Maple Leafs centre John Tavares, recovering from an oblique muscle injury, isn’t likely to be cleared to play in Wednesday’s regular-season opener. Fortunately for the team, they have depth at forward.
and Michael Bunting. They have until 5 p.m. Monday to submit the opening roster. While a few candidates remained on the bubble, this is how the remaining lines might look until Tavares returns:
Nick Robertson appears to have made the team. The 21-year-old forward led the Leafs in pre-season scoring heading into Saturday and seems destined for the second line with William Nylander at centre and either Denis Malgin or Adam Gaudette on the other wing. Malgin and Gaudette were in the lineup for Saturday night. When Tavares returns, he’d likely centre Nylander and Robertson.
Based on Keefe’s recent comments, the shutdown line is likely to be Alex Kerfoot between Calle Järnkrok and Pierre Engvall. “I’d put this line out against anybody,” the coach said. The unit would also be expected to contribute on offence after Engvall’s career-best 15-goal season, while Kerfoot’s 51 points were a personal high. Järnkrok scored 12 goals with the expansion Seattle Kraken last season, and has reached the 15-goal mark four times in the NHL.
When Tavares returns, the coaching staff will have another tough decision to make. Speaking Saturday for the first time since his oblique injury flared up, the Leafs centre said: “Obviously I’d love to be ready to go for Wednesday. At the same time, you have to look at the big picture: four games in six nights to start the season, an 82-game grind, and hopefully a two-month grind after that.
“So, just continue to hit my checkpoints day-by-day, get the feedback and assess each day where I’m at.”
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