The Maple Leafs have quite likely poked the bear again by pushing Chris Tanev into hibernation Thursday.
asserted
Leafs → poke → hibernation
Already miffed by the staff’s decision to sit him on a back-to-back last Sunday for load management, the 36-year-old defenceman was shelved once more by Jim Hiller for the visit by the Minnesota Wild.
asserted
defenceman → miff → Wild
Toronto has lost four straight on its six-game homestand, with a day off after Tuesday’s 6-3 loss to Colorado, when Tanev played just under 19 minutes.
asserted
Tanev → lose → minutes
Hiller said Tanev would be back Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers, but given how vocal the proud veteran was about going along with the maintenance plan, the coach was not keen on discussing details.
asserted
coach → say → details
Tanev practised Wednesday and was in Thursday’s morning skate but, as a scratch, did not do interviews.
asserted
Tanev → practise → interviews
“I’m not going to get into that, I think there has been a lot of talk (already),” Hiller said.
asserted
Hiller → go → talk
What is the ratioanale to sit Tanev?
asserted
ratioanale → sit → Tanev
Tanev, who is signed another four years in his hometown and hoping to make a difference in turning fortunes around in his final NHL years, had been frank about not liking the situation, but told media a few days ago not to paint it as a major falling out with general manager John Chayka.
asserted
who → sign → Chayka
Tanev, like most Leafs has had his struggles, but brings vital physicality and shot blocking.
asserted
Tanev → have → physicality
For his part, Chayka told Sportsnet a few days ago he understood Tanev’s frustration, adding “we’re taking in a lot of information and making decisions.
asserted
we → tell → decisions
It’s my decision and I think it’s the right one for the organization.
asserted
it → ’ → organization
As Chris builds up some resiliency (from an upper body injury that sidelined him three weeks in October) and the doctors get comfortable with where he’s at, then we’ll change our minds as it makes sense to do so.”
asserted
it → build → sense
Hiller, who is already missing the injured Morgan Rielly and Nick Blankenship, and activated Marlies call-up Cole McWard for his second game as a Leaf, was pressed by more questions on Tanev.
asserted
who → miss → Tanev
“He knows we have his best interests at heart,” the coach said.
asserted
coach → know → heart
“He’s a good teammate, a good player and when called upon, he plays hard.
asserted
he → ’ → ?
He understands all that.
asserted
He → understand → that
Hiller and Chayka both alluded to analytics as factoring in the move.
asserted
Hiller → allude → move
“It’s everything, we have great resources,” Hiller said.
asserted
Hiller → ’ → resources
“It’s just a crack staff up and down, everyone’s involved with it.
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everyone → ’ → it
We debate it, a good decision is made and then everyone moves forward.”
asserted
everyone → debate → it
What can Cole McWard bring to the defence?
asserted
McWard → bring → defence
The 6-foot-2 McWard, a 25-year-old right shot from the St. Louis, Mo., suburb of Fenton, is thrilled for his second shot to play at Scotiabank Arena on the homestand.
asserted
McWard → play → homestand
He has nine previous NHL games with Vancouver and the New York Islanders.
asserted
He → have → Vancouver
“You don’t get opportunities like this and you’re trying to make the most of it,” McWard said.
asserted
McWard → get → it
“Minnesota is a great team and they play heavy, so we’ll have to match that.
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we → play → that
“They have really high-calibre players (Kirill Kaprizov, Quinn Hughes) that we’ll try and have to shut down.
asserted
we → have → that
Where might Brendan Brisson fit in?
uncertain
Brisson → fit → ?
The Leafs also called up Marlies leading scorer Brendan Brisson as a precaution if fourth-line winger Zack MacEwen can’t play with a wrist injury suffered in the Colorado game.
asserted
MacEwen → call → game
The latter was in the morning skate with Hiller calling him a game-time decision.
asserted
Hiller → call → him
Free agent Brisson, the son of player agent Pat Brisson, has 17 points in 14 games with 27 NHL appearances with the Golden Knights and Rangers since being drafted in the first round by Vegas in 2020.
asserted
Brisson → have → 2020
Anthony Stolarz will start in net for Toronto, the better of their two goalies so far with Sergei Bobrovsky allowing three or more goals in 11 of his 12 starts.
asserted
Bobrovsky → start → starts
Stolarz has a record of 5-2 with a .908 save percentage.
asserted
Stolarz → have → percentage
The Leafs area trying to stave off a fifth straight loss on a six-game homestand, already the most defeats they’ve endured to open a residency this long.
asserted
they → try → residency
The Aporia
