The Maple Leafs have two immediate questions to answer before Saturday’s matchup with the Montreal Canadiens: who slots where in the lineup, and how they stop spending so much time pinned in their own end.
Wednesday’s practice offered a little bit of both. Jack Roslovic was given a maintenance day after scoring both Toronto goals in Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to the Utah Mammoth, and Vinni Lettieri stepped into his place on the top line. At the same time, head coach Jim Hiller used the session to hammer home a problem that has become hard to ignore: Toronto needs to get the puck out of its own zone and keep it away from danger.
Roslovic’s day off doesn’t sound like anything to worry about right now. He was fresh off a two-goal night against Utah, and the team labeled the absence as maintenance. But it did open the door for Lettieri to skate with Auston Matthews and Easton Cowan on the first line.
That’s a notable look, even if one practice shouldn’t be read as a full-blown lineup shift. Lettieri gets a chance to show what he can do with elite company, while Roslovic has already been producing and appears to have settled into that role. The bigger issue for Toronto remains getting reliable offense from the supporting cast.
There was also movement around John Tavares, who stayed in a red non-contact jersey while skating with Nick Paul and William Nylander. Hiller said Tavares still has to get through Friday’s practice and clear the required test before he can return. Elsewhere, Gavin McKenna remained with Dakota Joshua and Colton Sissons, while Brandon Duhaime, Teddy Blueger and Zack MacEwen stayed together on the fourth line.
The defensive side of the story is where the concern really lives. Toronto gave up 36 shots against Utah and has allowed 40 five-on-five goals, which is tied for the second-most in the NHL. Those are the kind of numbers that can drag a team down fast, especially one trying to look like a contender.
Hiller’s answer was telling. He didn’t frame the problem only as a matter of defensive structure.
Instead, he pointed to the other end of the rink, arguing that the Maple Leafs need to spend more time in the offensive zone. Better forechecking, more puck possession and fewer extended shifts spent chasing can all ease the burden on the defense.
It’s a simple idea, but a sound one: the less time you spend under siege, the fewer chances the other team has to create something.
William Nylander said better communication and sharper attention to detail would help. Sergei Bobrovsky offered confidence in the group, saying the team has all the necessary ingredients but needs to build its system and trust.
Nice words, sure. The real test is whether Toronto can turn them into cleaner habits.
Friday’s practice should give a better read on where things stand before the Canadiens game. Tavares’ status will be one to watch, and so will Roslovic’s spot if he’s back in the mix with Matthews and Cowan. Toronto needs its offensive pieces available, but it also needs the kind of consistency that makes Hiller’s line combinations matter.
Still, the defensive issue is the one to keep front and center. Communication, positioning and coverage all matter, but those fixes don’t happen by accident.
Hiller’s push to keep the puck in the offensive zone makes sense if the Leafs can execute it. Montreal will be the next chance to show that Tuesday’s loss actually taught them something.
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