Quick Shifts: Maple Leafs’ issues exacerbated by Liljegren’s injury, soft response

A quick mix of the things we gleaned from the week of hockey, serious and less so, and rolling four lines deep. What is anybody here gonna do?

1. Intentionally or not, puck-retrieving Timothy Liljegren got corkscrewed by Brad Marchand Thursday night in Boston. The defenceman slammed fiercely into the end-boards and suffered a high-ankle sprain that has bumped him on to long-term injured reserve and robbed the defenceman of a unique opportunity to play in front of all his family and friends.

Liljegren had been excited since the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ participation in the Global Series was announced last spring, joking that it was going to make for an expensive week with all the tickets he’d need.

Outside of fellow Swede John Klingberg taking a few jabs at Marchand afterward, the Leafs essentially did nothing in response to the injurious play.

Which would be on brand for the “old” Leafs but was not supposed to be the way under Brad Treliving’s snottier version.

“I hated everything about it,” coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters Saturday morning. “We addressed it.”

Compared to some more panicky Canadian NHL cities, the 5-3-2 Maple Leafs are doing OK, gathering points on the road and getting plenty enough scoring from the men they pay to score goals.

Joseph Woll, who goes back in the net Saturday versus Buffalo, has been a pleasant positive surprise, and the superb Morgan Rielly has picked up right where he left off in the playoffs. T.J. Brodie looks clam and effective again.

But crack the hood, and Maple Leafs — second in Canada, third in the Atlantic — have some concerning issues, many of them exacerbated by the Marchand-Liljegren intersection.

The lack of a physical or emotional pushback against the Bruins is an obvious one, and surely it didn’t sit well with Treliving.

Moreover, Liljegren’s long-term injury has further exposed the frailty of a blueline that is demanding too much of Brodie-Rielly and a 40-year-old Mark Giordano. Let’s see how William Lagesson, Simon Benoit and Max Lajoie can help.

Toronto’s top-heavy offence is entirely reliant on the big guns and thus middle of the pack (16th overall in goals per game). Keefe doesn’t trust his bottom six for tough matchups or to score a big goal.

Tyler Bertuzzi keeps getting demoted down the lineup. Max Domi is looking for his first goal. John Klingberg is at least exciting, albeit in both zones.

And the penalty kill, stripped of many a regular during the off-season, is a problem.

The Leafs rank 21st in the category, and that’s a sore point for the staff.

“I’m already impatient on it. I mean, it’s important. We’ve been talking about it. We’ve made switches; we’ve changed our approach a little bit in terms of the personnel,” Keefe says. “It’s early, but our penalty kill has been a real asset for us, I feel like, in years past here. And I’m confident that we’ll get to that point as well.”

With Liljegren out, improving the PK becomes a challenge.

Another issue concerning the coaches is sustained O-zone time, previously a point of pride in Leafland. That shift after shift of offensive pressure hasn’t been there enough.

“We need to play way hungrier,” Mitch Marner says. “It doesn’t matter if it’s early in the season or not. We got to play every game like it’s do or die.”

To a man, the Leafs speak of a lack of consistency. Unfortunately for fans, the worst dips have come at Scotiabank Arena, and they’ve been booed already.

This is a fan base that is accustomed to seeing goals and has been promised more passion.

So, now that we’ve pointed out the Maple Leafs flaws, what’s the biggest positive from Toronto’s 10-game sample?

“That we’re still building,” Ryan Reaves says. “I don’t think we’ve played terribly, but I also don’t think we’ve found our game even close yet. I don’t think we’ve put a full, complete game together, and we’re still having some good games.

“We’re still sticking around. We’re not far back in the standings. Anytime you have a bunch of new guys, there’s gonna be some growing pains and some adjustments, but I think we’re slowly starting to get put together some good periods.

“That’s a positive, for sure. We’re still finding our game, and there’s a lot to show still.”

Let’s see it.

2. The Adam Johnson tragedy has ushered in awareness and spurred change.

(Anyone else shocked to learn that neck guards aren’t mandatory, only “recommended,” in minor hockey south of the border?)

Sure feels like the next step will be grandfathering in neck protection, not unlike visors.

Reaves is one of the last visor-less players standing.

“I just remember playing in the AHL [with one], and I absolutely hated it. It would fog up on me all the time,” Reaves explains. Then a little self-deprecating humour: “My vision’s not good enough as it is. No need to be impeding it anymore.”

Surely, a friend or family member has asked Reaves to wear a visor anyway, for safety’s sake?

“Every one of them. I had a GM ask me if I wanted to earlier in my career. I think it was my second big contract. Fourth or fifth year. Asked if I wanted to put one on. It was right after the league implemented that 25-game rule; if you didn’t have the 25 games up to that point, you had to pull it on. So, all these guys coming into league were gonna have visors on. I respectfully said no. I’m 14 years in. I can’t change now.”

As a guy resistant to equipment change, how does Reaves feel about the neck guard debate?

“I mean, I get it. Seems like it would be a little bit hot out there, but I understand why. It was obviously a horrific accident. Nobody wants to see it happen again. It’ll be interesting how they deal with it. I understand the thought process of why they’re talking about it, though,” Reaves says.

“If you change your style, it could change the way you play. You know, changes may not be comfortable at first, but you have to adapt. So, we’ll see.”

3. Reaves was not aware pre-game Thursday in Boston that Milan Lucic (ankle) was injured but wished him a speedy recovery.

“He dabbed at me across the bar when I was in L.A. We talked a little bit after that at the bar and then exchanged numbers. I get a random call from him once in a while,” Reaves smiles.

“I wouldn’t say I know him very well. But I think when you play against somebody that long, especially a guy who — is a better player, obviously — plays the same type of role, there’s a mutual respect, for sure. A guy I’ve been growing up playing against for 14 years now, it’s just a mutual respect.”

4. Johnny Gaudreau has yet to score on a goaltender this season. (Mercifully, he potted an empty-netter in Columbus’s win over the Lightning Thursday.)

The only other NHLers with a cap hit as high as Gaudreau’s $9.75 million to not score on a goalie this season are Sergei Bobrovsky and Carey Price.

5. Joe Pavelski isn’t just handing around as the oldest forward in the league. He is still an effective top-line, top-power-play-unit force on one of hockey’s best teams. He is still averaging better than a point per game.

A full 30 minutes before a recent Stars morning skate, Pavelski was the first on American Airlines Center ice with a bucket of pucks. He and young Ty Dellandrea worked on one-timers and spin-and-shoot moves near the slot.

Once the official skate wrapped, he hung around to work on his legendary tips, seldom missing one. The man essentially put in a full hour of on-ice practice on a game day.

You don’t see that often.

“It’s impressive. I mean, he’s turning 40 next year, and he’s still out there early, still working on his craft, still being consistent and not getting complacent,” says linemate Jason Robertson.

“I envy that — that he’s still striving to get better and still works on the best part of his game. That work ethic has kept him around and around for more years in this league. So, it’s very inspiring for younger guys seeing, at such an old age, he’s still putting in that work and still working hard and perfecting his craft.”

Could Robertson, 24, imagine playing until age 40?

“I’m worried about playing tonight,” he replies with a smile.

6. Quote of the Week.

“I made my choice for my kids. I want to stick around for them.” —T.J. Oshie, on why he is now wearing a neck guard

7. Max Domi isn’t afraid to get his emotions out by taking it out on the opposition, as he did by taking a whack at Kevin Fiala and a game misconduct in garbage time Tuesday.

“Probably not going to do something like that if you’re still in the game,” Domi reasoned Thursday. “But at that point, get the emotions out. Sleep better at night, for sure.”

Domi is now 10 games into his Leafs tenure and still searching for a goal.

He scored in his first game in Blackhawks uniform.

He scored in his second game as a Star.

Surely, frustration is mounting.

8. The next wave of kids will blow our minds…

9. Got asked this week for my trophy leaders at the 10-game mark. Never imagined throwing so many Canucks out there (Quinn Hughes for Norris; Elias Pettersson for Hart), but here we are.

Hands down, the easiest selection was Rick Tocchet for Jack Adams.

Absolutely love his no-nonsense approach and his willingness to hold even his most handsomely paid and most talented players (J.T. Miller) accountable. Whatever the coach is preaching, the players are listening.

10. Outside of the Canucks, the only other team humming above a four-goals-a-game clip is the L.A. Kings (4.2).

Traditionally, the team isn’t known for its offensive explosiveness. The Kings are doing it by committee.

Kevin Fiala, their leading point-getter, has one goal (and 11 assists). No King has more than five goals, yet 17 of them have at least three points.

“It is coming from four lines, and their defence is involved a lot, too,” Keefe notes. “In the early going, they have had a lot of guys who are feeling good offensively. A lot of speed and a lot of numbers to the net. It is working well for them.”

The Kings hold the league’s best away record (5-0-0), which makes a tone of sense when you consider coach Todd McLellan’s ability to roll all four lines and trust his envious centre depth.

Anze Kopitar, Pierre-Luc Dubois, and Phillip Danault are all capable of handling the opposition’s top unit.

“Three responsible centremen with size,” McLellan told reporters during his successful swing through Toronto. “All pretty good in the faceoff circle, play on both sides of the puck, and can provide offence. We’re not juggling lineups within games to get matchups.”

Less heralded but just as important for McLellan is his fourth line. Blake Lizotte, Carl Grundstrom and Trevor Lewis aren’t an afterthought. The coach has dubbed that unit his “most consistent line throughout the season” and won’t hesitate to throw them over the board for 12 minutes a night.

“It gives them so many more different options and protection on the road,” Keefe explains. “They haven’t lost on the road yet, and I don’t think that’s by accident. When you have that depth and those options and that comfort, it helps a lot as a coach. It makes them an even deeper forward group than they’ve been.”

11. Domi and his dad, Tie, are out here modeling a new apparel line developed by the NHL and October’s Very Own. The brands collaborated on limited-edition collection of hoodies, T-shirts, varsity jackets and cuffed beanies to celebrate the Original Six.

“Drake’s just a friend of my dad and I’s, so he asked us to do it,” Domi says. 

“You’re not going to say no to that guy.”

How did the Zoolander experience go?

“With or without my teeth,” Domi quips through his missing Chicklets. “Honestly, I’ve done it enough. It’s fine, but I’m not going to sign up to be a full-time model anytime soon, that’s for sure.”

Domi’s role in the collab stirred a buzz with his Leafs teammates.

“I was all over him about that,” Mark Giordano says. “I want one of those sweaters or jackets. I’m very jealous.”    

12. In the spring of 2017, I attended an NHL alumni event and got to talk with a retired Washington Capitals legend.

The Caps had finished first in the Metropolitan Division, compiling another stellar 118-point regular season, only to get a first-round fright from the upstart Maple Leafs and to bow out yet again to their nemesis Pittsburgh Penguins in Round 2.

Well, speaking passionately and off the record, this former Caps great leaned in. His main criticism was that Washington would never win, could never win with Nicklas Backstrom. That the centreman wasn’t built for the playoffs. He needed to go.

One spring later, Backstrom was kissing the Cup, the Capitals were frolicking in the fountains, and the guy who supposedly couldn’t deliver under pressure went off for 23 points in 20 playoff games.

Hate to see one of the greats forced to step away on something other than his own terms.

Wishing the best for Backstrom, whose No. 19 will one day be hanging from the rafters.