The Toronto Maple Leafs are unlikely to land any players on Team Canada’s Olympic roster this year. While Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is the presumptive captain for Team USA, the Buds won’t likely have anyone wearing the red maple leaf.
That being said, it might be disappointing on the surface. But then again, it might actually be a good thing for the Maple Leafs. John Tavares has been a bubble player this season. However, his inclusion is doubtful given the unofficial naming of Montreal Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki. Suzuki can functionally do everything Tavares does.
Unless Team Canada is inclined to use Tavares as a 4C, he won’t likely be representing the Maple Leafs. There could also be a case for Morgan Rielly. Rielly is a steady blueliner who’s unafraid to play big minutes against tough competition. He would be a solid, if unspectacular choice for the squad.
But, realistically, would Rielly knock down someone like Shea Theodore, Josh Morrissey, or Colton Parayko? Rielly could be a great seventh or eighth defenseman on a ridiculously deep Team Canada. But the Maple Leafs’ top blue liner likely isn’t going, either.
So, that pretty much leaves Toronto devoid of sending anyone to the Olympics for Team Canada. And that’s actually a good thing. The Maple Leafs are banged up and need rest. The team has relied heavily on Rielly and Tavares to carry much of the load this season.
The team could use the Olympic break to recover and get healthy. With the club suddenly getting back into the playoff picture, using the Olympic break to recover will become increasingly important for the bulk of the Maple Leafs’ squad.
Maple Leafs Need to Get Healthy
The injury plague befalling the Maple Leafs this season has been one of the major factors for the club’s lack of success. Yes, things have turned around in December. But injuries have led to unreal levels of inconsistency.
Take the goaltending situation as an example. Anthony Stolarz’s play was off at the beginning of the season. Likely, he wasn’t healthy heading into October. But he pulled through while Joseph Woll was out.
Well, Stolarz wasn’t good. In hindsight, it’s easy to see why. That’s an assumption, one that may never have any proof.
The Olympic break could be just the thing the Maple Leafs need to get as close to fully healthy as possible. The club could have a full defensive core ready. Plus, pretty much the entire forward group could be ready to go.
That could be a fantastic prospect heading into the final two months or so of the regular season.
Leafs Will Need to Grind through January
The Olympic break sounds wonderful for the Maple Leafs. But they’ll have to grind through January first. Toronto will play 16 games in January. That’s essentially one game every other day. That schedule includes four games in five nights, featuring the Colorado Avalanche and the Vegas Golden Knights.
Incidentally, that game against the Golden Knights on January 16 will be Mitch Marner’s return to Toronto.
That week, the Maple Leafs play a back-to-back set against the Avalanche and the Utah Mammoth. The Leafs play the Golden Knights and Avalanche twice in January. Also, the Leafs face the Minnesota Wild and the Florida Panthers.
January features additional key divisional matchups against the Detroit Red Wings and Buffalo Sabres.
Ultimately, the Maple Leafs could come out ahead in January. Or, their season could have an official time of death stamped on it.
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