Not long after his close friend, Jake Muzzin, left the Oct. 17 loss against Arizona with an apparent neck injury, Marner let the world in on the potential severity of it with his comments: “Obviously for him it’s just making sure that, if he does come back and play this year, or whatever happens, just make sure that he’s going to be able to do whatever he wants to do the rest of his life and enjoy the time with his family, his kids.”
It was one of those foreshadowing quotes that spoke volumes. A player’s life and well-being after hockey is always of paramount importance. Fast forward to this week, nearly a month later, when the Maple Leafs announced that Muzzin would be out for the foreseeable future with a cervical spine injury, to be re-evaluated next in late February before the March 3 trade deadline.
For Toronto, Muzzin’s injury is probably the best outcome in a worst-case scenario. They are down a blueliner who was acquired and paid to be a big part of a playoff run, but injuries have mounted, and at least now they have clarity and flexibility.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
GM Kyle Dubas said Monday that in the short-term, the Leafs will provide no shortage of opportunity for young defensemen Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren to step up and seize the moment. In the long-term, it seems like a foregone conclusion that the Leafs will use all of Muzzin’s $5.625 million LTIR space to boost a back end that many viewed as already in need of reinforcement when Muzzin was healthy.
This is a burn-the-boats type of season in Toronto, where no stone should be left unturned. It’s now or never to make a dent in the Stanley Cup playoffs for this core.
Given the list below, Dubas may have to stray from his preference of not acquiring rental players, since there are seemingly very few defensemen with term available. Teams that have steady defensemen are in the business of hanging onto them, unless there is a significant premium paid. And it’s not as if Dubas, in the last year of his contract without an extension, should be thinking much beyond this season anyway.
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Aside from the obvious in Jakob Chychrun, who has been available for more than a year in Arizona and is set to make his season debut on Nov. 21, here are six potential fits for the Maple Leafs as the season moves on:
1. John Klingberg, Anaheim Ducks
Age: 30 Shoots: Right Stats: 16 GP, 1 G, 7 A, 8 Pts Contract: Pending UFA, $7 million AAV
With Muzzin’s injury, the Leafs have the ability to jump the market and acquire Klingberg. It’s been a miserable start for the rebuilding Ducks, who are tied for the fewest points in the league. He is a strong skater and defender, a really well-rounded player who would instantly improve the power play. The idea behind signing Klingberg to just a one-year deal in late July as he lingered on the free agent market was to see if there was a fit, but also realize that he is a potential flippable asset. Klingberg recognized that, as well, which is why he has a full no-trade clause in place until Jan. 1. With the Ducks retaining half on Klingberg, his contract would fit neatly into the Leafs’ LTIR cushion, and if the cap does increase – it may not be out of the realm of possibility that the Leafs could re-sign him. But the acquisition cost won’t be cheap. Klingberg will be fetching a first-round pick, plus more, on the rental market. He is also the best all-around defenseman available.
2. Vladislav Gavrikov, Columbus Blue Jackets
Age: 26 Shoots: Left Stats: 15 GP, 2 G, 2 A, 4 Pts Contract: Pending UFA, $2.8 million AAV
Gavrikov is probably close to a stylistic opposite from Klingberg. Gavrikov is the quintessential defensive defenseman. He has size and reach, he blocks shots and he kills plays. He’s not quite worthy of the term “shutdown” guy, but he holds his own. If you look back in Toronto’s playbook under Kyle Dubas, a similar style of player has already been targeted and acquired in Ilya Lyubushkin, who has since moved on to Buffalo. In that deal last season, they also packaged Nick Ritchie to Arizona with a second-round pick for Lyubushkin. The acquisition cost is likely the same this time around and Columbus doesn’t have the same cap flexibility as Arizona to take on an undesirable contract. Gavrikov finds himself a few months away from free agency on a Columbus team going in the wrong direction. They’ve capitalized on the rental market with Toronto before and we could see GM Jarmo Kekalainen doing it again.
3. Matt Roy, Los Angeles Kings
Age: 27 Shoots: Right Stats: 18 GP, 3 G, 5 A, 8 Pts Contract: 1 more season remaining, $3.15 million AAV
Advertisement – Continue Reading Below
Roy is the only blueliner on our list who has term on his contract. Why does he make the cut? The Kings are one of the very few teams in the league with a surplus on defense. They have eight healthy defensemen right now if you include 19-year-old slide candidate Brandt Clarke and that does not include Jordan Spence or Tobias Bjornfot, who are ready to go in AHL Ontario. The real proof in the telling is in Roy’s ice time. After averaging 20:18 over the last two seasons, he has only cracked 20 minutes twice this season, averaging 17:50. It’s clear the Kings would preferably move on from Sean Walker first, who hasn’t looked the same yet after a major right knee injury. Walker has the same term left at a slightly lower cap hit. But Roy is the better defenseman right now. His game isn’t going to ‘wow’ anyone in any one facet, but the unassuming 2015 seventh-round pick is steady, reliable and not easily rattled.
4. Carson Soucy, Seattle Kraken
Age: 28 Shoots: Left Stats: 16 GP, 1 G, 3 A, 4 Pts Contract: Pending UFA, $2.75 million AAV
Of all the players on this list, Soucy is the one player who might not be available. Yet. The Kraken have exceeded expectations this season and bounced back in a big way after a tough expansion entrée. Their grasp on an early season playoff position may be tenuous in the Pacific Division, but they’re in the mix. That’s important for the franchise to establish a competitive baseline – and it means GM Ron Francis and Co. probably aren’t willing to be plucking off pieces from the roster. Especially those as versatile as Soucy. However, we know teams have gone well down the path with the Kraken on Soucy already. This 6-foot-5 classic late bloomer, who was signed to his current contract as a pending Group VI UFA in 2020, was picked from Minnesota in the Expansion Draft. He doesn’t have a lot of holes in his game. He can also play both sides of the blueline, which is important given Sheldon Keefe’s preference in proper lefty-righty pairs. For the reasons mentioned, Soucy is a player who might move closer to the March 3 deadline, and the Leafs wouldn’t be the only fit.
5/6. Nick Jensen OR Dmitry Orlov, Washington Capitals
Age: 32 / 31 Shoots: Right / Left Stats: 18 GP, 1 G, 8 A, 9 Pts / 13 GP, 0 G, 5 A, 5 Pts Contracts: Both Pending UFAs, $2.5 million / $5.1 million AAVs
There’s no question the singular focus for the Capitals this season is to make the Stanley Cup playoffs with a roster constructed for win-now mode. Injuries may make that impossible. Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson, T.J. Oshie, Connor Brown and Carl Hagelin will all have missed significant chunks of time. And GM Brian MacLellan may have no choice when it comes to the deadline to move on from rentals if the Caps appear likely to miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014. If that’s the case, there are two intriguing fits for the Leafs. Orlov might be the more expensive acquisition, but Jensen might have more suitors. Both are stylistic fits for Toronto because they both handle forechecking pressure well. That’s significant because the Leafs seem to have been overwhelmed by it at times in their recent first-round playoff exits. Orlov is more assertive, Jensen is more understated. Both are equally confident. Jensen’s contract has aged quite well, whereas Orlov probably had a higher ceiling years back and has seen his game plateau a bit, but is still playing at a high level.
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kevin Lankinen made 26 saves for his fourth career shutout and the Vancouver Canucks beat the Philadelphia Flyers 3-0 on Saturday night.
Nils Hoglander, Brock Boeser and Kyle Sherwood scored for the Canucks, who spoiled Philadelphia’s home opener and the first NHL home game for top Flyers’ prospects Matvei Michkov and Jett Luchanko.
The Canucks controlled play for most of the game and took advantage of Philadelphia’s defensive breakdowns for a pair of goals.
Samuel Ersson made 29 saves for Philadelphia, which lost its fourth consecutive game (0-3-1) after winning its season opener against the Canucks in Vancouver.
TAKEAWAYS
Canucks: Tyler Myers picked up an assist on a nifty, no-look pass to Boeser. It was Myers’ 1,000th NHL game. Myers also had three shots on goal, blocked a pair of shots, finished the game plus-1 and led the Canucks in total time on ice at 21:54.
Flyers: In another milestone game, Philadelphia captain Sean Couturier played in his 800th career game. However, the veteran centre was demoted to the fourth line and on the left wing by coach John Tortorella before the game. Once the Flyers fell behind 3-0, Couturier was shifted back to centre, but he couldn’t spark the team’s offence.
KEY MOMENT
Vancouver scored twice in 50 seconds in the second period to pull away. Sherwood’s goal was a one-timer off a faceoff win by Teddy Blueger to make it 3-0.
KEY STAT
Minus 11, the Flyers’ goal differential in five games this season at even strength. Through five games they have now been outscored 17-6 at five-on-five. All three of Vancouver’s goals on Saturday were at even strength.
UP NEXT
Canucks: Visit the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday night.
NEW YORK (AP) — Noah Dobson scored in the ninth round of the shootout to lead the New York Islanders to a 4-3 win over the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday night.
Bo Horvat, Kyle Palmieri and Anders Lee scored in regulation for the Islanders, and Dobson had two assists. Semyon Varlamov finished with 21 saves.
Cole Caulfield had two goals and Logan Mailloux also scored for Montreal. Cayden Primeau made 33 saves.
Palmieri and Simon Holmstron also scored for the Islanders in the shootout, and Oliver Kapanen and Emil Heineman tallied for Montreal.
Caufield forced overtime with 2:10 left in regulation to tie the score 3-3. It came 2:26 after Lee gave the Islanders the lead.
TAKEAWAYS
Canadiens: Mailloux scored his first NHL goal 59 seconds into the second period to tie the game 2-2.
Islanders: Entering the game, the Islanders’ 33 shots per game ranked third in the NHL but their average of 2.5 goals per game was 27th in the league. Horvat and Palmieri scored 2:26 apart late in the first period to give New York a 2-0 lead.
KEY MOMENT
Varlamov’s glove save on Caufield’s breakaway 5:44 into the second period kept the score tied 2-2.
KEY STAT
New York limited Montreal to 24 shots in the win. Through their first four games before Saturday night, the Islanders had held opponents to 29.3 shots per game, which was 13th in the NHL.
UP NEXT
Canadiens: Host the New York Rangers on Tuesday night.
Islanders: Host the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night.
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Former U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland finished 54 holes of the wind-delayed Shriners Children’s Open knowing he’ll have his best chance at winning since brain surgery more than a year ago. Best of all Saturday was being finished.
Woodland had three birdies over his final six holes and extended his bogey-free streak to 28 holes in polishing off a 6-under 65 that gave him a share of the clubhouse lead with Las Vegas resident Kurt Kitayama, who also had a 65.
They trailed J.T. Poston and Doug Ghim by one shot when play was suspended by darkness. Thirty of the 66 players who made the cut earlier Saturday did not finish.
Poston had an eagle during his closing stretch of the second round for a 65, and his only sub-par hole in the third round was an eagle on the par-5 ninth. It put him at 15-under par through 13 holes. Also at 15 under was Ghim, who had four straight birdies and was facing a five-foot par putt on the 17th hole when it was too dark to continue.
Woodland had surgery in September 2023 to remove a lesion on his brain, situated on a tract that caused fear and anxiety. It’s been a long road back of making progress with his health, getting dialed in on the right medication and trying to get his game in order.
He also went back to Randy Smith, the PGA Hall of Fame swing coach in Dallas. Now Woodland is sensing the pieces coming back together.
“I feel a lot better for one,” Woodland said. “That’s a huge help. But I’ve seen some signs. I’ve been back with Randy Smith for a couple months now. I am starting to drive it better, iron play, controlling the golf ball like I haven’t in a long time, which is nice. Then putts start going in, start putting some good scores up.
“I’m excited and happy to be here — and really happy to finish tonight so I can get some sleep tomorrow.”
The third round was to resume at 8 a.m., and Woodland likely will start around 11 a.m. That beats getting up before dawn, which he already has had to do twice this week.
Next to be determined is where he stands.
Harris English and Alejandro Tosti of Argentina also were at 14 under with four holes to play, including the reachable par 4 and the easiest of the three par 5s. Six other players were at 13 under and still had holes to play.
Taylor Pendrith of Richmond Hill, Ont., only completed 13 holes on Saturday and sits two shots back of the leaders. Nick Taylor of Abbotsford, B.C., is tied for 44th at 5 under. Ben Silverman of Thornhill, Ont., is tied for 61st at 3 under.
The wind has calmed substantially from Friday, when gusts approached 50 miles per hour and led to a four-hour delay that caused the stop-and-start and the last two days being suspended because of darkness. A TPC Summerlin course that was all about hanging on is now back to being a test of who can make the most birdies.
“Conditions will be pretty easy. I think you saw that with some of the scores,” Poston said. “Guys are making birdies. So I think it’s just trying to stay aggressive but also stay patient if the putts don’t fall early because there is a lot of holes left.”
The second round didn’t end until about noon Saturday and the cut was at 3-under 139. Among those who missed was Tom Kim, the two-time defending champion who was trying to become the first player since Steve Stricker at the John Deere Classic (2009-11) to win the same PGA Tour event three straight years.
Also missing the cut were the three winners in the FedEx Cup Fall — Patton Kizzire, Kevin Yu and Matt McCarty.
