Columnist image

TSN Toronto Maple Leafs Reporter

| Archive

TORONTO – Mike Babcock is considering loading up offensively in an effort to steer the Maple Leafs out of their current skid ahead of the all-star break, trying Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner together on a line at practice Monday.

Babcock has played Matthews and Marner together in only the most desperate of times during their young careers, believing each third-year star can drive his own unit. But with one win in their last five games and four in their last 11, all options are on the table for Toronto’s head coach.

“The bottom line is we’re not finding a way to get it done and we’re willing to change,” Babcock said. “We’re going to [to do that] for a bit, but I’m not telling you it’s going to last warmups, a period, a game. It’s just that’s what we had today for the [practice].”

It certainly sounds like Marner and Matthews are preparing to play together on a line, along with Patrick Marleau, in Wednesday’s game against Washington. The three forwards have displayed their close off-ice bond across social media for the past 18 months, and if there’s any chance that chemistry can spill over to the ice, it’s worth getting excited about – especially for Matthews.

Not since his rookie season in 2016-17 has Matthews gone through as unproductive a spell as he is now, with only one goal in 13 games. Meanwhile, Marner has been the Leafs best forward all season, leading the team in points (61) and assists (42) with the third-most goals (19, one fewer than Matthews) while driving his line with John Tavares.

The opportunity to benefit from Marner’s dazzling offensive ability could be just what Matthews needs to break his slump.

“He’s a special player; he makes guys around him better,” said Matthews of Marner. “You play with guys like that, it elevates your game and you want to be better as well. He competes. Any time I’ve been able to play with him it’s been fun.”

But skating on a line with his longtime road roommate also means more defensive responsibility for Matthews. While in previous years it was Nazem Kadri getting most of the hard matches for Toronto, it’s been Tavares’ group taking the brunt of that load this season because of how much Marner’s two-way game has improved.

“I’ve been playing Mitch against the best players all the time, [so Matthews has] to play against the best players,” Babcock explained. “That means you really have to commit without the puck. That’s the challenge. He’s a young guy, so [the defence] can always get better.”

Tavares has been strong for Toronto all year in that respect. When playing side-by-side, he and Marner have generated 53 per cent possession while combining on 46 goals (compared to 27 against).

Marner will be the latest in a long list of wingers Matthews has skated with this season, among them William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson. To slide seamlessly into a new role with Marner, Matthews will have to zero in on those defensive details to give himself and his linemates the best chance for success.

“When we’re out there together, we have to make sure we’re doing everything right,” cautioned Marner. “He’s a player with a lot of skill who can do a lot of things on the ice, so it’s just making sure when he gets [the puck], I’m giving him space and time and not trying to draw guys into him. I think the same goes when I have it. We both trust each other with the puck.”

Trust in one another has been critical to the entire Leafs’ roster while navigating this difficult portion of the year. As tight-knit as Toronto’s group is, they’ve been able to keep the atmosphere light even when addressing issues plaguing the team.

Case in point: After a longer, more intensive practice than usual on Monday, Matthews and Marner were among the handful of Leafs who stayed out for nearly 30 minutes afterwards playing a spirited game of rebound.

“We’re not really working on things. We’re just screwing around, but it’s fun,” said Marner. “We like to have fun with each other. These are the times where you have to enjoy being with the team. The stretch we’re in right now, it’s not good. We’re trying to get out of it and trying to be more consistent every day.”

The team’s record in the last 20 games, a mediocre 9-9-2, speaks to a lack of consistency in execution. How much changing the lines will actually help with that remains to be seen, but the Leafs’ short-term goal is just to go into their upcoming week-long break on a high note.

Anything else is too frustrating to dwell on.

“We just want to get back on track,” Matthews said. “For us it’s work harder, work smarter. It all starts within each other. I think we all hold each other accountable and we want to go into this break feeling good about ourselves and get a big two points against a good team.”

 

Maple Leafs’ lines at practice:

Hyman-Tavares-Kapanen
Marleau-Matthews-Marner
Brown-Kadri-Nylander
Lindholm-Gauthier-Holl*

Rielly-Hainsey
Dermott-Zaitsev
Marincin-Ozhiganov

Andersen
Sparks

*Justin Holl was place-holding for Trevor Moore, who will be recalled from the American Hockey League before Wednesday’s game to fill in for the injured Andreas Johnsson (concussion)​