Here are the Leafs who may get some rest down the stretch and who will likely play through
The Leafs have played 74 games so far this season and are playing 6 over the next 9 days including back-to-back this weekend. With so much hockey being played over the next 10 days, you have to wonder if Keefe will look to give some of his big guys a game off here and there. Now would be the perfect time as the Leafs play the Sens, Islanders, Flyers and Wings over the next 9 days. The Leafs struggle against non-playoff teams anyway, so why not plug in some guys that are on the bubble and playing for spots in the playoffs?
Morgan Rielly has played in all 74 games for the Leafs and has quietly put up 65 points from the blueline. As the Leafs' number 1 defenseman, he's done everything asked of him (including taking a hometown discount), but has played a ton of heavy minutes. If it wasn't for Cale Makar and Roman Josi running away with the Norris competition, in any other year Rielly would likely be a candidate.
Since Rielly is not going to be chasing a Norris Trophy this year, he could use a game or two off to heal up some of the bumps and bruises. Once Muzzin returns, the Leafs could give Rielly Tuesday's game against the Flyers off and let Keefe mix and match pairings to see what works and what doesn't.
With Auston Matthews chasing 60 and potentially even 65 goals, it is unlikely he will want to take a game off, but once he hits 60 he could be more open to the idea of taking an extra day's rest and, given the more physical game he has been playing, there's no doubt he's got some lingering issues that could use some time off.
The same could be said for Mitch Marner and John Tavares as well. Both have been more physical lately and have found themselves on the receiving end of more and more cheap shots after plays and behind the play. It would give Keefe the ability to give Colin Blackwell and Nick Abruzzese more quality minutes to see what they can do in more than a fourth line role. It could also be a good opportunity to sneak Nick Robertson back into the lineup down the stretch.
There are some in Leafs Nation who will probably hate this idea, but with a playoff spot clinched, the goal is to be as healthy as possible going into the playoffs and the best way to do that is to give the big guys some extra days off. That said, I could see the Leafs' top players playing the games against their division rivals in Tampa, Florida and Boston.
As for the depth guys, I'd anticipate that Wayne Simmonds and Kyle Clifford will get some rest before what should be a very rough postseason. Jason Spezza will likely draw in to most of the games down the stretch to get his legs going just in case he is needed.
For the goaltenders, we could very likely see Kallgren and Campbell split the rest of the starts at 4 apiece, but it wouldn't shock me to see Campbell get 6 of the next 8 starts just to try to find his groove before the playoffs after a lengthy layoff.
| POLL | ||
AVRIL 16 | 288 ANSWERS Here are the Leafs who may get some rest down the stretch and who will likely play through Should Sheldon Keefe rest his star players in the final 8 games? | ||
| Yes | 45 | 15.6 % |
| No | 131 | 45.5 % |
| Only if we have home ice | 70 | 24.3 % |
| Rest them every game except TB, FLA and BOS | 42 | 14.6 % |
| List of polls | ||
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