The injured Chris Tanev is back practising and Steven Lorentz is good to go against the Vegas Golden Knights, but the top of the Atlantic Division looks much different to them and the Maple Leafs from a few days ago.
Toronto’s own roster might change after Wednesday’s game, their last before the National Hockey League trade window closes.
The Leafs prepped for the final pre-deadline match, perhaps buoyed because they’re less than 48 hours away from staying together for a first-place and playoff push, based on general manager Brad Treliving’s silence. But some kind of depth move is expected after the Florida Panthers and Tampa Bay Lightning completed significant deals that should spur the Leafs to finish first and avoid facing either in the first round.
Even if Toronto gets on a run next month and beyond, it’s naive to think someone won’t get hurt, especially among defencemen, who have a high April-May attrition rate or struggle for some other reason.
Tanev, Toronto’s best shot blocker and stay-at-home defender, resumed practising Wednesday after an upper body injury a week ago, though will miss a fourth straight game.
“He’s getting better and he’s getting closer,” coach Craig Berune told media in Vegas, saying that the next game in Colorado on Saturday was a possibility for Tanev.
Lorentz, the fourth-line energy winger, had to sit out his first game of the season on Monday, telling media it was a precaution for a sore neck and related head injury.
While Treliving works the phones, other teams have been busy the past few days, particularly in the Atlantic.
As the Leafs took to the ice Wednesday morning, the Lightning were completing a move with the fading Seattle Kraken to re-acquire their two-time Stanley Cup winner Yanni Gourde, consistent 20-goal right winger Oliver Bjorkstrand, plus a fifth-round draft pick next year. The Kraken also reap a haul of high picks, a first in ‘26 and ‘27, both lottery-protected, a second this year and forward Michael Eyssimont.
The Leafs would’ve had interest in Gourde, while the second-rounder the Kraken acquired was once their property.
Florida already took one of the biggest ‘name’ defencemen off the board on Saturday when they nabbed Seth Jones from Chicago. That required the Hawks to use their extra cap apace to retain Jones’ lengthy $9.5-million US salary, an option not open to the cash-strapped Leafs. There is a similar situation with winger Mikko Rantanen in Carolina, though the Hurricanes are at least playoff-bound.
Defending Cup champions Florida had to give up strong young No. 2 goalie Spencer Knight, but bolstered that position Wednesday with San Jose backup Vitek Vanecek for the role that current Leaf Anthony Stolarz filled for the Cats last season.
The St. Louis Blues’ post-break surge, pushing to a record of 5-2 before a West Coast game with the Los Angeles Kings, affected the Leafs and others pursuit of centre Brayden Schenn. While Berube would love to have his 2019 Cup winner here, Blues’ GM Doug Armstrong would face a hard sell with his crew to move Schenn with the team now just three points out of a wild-card spot as of Wednesday afternoon, with a favourable schedule down the stretch against current non-playoff clubs.
On Tuesday night, Brock Nelson was fighting back tears on the home bench interview post-game after his islanders beat Winnipeg, his 979th for New York, when it was hinted it could be the centre’s last at UBS Arena.
“It’s a great place, great fans,” he spluttered as the arena host made him more emotional with a parting “hope to see you soon.”
Meanwhile, right winger Brock Boeser of the Vancouver Canucks was telling reporters he’ll go into Wednesday’s home game against Anaheim with rattled trade nerves as his contract future is in limbo in and three teams are immediately in front and behind the Canucks for a wildcard spot.
Also Wednesday, the Toronto Marlies played their final pre-NHL deadline game. Forwards Fraser Minten and Alex Steeves were expected to play against Cleveland, the Leafs’ top two tradeable prospects at present, while Easton Cowan still piles up points for the London Knights in junior, just reaching his 200th over the past three seasons.
After Friday, the Leafs are permitted only four farm call-ups until the end of the regular season, unless they qualify to add more under emergency conditions. There might also be some juggling to get some bubble Leafs onto the Marlies post-season roster in a paper transaction to keep them eligible for Calder Cup action should their team keep going and the parent club makes a quick exit.
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