Maple Leafs Confirm Several Lineup Changes; Rookie Fraser Minten Among Those Scratched
The Toronto Maple Leafs have confirmed that rookie center Fraser Minten and 3 others will come out of the lineup as team implements several roster changes against the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday.
The Maple Leafs did not give head coach Craig Berube much to be happy with on Saturday night when they allowed the struggling Detroit Red Wings to impose their will early and often in a 4-2 loss in the first half of a back-to-back this weekend.
Tonight, as the Leafs conclude their back-to-back against the Sabres, another team who has struggled this season, Berube has confirmed that there will be a pretty significant roster shake-up, with rookie Fraser Minten highlighting those who will sit against Buffalo.
Per David Alter of The Hockey News, Nicholas Robertson, Ryan Reaves, Philippe Myers and Dennis Hildeby are all in tonight, pushing out Fraser Minten, Pontus Holmberg, Conor Timmins and Joseph Woll.
The Hildeby for Woll substitution was always likely, following the injury to veteran goaltender Anthony Stolarz, who left Thursday's win over Anaheim with a lower-body injury and did not return. Stolarz was placed on injured reserve on Sunday.
The real shocker here is Minten, who has been pretty solid for the Leafs since his call-up. Perhaps this healthy scratch is more of a rest day for a rookie, who isn't quite used to the grind of the NHL just yet.
Nick Robertson will get what could be his last opportunity to make an impact in Toronto after years of mediocre play and injury issues. Meanwhile, Pontus Holmberg, who hasn't really stood out either, will sit in the press box in a similar position to that of Robertson -- needing to find a way to show the team that he deserves a regular roster spot.
Reaves and Myers, the Leafs' typical 12th/13th forward and 6th/7th defenseman, are merely rotating back in to provide some fresh legs for the team tonight, given the fact that this game will mark the second in less than 24 hours for the Leafs -- with travel.
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 15 | 2274 ANSWERS Maple Leafs Confirm Several Lineup Changes; Rookie Fraser Minten Among Those Scratched Does Pontus Holmberg still deserve a spot in the Leafs' lineup? | ||
| Yes | 991 | 43.6 % |
| No | 1283 | 56.4 % |
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