Just because he already tracked down the Russian Bear does not mean Kyle Dubas is done hunting.
The Toronto Maple Leafs GM made it crystal clear he’ll be scoping out another defenceman for his club’s playoff bid.
Meeting with reporters at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, Ont., Friday to promote next weekend’s Heritage Classic, Dubas shot down the idea that an impact forward or a goaltender might be his priority.
That said, what price level, style, and handedness of defenceman Dubas will prioritize depends greatly on the readiness of Jake Muzzin, whose $5.625-million cap hit is currently resting on long-term injured reserve.
If Muzzin returns to action during the regular season, Toronto may only have a couple million dollars in wiggle room to add a player without subtracting from its roster. If consecutive concussions keep him out past April 29, then one would have to imagine a left-shot Muzzin replacement would be aggressively sought.
Do you pluck an affordable defender like Justin Braun from Philadelphia or Luke Schenn from Vancouver?
Or go big-game hunting for an established top-four blueliner like Jakob Chychrun, John Klingberg or Ben Chiarot?
“A lot of it is gonna depend on Muzzin’s health and where we’re at. We still have quite a bit of flexibility to get creative and try to make something happen. But unless we get the news we don’t want on Muzz, I think we’ll just have the one move left in us here,” Dubas told reporters, 17 days out from the NHL’s trade deadline.
“It’s not one of these things where we’re going to try to wait and have him come back in the playoffs. A style of player like him, if he’s healthy and he’s good to go, we need to get him back in and play and get him in form before the playoffs.”
Agreed.
Muzzin, 33, has logged 12 years of hard pro minutes and had been struggling by his standards even prior to suffering concussions in January and February. To expect him to take two months off and hit the post-season ice flying like Patrick Kane or Nikita Kucherov in their prime is a tough ask.
“It’s not an imminent return, and we just have to be really careful with him. It’s two concussions and in a very brief amount of time, so we’re going to continue to be slow and cautious with him,” said Dubas, conceding his players need to tighten up in their own end.
“We’ve shown of late, especially against good teams, that we’re able to defend really well as a group. And then when we let our foot off the gas a little bit, like on Wednesday night, it’s ugly. And so that’s going to be on our group to continue to work on that.”
Dubas reiterated that he’d prefer to make his next trade days in advance of March 21, just as he did with the Ilya Lyubushkin deal.
Don’t worry about our crease… nothing to see here
The solution to the troubling inconsistency in the Maple Leafs’ net since the calendar flipped to 2022 must come from within.
Dubas gave a firm endorsement of his tandem of Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek, shutting down the notion that he’ll poke around a goaltending market led by rental Marc-Andre Fleury.
After getting caved in by the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 Wednesday, Mrazek’s save percentage dropped to .890.
Campbell has cooled off alarmingly from his incredible start. He’s back to his career average of .917 goaltending on the year and has admitted to mental hurdles. Nevertheless, Dubas is pinning his hopes to the duo.
“I think we tend to get a little bit game to game in this marketplace, and I’m not concerned about either one of them,” Dubas said. “They both have shown themselves to be good goalies, and they will be.”
Rodion Strong
The Maple Leafs have known for a while that prospect Rodion Amirov had been diagnosed with a brain tumor. The hopeful young man has endured his first treatment and is in Germany, working out and skating when able. Amirov’s attitude has wowed the organization.
“You see how optimistic he is, how he’s passionate about the fact that he’s gonna fight it all the way,” Dubas said. “It’s remarkable to see — and, really, quite inspiring. I couldn’t imagine that happening. You never expect to hear that when you have a 20-year-old athlete.”
Dubas’s message to his most recent first-round pick: “Get healthy. We know he’s not going to play here in the short term at all. He’s not going to play this season. Certainly, the hockey part is not a huge concern for us right now at all.”
Rodion Amirov shares the video the Leafs made for him at their morning skate, and then gives his thanks for the support.
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Security for Russian Leafs
In light of recent reports of threats and harassment of some Russian hockey players on this side of the pond, Dubas made a point to check in with Ilya Mikheyev and Lyubushkin and has asked them to keep communication open.
“Our director of security is around the team every single day on the road and at home,” Dubas said. “There have been no issues reported by them or anything with toward their families.
“So, we just need to monitor. They’re members of our team, and we care about them and want to make sure they’re safe and that we’re taking care of them as best we can. Anything that comes up, they know to report it right away.”
Disturbing news… I confirm Rick Westhead’s report that my teenage Russian born client on OHL Northbay Battalion team was targeted with Anti-Russian slur at yesterday’s game. Elsewhere, Terrant County College professor sent this on LinkedIn…2 days later school didn’t respond… pic.twitter.com/V8bvG4J46q
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
