Alex Kerfoot is on the ice ahead of #Leafs practice, in a regular white sweater. He missed yesterday’s practice with an ailment of some sort.
Nation Sites
The Nation Network
The LeafsNation has no direct affiliation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, NHL, or NHLPA
Practice Shenanigans: Kerfoot returns, Engvall hurts Sandin, Petan cracks the fourth line
Photo credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 3, 2021, 13:00 ESTUpdated: Feb 3, 2021, 12:50 EST
The Leafs are nearing the end of a five-day break and are set to host the Vancouver Canucks on Thursday. Today’s practice saw quite a lot of things happen, so let’s break it all down.
After missing practice on Tuesday for what appeared to be an ailment, @Alexander Kerfoot returned to the main group and restored balance in the universe.
Sheldon Keefe told reporters that Kerfoot was listed as day-to-day so it makes sense that he wouldn’t be out for long if he were to miss Thursday’s game. It appears that whatever was bothering him is now just a memory and should return to his usual spot as the third-line centre.
Sandin leaves early because of Engvall
@Rasmus Sandin said he’s been getting frustrated with not drawing into the Leafs’ lineup through the first ten games. Taking a puck to the face and exiting practice prematurely doesn’t help matters.
Rasmus Sandin leaving #Leafs practice early after Pierre Engvall got him in the face with a shot from close range. Ouch.
Quite an unfortunate result for all parties involved and it might keep Sandin out of the lineup for a bit longer. There haven’t been any updates from the Leafs regarding his health status so we’ll have to wait and see how this one plays out.
@Pierre Engvall owes his fellow countrymen a steak dinner.
Petan slots onto the fourth line
The Leafs made a few adjustments to the roster during practice which saw a guy who hasn’t played an NHL game in over a year crack the lineup.
Leafs lines at practice Hyman-Matthews-Marner Nylander-Tavares-Simmonds Vesey-Kerfoot-Mikheyev Petan-Boyd-Spezza Extra: Barabanov, Brooks, Engvall Leafs D Rielly-Brodie Muzzin-Holl Dermott-Bogosian Lehtonen-Sandin
@Nic Petan has yet to make a big impact on the Leafs and despite approaching his 26th birthday, there remains a bit of upside in his game. Hopefully, he does well alongside @Travis Boyd and @Jason Spezza, both of whom are off to great starts to the 2021 season.
With @Wayne Simmonds moving up to the @John Tavares line, @Ilya Mikheyev goes back down to the third line where he will look to get his first of the season. And it looks like the Leafs will go back to @Travis Dermott with @Mikko Lehtonen still looking to get comfortable at the NHL level.
Unless there are some last-minute changes, this looks like the group Toronto will go with for their game against the Canucks on Thursday.
Breaking News
- Maple Leafs’ Gavin McKenna speaks on first pitch at Blue Jays game: ‘It was a tough throw’
- Report: Zach Werenski willing to accept trade to Maple Leafs
- Maple Leafs receive A+ in Daily Faceoff’s post-draft report card
- Maple Leafs’ Alexander Bilecki excited to bring ‘winning mentality’ to Toronto
- Draft weekend and what happens next: Leaflets