Take this to the bank about the Maple Leafs and the NHL’s mid-season break, be it the all-star game or the new 4 Nations Face-off:
Most players will make good use of time off after a busy first half ended with a four-game (3-1) road trip, channeling it to a good finishing kick to the final 37 games. The past three seasons bisecting with the showcase have seen Toronto’s points’ percentages of .628, .706 and .675, respectively, once the schedule resumes.
Yes, those healthy spring runs were only extended to one playoff series win, which is why Craig Berube is now coaching this talented roster and its unrealized potential, not Sheldon Keefe. And why there’s less hoopla around town about the good numbers to date, still in sight of top spot in the Atlantic Division.
Maybe a meaningful chase for first place is what has been lacking in those final days when the Leafs first-round match was set. But those in Leafs Nation bearing the wounds of gutted expectations just want extra measures taken to pave a longer post-season road.
Our three major questions for the rest of the regular season:
WHAT HAPPENS AT THE NHL TRADE DEADLINE?
General manager Brad Treliving kept more than an ear cupped to the wall on the significant deals around the league in January. And while there isn’t a dressing room crisis to force Treliving’s hand like that of the Vancouver Canucks, or teams who traded to shake up or rebuild, the countdown to March 7 and clubs turning to sell mode should have the Leafs’ GM in even more on every conversation.
The targets are hardly secretive. A third-line centre, a big winger, the always popular depth defenceman, but for the first time in years, not a goalie.
Big-ticket centre Brayden Schenn, part of Berube’s 2019 Cup champion St. Louis Blues, is flavour of the month, with Brock Nelson of the Islanders and Scott Laughton of the Flyers frequently mentioned.
Plan B would be an in-house debate. Does Treliving give a longer runway for young centre Fraser Minten, will veteran Calle Jarnkrok make a full recovery after the 4 Nations hiatus buys him more time, can feisty Connor Dewar come off IR to contribute and the ongoing mystery, what happens with big blueliner Jani Hakanpaa and his season-long knee woes?
Marlies winger Alex Steeves will be hard to ignore if he keeps leading the AHL in goals and what if Alex Nylander can earn himself another chance with brother William?
And could someone in that group, or one of the three farm goalies be used as a trade piece?
WHAT WILL THE FORWARD LINES LOOK LIKE?
Berube’s curiosity has seen just about every conceivable forward combination rolled out, but he keeps coming back to building units around comprised of two-thirds blue chip stock.
That’s Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, John Tavares with William Nylander. Their left wingers are TBD.
The pleasant problem is where to put Bobby McMann as he keeps on contributing.
Late in Saturday’s 2-1 loss to Vancouver, Berube busted up the surprisingly unproductive experimental trio of Tavares, Marner and Nylander (the latter who was moved to the left side). That could lead to a top-six role for McMann, starting when the Leafs play next, Jan. 22 at home against Carolina.
The two Maxes — Domi and Pacioretty — have had lots of primetime ice, Domi with first-line minutes, that have yet to result in goals, though both adhere to other tenets of Berube’s defence.
It remains to be seen if Pacioretty in particular at age 36 can handle an elongated playoff grind or what it will cost Treliving to upgrade.
HOW WILL THE GOALTENDING STARTS BE SPLIT UP?
This is a new spin for the Leafs, certainly if Joseph Woll handles the season-long grind in April or if Anthony Stolarz stays at or near the top of the NHL in save percentage.
March will come in like a lion, with 16 games between Feb. 28 and April Fool’s Day, with just three back-to-backs. Thus, many net assignments will be decided on merit more than an obvious need for rest. Still to come for Woll and Stolarz — or Matt Murray if called upon — are two road trips to the Southwest U.S. and California.
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