With the return of Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies to the lineup Saturday in Tampa Bay, one of the farm team Marlies who filled in so admirably will have to sit.
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That would be winger Alex Steeves based on the morning skate at Amelie Arena. It could also be a precursor to Steeves returning to the AHL to get Toronto back down below 23 players.
Steeves does not require waivers where Alex Nylander does, while coach Craig Berube and general manager Brad Treliving aren’t keen on sending back rookie Fraser Minten with the club still down a couple of centres in David Kampf and Max Domi. Minten stays while William Nylander and Pontus Holmberg are on the wings, even if they are capable of playing the middle.
“I want to leave Minten in a position he’s played pretty much his life,” Berube had told reporters in Florida on Friday, though he says getting the 20-year-old to read plays better is part of a learning curve. “He’s positionally sound, but the whole thing takes time.
“Guys from the minors were all part of it, they all did a really good job (in putting together a record of 7-2 minus Matthews and others). They’re pushing, but the key is not to take a step back. Guys who’ve stepped up (must) keep stepping up. Even though Matthews and Knies are back, we have to keep building that foundation. It dropped off last game a bit (the 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers).”
Berube has also taken a page from predecessor Sheldon Keefe’s playbook to use the industrious Holmberg with big names Matthews and William Nylander.
NOVEMBERS TO REMEMBER
A stat came out this week that a bit more than 75% of all NHL teams’ playoff qualifying positions last season were determined by U.S. Thanksgiving. That Toronto is in good shape to secure its ninth straight post-season spot (tying a mark from its last dynasty in the 1960s) can be traced to a string of successful Novembers.
Heading into Saturday’s final game of the month, the club’s won-loss results in November dating to 2016-17 and the onset of the Core Four era, is a remarkable 72-32-8. The past three years alone it is 30-6-5, including 7-3-1 prior to the Tampa Bay game.
If only the playoffs were staged after American turkey day.
FAITH IN NICK
Nick Robertson can’t say Berube isn’t a patient man. He continues to be in the winger’s corner through 12 agonizing games without a goal and just two all year. Robertson’s strong training camp won him a spot and he signed a one-year deal
“He’s doing a lot of video and stuff with the (assistant) coaches,” Berube said. “The positive is he keeps working, and wants to do well.
“When I watch Nick, he has to get to the net a little more and find some dirty goals. Sometimes when your shot isn’t working (Robertson’s major asset), you have to get greasy around the goal.”
LOOSE LEAFS
The Marlies are obviously missing their promoted scorers with the Leafs, blanked 2-0 in Cleveland on Saturday. When called up, Steeves was three points away from breaking the Marlies’ record for career points, Kris Newbury’s 168 … The NHL 600-game club is gaining two new Leaf members, defenceman Jake McCabe on Saturday night, and barring injury, Mitch Marner at home Monday against Chicago. Marner will become the 23rd Toronto player to clear 600, preceded by William Nylander (625 before Saturday) and Morgan Rielly (813). Matthews was at 575.
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