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SPORTSCENTRE Reporter

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TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in daily with news and notes on the Maple Leafs, who practised at MasterCard Centre on Friday. 

Mike Babcock isn't worried about a trade deadline acquisition altering the dynamic in the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room. 

"I'm not concerned about our chemistry at all, to tell you the truth," the coach said. "We have a pretty good group, seem to like each other, seem to play hard most nights and enjoy being here and all that, so I’m not that concerned. I've been through a lot of trade deadlines and what I find most years is that if you can improve the team, the guys are all in. They want you to improve the team, if you can. Now, the part for the coaches and the players is we have to do our part to push the GM into helping you."

Babcock, who's having daily discussions with general manager Kyle Dubas, readily admits that it's not easy to bolster the roster at this time of year. 

"You got to weigh cost versus the reward and you got to evaluate the level of your team and where it's at and what you think you can do to help the team," he said. "Just because you may want somebody doesn't mean you can afford him and I think that’s kind of like life."

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For the first time this season, the Leafs have lost three straight (0-2-1) and perhaps it's no coincidence that Mitch Marner, who leads the team in scoring with 69 points in 60 games, has been held off the scoresheet in all three of those defeats making this his longest drought all season. 

"I thought Mitch's line was good (Thursday night against the Washington Capitals) and I thought two games ago Mitch was really good in St. Louis and I thought he was really good in Vegas," Babcock said. 

John Tavares and Zach Hyman have both scored in the last two games so the line hasn't exactly gone quiet. Marner has fired 12 shots on net during this three-game dry spell and had some glorious opportunities against the Capitals. 

“Last night, if Mitch, instead of passing to (Hyman) on the one, shoots it in the net, and on the second one right away shoots it in the net, we don’t think anything of it,” Babcock noted. “They generated lots of offence last night, but the puck never went in for them ... I thought he made lots of good plays last night and tracked real hard and did a lot of good things defensively. For me, I thought he was good.”

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Nazem Kadri did not take part in practice and is expected to miss another game due to a concussion sustained on Tuesday in St. Louis. 

Jake Gardiner​, who logged more than 22 minutes against the Capitals, was also absent from Friday’s skate with Babcock describing it as a “maintenance day.” Jake Muzzin was paired with Nikita Zaitsev during the workout while Justin Holl and Igor Ozhiganov rotated in with Travis Dermott. 

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Andreas Johnsson remained on left wing with Auston Matthews and Kasperi Kapanen at Friday's practice. He had been elevated to that spot during Thursday's game as Patrick Marleau dropped down to the third line. 

"It’s a blast playing with him," said Matthews, who assisted on Johnsson's third-period goal. 

Johnsson fired a career-high 10 shots on net during the loss to the Capitals. 

"He makes such quick plays," Matthews observed afterwards. "He thinks extremely fast and it's like he's got those fast-twitch muscles so he responds extremely well, his hands and feet and everything. It just seems like he's moving 100 mph, but the game seems like it slows down for him."

What does Johnsson, who also played with Matthews a bit earlier this season, like about lining up beside the 21-year-old centre? 

"He's so skilled and so smart so when you play with him he gives you time on the ice whether it’s with the puck or without the puck," Johnsson noted. "It’s almost like you don’t have to work as hard."

But Johnsson has worked extremely hard for this chance. A seventh-round pick in 2013, Johnsson slowly and surely worked his way up the organization's depth chart. Last year's Calder Cup MVP, Johnsson started the season in Babcock's doghouse even getting healthy scratched in a couple games. Now, he's emerged as Toronto's most productive left winger with 16 goals and 16 assists in 53 games despite averaging fewer than 13 minutes per outing. 

"He keeps the puck alive so he’s not one and done," Babcock said when asked about Johnsson's recent play. "He’s on it and he stays on it and he’s good about getting it back."

Babcock likes to play his high-end skilled players with guys who can get them the puck and Johnsson, who stands just five-foot-10, certainly fits the bill while also possessing the ability to finish. 

"Players, a lot of times, they don't figure a guy of his size is going to go to those dirty areas but he does and he battles," Matthews said.

What drives Johnsson? Where does his determination come from? 

"It's just, I want to win," he said. "It’s been everything. I feel like I could’ve done other sports too, but hockey was the most fun."

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Lines at Friday's practice: 

Forwards
Hyman-Tavares-Marner 
Johnsson-Matthews-Kapanen 
Marleau-Nylander-Brown 
Lindholm- Gauthier-Ennis 

Defencemen
Rielly-Hainsey 
Muzzin-Zaitsev
Dermott-Holl/Ozhiganov

Goaltenders
Andersen 
Sparks