Josh Archibald #15 of the Edmonton Oilers side steps a hit from Tyson Barrie #94 of the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
The Toronto Maple Leafs will need some help to get back into the playoffs and these players can provide a necessary boost.
If there are two words Sheldon Keefe should have posted in a prominent place in the Toronto Maple Leafs locker, it should be ‘discipline’ and ‘consistency.’
For years, this young team has been given the benefit of the doubt because of their lack of experience but with moves to bring in proven veterans like John Tavares and Jake Muzzin, expectations have changed. Unfortunately, this team still hasn’t been able to play with the consistency and discipline most teams have shown en route to winning the Stanley Cup.
When Keefe was brought in it provided an adrenaline boost but with his comments following their loss against the Chicago Blackhawks, he made it clear that the honeymoon period was over. The question is what the Leafs are going to do to try and get back on track?
All the focus will be on the Leafs’ defensive play with Jake Muzzin making his return after missing a month with a fractured foot. One player, unfortunately, won’t make that much of a difference unless the rest of the team buys in.
With that being said there are certainly a group of players who the team will need to take a big step forward when the team gets back on the ice if they want a chance to get back into the playoffs.
Frederik Andersen
It is a bit ironic that as Andersen is coming off his first career NHL All-Star Game appearance, he is having his worst statistical season with a 2.89 GAA and a .909 save percentage.
In fairness to the Leafs starter, he numbers have taken a dip since he was named an all-star but it doesn’t ease the concern people have with his performance going into the break. As usual, Andersen didn’t start off the season as he would have like to with a .901 sv% and a 3.03 GAA in 10 games but improved on that significantly with a .938 sv% and a 1.97 GAA in November.
Unfortunately, the 30-year-old has struggled to play close to his November form posting a .904 sv% and a 3.03 GAA in December and a brutal .881 sv% and 4.12 GAA in January so far. That simply isn’t going to cut it considering how close the playoff race is in the Eastern Conference.
Do the Leafs make life easier on Andersen? No they do not but they make up for it by scoring their way out of poor defensive performances. Maybe if the Leafs figure out a way to cut down on the dangerous scoring chances they are giving up it could help take some pressure off Andersen.
The problem here is that the Leafs definitely need their rock in net to get back to form because it doesn’t look like help will come easily or cheap but any improvement to his game will go a long way.
It might be a lot to ask of Andersen but its something he has become used to in his time with the Leafs and hopefully “Steady Freddie” has more left in the tank.
Tyson Barrie
Things could not have gone worse for Barrie in his first few months with the Blue and White to the point where a trade out of Toronto was becoming a real possibility.
While people will fixate on how bad things have gone so far, this final stretch is crucial for Barrie and that’s what he needs to focus on considering he’s playing for his next contract.
Talking with Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston, Barrie admitted that being in a contract year hasn’t been easy to deal with but he also said that Keefe has made him more comfortable because he wants him to play the game that suits his style.
There’s no denying the role the 28-year-old was brought in to fulfill considering he was a consistent offensive producer and should have been able to find success considering the depth of offensive talent on this team. If you expected him to be a premier shutdown defender than you did not watch him play in Colorado.
He even admits in his interview with Johnston that part of the problem with the Leafs defensive play is when the team doesn’t get the 100 per cent commitment. Of course, many would say that Barrie has been guilty of not putting an honest defensive effort but there’s still time for him to improve on that.
If he doesn’t then he will have a tough getting the deal many expected him to get when the season started.
Travis Dermott
Barrie isn’t the only one that has a lot on the line this season as Dermott is a pending restricted free agent and let’s just say things haven’t been going his way.
Starting the season recovering from shoulder surgery and missed the first month as a result. It’s only fair that the 22-year-old be given time to get himself back into game shape which he has certainly been afforded.
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Now more than ever, Dermott needs to step up his game with Morgan Rielly out of the lineup. While he hasn’t been expected to replace the offensive production the team is missing with Rielly gone, defensively he has had to deal with tougher matchups.
His possession numbers have not been the problem during this stretch with Muzzin and Rielly out of the lineup but he’s been guilty of allowing too many high-danger scoring chances. He leads the Leafs in high-danger goals against (six) and fifth in high-danger scoring chances allowed (23).
When asked about how the Leafs would get through the injuries to two of his more important defencemen, Keefe admitted that Dermott would have to step up and pitch in more than he had been up until this stretch.
What made Dermott such an effective player when he joined the team during the 2017-18 season was his willingness to be physical and his gap control in the defensive zone. Maybe he can come out strong following the all-star break and for the Leafs’ sake, they better hope he can.
If not, expect the Leafs to give Rasmus Sandin more responsibility which is probably something they weren’t anticipating at this point of the season.