Toronto Maple Leafs Notes: Bozak Game-Time Decision, Filppula Confirms Trade Rumour
The Toronto Maple Leafs could be without Tyler Bozak on Thursday night, while Valtteri Filppula confirmed he declined a trade to Toronto, and Mike Babcock reiterates his confidence in Morgan Rielly.
Toronto Maple Leafs centre Tyler Bozak might miss Thursday’s game against the Philadelphia Flyers with an undisclosed injury, according to multiple sources.
Tyler Bozak will be a game-time decision, per Babcock. Expects him to play.
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) March 9, 2017
Head coach Mike Babcock does expect Bozak to play, however. In the event Bozak sits out, Nazem Kadri will slide into Bozak’s spot and play alongside Mitch Marner and James van Riemsdyk.
Brian Boyle would then move into Kadri’s spot alongside Leo Komarov and Connor Brown, and Eric Fehr would make his Leafs debut as the fourth line centre.
Leafs lines at a.m. skate
— David Alter (@dalter) March 9, 2017
Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
JVR-Kadri-Marner
Komarov-Boyle-Brown
Martin-Fehr-Soshnikov
Extra: Leivo
Absent: Bozak
Filppula Confirms Turning Down Trade to Toronto
Just before the NHL Trade Deadline late last month, the Maple Leafs were reportedly trying to acquire Filppula from the Tampa Bay Lightning as part of the Boyle deal. Filppula, who has a no-movement clause, vetoed a deal to Toronto and was eventually traded to the Philadelphia Flyers.
With the Flyers in town to take on the Leafs, Filppula confirmed that he did in fact turn down a trade to Toronto.
Valtteri Filppula confirms that he turned down a trade to the #leafs before the deadline.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) March 9, 2017
Filppula said he did not a decline a trade to Toronto because of Babcock, who was his former coach when he was with the Detroit Red Wings, and that the two actually had a good conversation on the phone.
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Although Filppula didn’t say exactly why he declined a trade to Toronto, I’d imagine the way the Leafs have treated veteran players the past few years by banishing them to “Robidas Island” might have factored into his decision.
Babcock Reiterates Confidence in Rielly
Morgan Rielly is struggling, it’s no secret. But Babcock reiterated his confidence in Rielly when he addressed the media after morning skate on Thursday.
Post-skate, Mike Babcock expressed a hearty vote of confidence in Morgan Rielly (who is also celebrating his 23rd birthday today) pic.twitter.com/aNKiR8ajik
— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) March 9, 2017
I don’t think what Babcock said will surprise many Leaf fans, but it does give you a glimpse into what kind of impact Rielly has in the locker room. Teammates clearly have a ton of respect for Rielly and they turn to him in big situations.
Hopefully Babcock publicly expressing his confidence in Rielly — again — will be able to jumpstart the Leafs No. 1 defenceman.
Next: Report: Leafs Expected to Sign Grundstrom to ELC
What do you think about the Toronto Maple Leafs lines if Bozak is unable to play? Would you like to see Kadri centre JVR and Marner more often? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.