Simply because he already tracked down the Russian Bear doesn’t imply Kyle Dubas is completed searching.
The Toronto Maple Leafs GM made it crystal clear he’ll be scoping out one other defenceman for his membership’s playoff bid.
Assembly with reporters at Tim Hortons Subject in Hamilton, Ont., Friday to advertise subsequent weekend’s Heritage Basic, Dubas shot down the concept that an affect ahead or a goaltender could be his precedence.
That mentioned, what worth stage, fashion, and handedness of defenceman Dubas will prioritize relies upon significantly on the readiness of Jake Muzzin, whose $5.625-million cap hit is at present resting on long-term injured reserve.
If Muzzin returns to motion in the course of the common season, Toronto could solely have a pair million {dollars} in wiggle room so as to add a participant with out subtracting from its roster. If consecutive concussions hold him out previous April 29, then one must think about a left-shot Muzzin alternative can be aggressively sought.
Do you pluck an reasonably priced rental like Justin Braun from Philadelphia?
Or go big-game attempting to find a longtime top-four blueliner like Jakob Chychrun, John Klingberg or Ben Chiarot?
“Numerous it’s gonna rely upon Muzzin’s well being and the place we’re at. We nonetheless have fairly a little bit of flexibility to get inventive and attempt to make one thing occur. However except we get the information we do not need on Muzz, I feel we’ll simply have the one transfer left in us right here,” Dubas instructed reporters, 17 days out from the NHL’s commerce deadline.
“It is not one in all this stuff the place we will attempt to wait and have him come again within the playoffs. A method of participant like him, if he is wholesome and he is good to go, we have to get him again in and play and get him in type earlier than the playoffs.”
Agreed.
Muzzin, 33, has logged 12 years of arduous professional minutes and had been struggling by his requirements even previous to struggling concussions in January and February. To count on him to take two months off and hit the post-season ice flying like Patrick Kane or Nikita Kucherov of their prime is a tricky ask.
“It is not an imminent return, and we simply should be actually cautious with him. It is two concussions and in a really transient period of time, so we will proceed to be sluggish and cautious with him,” mentioned Dubas, conceding his gamers have to tighten up in their very own finish.
“We’ve proven of late, particularly towards good groups, that we’re capable of defend very well as a bunch. After which after we let our foot off the fuel a little bit bit, like on Wednesday evening, it is ugly. And in order that’s going to be on our group to proceed to work on that.”
Dubas reiterated that he’d favor to make his subsequent commerce days upfront of March 21, simply as he did with the Ilya Lyubushkin deal.
Don’t fear about our crease… nothing to see right here
The answer to the troubling inconsistency within the Maple Leafs’ web for the reason that calendar flipped to 2022 should come from inside.
Dubas gave a agency endorsement of his tandem of Jack Campbell and Petr Mrazek, shutting down the notion that he’ll poke round a goaltending market led by rental Marc-Andre Fleury.
After getting caved in by the Buffalo Sabres 5-1 Wednesday, Mrazek’s save share dropped to .890.
Campbell has cooled off alarmingly from his unbelievable begin. He’s again to his profession common of .917 goaltending on the 12 months and has admitted to psychological hurdles. However, Dubas is pinning his hopes to the duo.
“I feel we are inclined to get a little bit bit recreation to recreation on this market, and I am not involved about both of them,” Dubas mentioned. “They each have proven themselves to be good goalies, and they are going to be.”
Rodion Robust
The Maple Leafs have recognized for some time that prospect Rodion Amirov had been identified with a mind tumor. The hopeful younger man has endured his first therapy and is in Germany, understanding and skating when in a position. Amirov’s perspective has wowed the group.
“You see how optimistic he’s, how he is keen about the truth that he is gonna struggle all of it the way in which,” Dubas mentioned. “It is outstanding to see — and, actually, fairly inspiring. I could not think about that occuring. You by no means count on to listen to that when you have got a 20-year-old athlete.”
Dubas’s message to his most up-to-date first-round decide: “Get wholesome. We all know he is not going to play right here within the quick time period in any respect. He is not going to play this season. Actually, the hockey half just isn’t an enormous concern for us proper now in any respect.”
Safety for Russian Leafs
In gentle of current experiences of threats and harassment of some Russian hockey gamers on this aspect of the pond, Dubas made a degree to verify in with Ilya Mikheyev and Lyubushkin and has requested them to maintain communication open.
“Our director of safety is across the workforce each single day on the street and at residence,” Dubas mentioned. “There have been no points reported by them or something with towards their households.
“So, we simply want to observe. They’re members of our workforce, and we care about them and need to be certain they’re secure and that we’re caring for them as greatest we are able to. Something that comes up, they know to report it instantly.”
