The Toronto Maple Leafs have been struggling mightily, and now the team is urged to make some roster moves.
Toronto’s defensive play has been an issue, and veteran defenseman Philippe Myers has gotten into the lineup due to the injury to Chris Tanev and the poor play of other defenseman.
However, Myers has struggled, and after Toronto’s 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks on Saturday, Maple Leafs insider Joshua Kloke of The Athletic urges the team to move on from Myers.
“Philippe Myers is not the root of the Leafs’ larger defensive woes, to be sure,” Kloke wrote. “But the Leafs have also been outscored 5-12 at five-on-five when Myers is on the ice. That goals-for percentage (29 percent) is the lowest of any Leafs defenceman. Myers’ errors continue to pile up. He was on the ice and at fault for two goals against.
“The time appears not just to have come but also to have passed for Myers to be moved to the press box or down to the Toronto Marlies. Giving a Marlies defenceman such as Henry Thrun or William Villeneuve, both of whom can move the puck, a look in the NHL feels long overdue.”
Although Kloke believes Myers should be off the roster, he isn’t sure it will make much of a difference. But, he does think it’s more of a principle move to get him off the roster.
“Again, moving Myers off the roster won’t completely change the course of the Leafs’ season,” Kloke added. “But urgency is required from the Leafs’ coaching staff and front office. They have a very clear starting point on where to act on that urgency.”
Myers is in the first year of his two-year, $1.7 million deal.
Maple Leafs Add Veteran Defenseman to Roster
Myers’ roster spot could be handed to veteran defenseman Troy Stecher after Toronto claimed him off waivers.
Stecher is in his 10th NHL season and is a good puck-moving defenseman who also plays well defensively. He also gives Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube another much-needed right-shot defenseman.
“(Stecher) is a right-hand shot. Very competitive player. He’s been around, got experience, but more so than anything, just getting that right-hand shot,” Berube said before Saturday’s game. “He’s a competitive guy. He really is, and he has to be.
“But like I said, we were looking for another (defenseman), and the right-hand shot was what we needed.”
Stecher skated in 6 games with the Edmonton Oilers, recording 0 points.
Toronto is Playing Poorly Defensively
A key reason for the Maple Leafs’ struggles is due to their poor defensive play.
Toronto’s blue line has been an issue, and Maple Leafs star forward William Nylander said that the team is confident they can improve defensively.
“I think that defensively we’ve been struggling, and that’s something that can be fixed. You can adjust and make changes to be better at that, with better attention to details,” Nylander said on Thursday. “I would be more worried if we weren’t scoring goals because that’s harder, I think, to do.”
Toronto will return to the ice on Tuesday at home against the St. Louis Blues.
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