Leafs announce multiple interesting roster changes
The Toronto Maple Leafs kicked off their post holiday break with a Next Gen game last night against the Ottawa Senators, but despite getting out to an early 2-0 lead, the Leafs fell short of the mark, dropping a 4-2 decision to the desperate, relentless Sens.
Following the loss, the Leafs took to the ice for a full practice on Thursday, icing a very similar lineup to the one that lost to the Senators just last night. Part of this is likely to allow the lines to continue to build some chemistry and to battle together to overcome adversity. There were no changes at all among the forward groups, which shook out like this during line rushes:
Knies-Matthews-Marner
Bertuzzi-Tavares-Nylander
Robertson-Domi-Jarnkrok
McMann-Kampf-Gregor
Extra: Holmberg
There were, however, a few noteworthy changes on the blueline, as Mark Giordano slid up into the top 6, bumping William Lagesson into the #7D spot. Simon Benoit also appears to have earned himself a promotion, skating on the 2nd pair with Jake McCabe. Timothy Liljegren also slid down to the third pair next to the veteran Giordano:
Rielly-Brodie
McCabe-Benoit
Giordano-Liljegren
Extras: Lagesson, Timmins
We found out on Wednesday that Giordano is not far off now, and judging from today's line rushes, Gio looks poised to make his return to the Leafs' lineup against Columbus this weekend, though we'll have to await official confirmation from Keefe before we can make that determination.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 28 | 707 ANSWERS Leafs announce multiple interesting roster changes Do you think William Lagesson deserves to be bumped out of the top 6 defenders in Toronto? | ||
| Yes, he's the obvious #7 | 145 | 20.5 % |
| No, he's been very good | 259 | 36.6 % |
| He'll probably still rotate in and out as 6/7 | 303 | 42.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
