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With the return of Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies to the Maple Leafs lineup on Saturday against Tampa Bay, one of the farm team Marlies who filled in so admirably had to sit.
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That turned out to be winger Alex Steeves, based on the morning skate at Amelie Arena. It could also be a precursor to Steeves returning to the AHL to get the Leafs back down below 23 players.
Steeves does not require waivers where Alex Nylander does, while coach Craig Berube and general manager Brad Treliving aren’t keen on sending back rookie Fraser Minten with the club still down a couple of centres in David Kampf and Max Domi.
Minten stays with William Nylander and Pontus Holmberg on his wings, even though both are capable of playing the middle.
“I want to leave Minten in a position he’s played pretty much his (entire) life,” Berube had told reporters in Florida on Friday, though he says getting the 20-year-old to read plays better is part of a learning curve. “He’s positionally sound, but the whole thing takes time.”
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The Leafs put together a record of 7-2 minus Matthews and others and Berube acknowledged the role the Marlies callups made.
“The guys from the minors were all part of it, they all did a really good job,” the coach said. “They’re pushing, but the key is (for everyone) not to take a step back. Guys who’ve stepped up (must) keep stepping up. Even though Matthews and Knies are back, we have to keep building that foundation. It dropped off last game a bit (the 5-1 loss to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday).”
Berube has also taken a page from predecessor Sheldon Keefe’s playbook by using the industrious Holmberg with big names Matthews and William Nylander.
NOVEMBERS TO REMEMBER
A stat came out this week that a bit more than 75 per cent of all NHL teams’ playoff qualifying positions last season were determined by U.S. Thanksgiving. That Toronto is in good shape to secure its ninth straight post-season spot (tying a mark from its dynasty in the 1960s) can be traced to a string of successful Novembers.
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Heading into Saturday’s final game of the month, the club’s won-lost results in November dating back to 2016-17 and the onset of the Core Four era, is a remarkable 72-32-8. The past three years alone, it is 30-6-5, including 7-3-1 this month prior to the Tampa Bay game.
FAITH IN NICK
Nick Robertson can’t say Berube isn’t a patient man.
The coach continues to be in the winger’s corner through 12 agonizing games without a goal and just two all year. Robertson’s strong training camp won him a spot and he signed a one-year deal.
“He’s doing a lot of video and stuff with the (assistant) coaches,” Berube said. “The positive is he keeps working, wants to do well.
“When I watch Nick, he has to get to the net a little more and find some dirty goals. Sometimes when your shot isn’t working (Robertson’s major asset), you have to get greasy around the goal.”
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LOOSE LEAFS
Obviously missing their promoted scorers with the Leafs, the Marlies were blanked 2-0 in Cleveland on Saturday … When called up, Steeves was three points away from breaking the Marlies’ record for career points, Kris Newbury’s 168 … The NHL 600-game club is gaining two new Leafs members — defenceman Jake McCabe on Saturday night, and barring injury, Mitch Marner at home Monday against Chicago. Marner will become the 23rd Toronto player to clear 600, preceded by William Nylander (625 before Saturday) and Morgan Rielly (813). Matthews was at 575.
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