”
Matthews, Marner et al Michael Bunt were among the most dominant lines in ice hockey last season. So what’s missing right now?
“They couldn’t go online with the same regularity,” Keefe noted. “Auston hasn’t had as many clear looks at the net. The message to her is similar to the rest of the team. Don’t get frustrated. Try to challenge inside and attack. Don’t become familiar with possession and time in the Offensive Zone Challenge the net and try to make it difficult for the opponent.
Marner thinks he and Bunting can do a better job making room for Matthews.
“When you have a goalscorer like Austin, a lot of people really want to take him away,” Marner noted. “If that happens, we’ll have to take our ice cream. We need to get it online and challenge the opponents a bit more, one-on-one. We did better in the last game. We need to infiltrate the interior a little more. I think that’s just going to come.”
“The boys will be fine,” Keefe said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s 5v5 or a power play, the rhythm will set in. If things develop from there, then suddenly the games aren’t that close. They begin to play with leads more consistently. The other teams start taking risks. Things are beginning to fall into place. It’s still early here. We have to make sure it all stays in perspective.”
Matthews has netted just once in his first six games last season. He finished with 60 goals and another Rocket Richard Trophy.
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The Leafs are averaging 2.75 goals per game, which is a tie for 23rd overall in Wednesday’s games. Toronto averaged 3.8 goals per game last season, finishing second overall.
“You can say that we haven’t found our rhythm offensively yet,” said Keefe. “Sometimes it looked really good. Sometimes not so much. That’s probably the only thing I look at.”
The team also started slowly last season (2-4-1) before getting the offense underway.
“Whether it’s our individual players or our team, we had a record-breaking regular season last year,” Keefe said. “It has taken some time to get to this point. You did, but let’s not settle for that. Let’s be better.”
The power play converts 21.4 percent of the time so far, which is a tie for 15th overall in Wednesday’s games. Toronto scored 27.3 percent of its chances last season, which led the league.
The Leafs failed to score on their first four chances against the Coyotes on Monday before eventually conceding on their fifth opportunity. At Wednesday’s practice, the coaching staff delivered what Keefe called “a change of pace” to the top unit.
Matthews, Marner John Tavares, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly started a drill with a five-on-one advantage. assistant coach Spencer Carbery had his stopwatch in view and after some time sent a second penalty killer. Then came a third penalty killer and finally a fourth.
“The reason is you’re really trying to create opportunities for the speed of the puck in terms of shots and passes,” Keefe said. “With fewer stops, you just get the rhythm and the feel of the puck snapping around. So it’s an exercise that we do from time to time for those reasons, and eventually it becomes a natural five-on-four. These guys have been practicing a lot of five-on-fours, so today we gave them a different look.”
The second session did traditional 5v4 reps.
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Jake Muzzin was placed on injured reserve after leaving Monday’s game with a neck injury.
“He’s doing what he can,” said Marner, who arguably describes Muzzin as his closest friend on the team. “If he comes back and plays this year or whenever or whatever happens just make sure he gets to do whatever he wants for the rest of his life and enjoy time with his family. “I think that’s the most important thing. Obviously on the ice for us it’s a big missing piece. He does a lot for us on and off the ice. Just calm on the ice when he’s got the puck. Regarding the Penalties shoot.” Just the leadership he brings. all these things It’s definitely a big chunk that we’ll be missing, but life off the ice is always more important.
Muzzin missed time last season due to two concussions, among other things.
“I was told it wasn’t a head injury at all,” Keefe said.
The team is still awaiting a timeline for this latest injury.
“Jake has had a number of injuries that are of concern to us,” admitted Keefe. “Any time a player gets injured and has had as many injuries as Jake, obviously there is concern. How much concern? I don’t know. It’s probably too early to tell at this point. We had an event , which he was at last night and he looked a lot like himself, he’s here at the facility today and we’re going to let the medical folks do the process for you and go from there.
Muzzin missed most of the preseason due to back problems.
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with muzzin outside, Victor Mete will make his Leafs debut Thursday night.
“I’m looking forward to playing in my hometown with the Leafs jersey,” said the 24-year-old from Woodbridge, Ontario. “It’s going to be a pretty cool moment for me.”
“I expect him to skate and use his legs,” Keefe said. “I look forward to seeing him do it and picking up the game pace from the backend.”
“He’s got some great roles up his sleeve,” noted Marner, who played with Mete in the Ontario Hockey League. “He can walk up and down on the ice very well. It works pretty well with our system as we like getting our D active, getting them to jump in and join the rush to do odd numbers.”
Mete starts next to it Markus Giordano.
“I played with him a little bit preseason, so I know his game a little bit,” Mete noted. “It’s good to play with a veteran who knows the game well.”
Rasmus Sandin will take Muzzin’s place next door Justin Holl. The top pair stays Morgan Rielly With TJ Brodie.
“It’s a chance to restore Rasmus to his natural essence [left] side,” said Keefe. “Mete and Giordano spent time together during camp. It’s just a look we wanted to see. For now, we wanted to keep Rielly and Brodie together to have a consistent couple instead of going with three different couples. I expect the lads to move when the game actually starts, but it’s a good starting point for us.”
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Sandin replaced Giordano as quarterback in the second power play session. With Muzzin, the team doesn’t want to burden the 39-year-old with too much.
“Gio’s minutes will of course increase in every way, although we still have him on that … third pair,” Keefe said. “We’re going to bring him up and play against tougher competition and take on more of the load on penalties. At the same time, it gives us more opportunities to get more out of Rasmus.”
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Nick Robertson will make its season debut on Thursday. The left wing ran on the second line with Tavares and Nylander and also picked up replays with the second power play unit.
“I expect him to play like he was,” said Keefe, who pulled the 21-year-old aside at the end of practice. “That was my message to him. He’s been through a lot here in the last 10 days or so, but he’s played really well. He’s gone down and played a few games with the Marlies. He’s done a good job there. He should be confident. Just come in and take your chance. I think he’s looking forward to playing, no question.”
Denis Malgin will be a healthy scratch.
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Lines in training on Wednesday:
Ammer-Matthews-Marner
Robertson-Tavares-Nylander
Engvall-Kerfoot-Jarnkrok
Aston-Reese – Battle – Aube-Kubel
Simmonds, Malgin
Rielly- Brodie
Sandin Holl
Giordano Mete
Benn Kral
lil jegren
Samsonov
Kalgren
Power play units in training on Wednesday:
QB: Rielly
Crosses: Matthews, Marner
Middle: Nylander
Mesh front: Tavares
QB: Sandin
Flanks: Kerfoot, Robertson
Middle: bunting
Mesh Front: Jarnkrok
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