For the second time this week the NHL has a night off from games. Tuesday night was more of a mystery, tonight is more about the NHL forgetting they have Canadian teams they can schedule during American Thanksgiving. Anyways, after waiting for so long for another Leafs game, tonight just gives us more time to prepare the Black Friday afternoon matchup tomorrow.
The #Leafs are preparing for Conor Timmins to play tomorrow, Sheldon Keefe says. Cautions they will make that final decision up until the last minute. @BodogCA
— David Alter (@dalter) November 23, 2023
Conor Timmins being healthy probably means that Conor Timmins should play. Way back when John Klingberg was signed it was because the Leafs wanted another powerplay defenceman/puck mover and they completely ignored that Timmins could be it. Injuries certainly make a good point about reliability, but now with Timmins ready to return and Klingberg now out, this roster adjustment seems pretty obvious.
When it comes to what the Leafs will do to activate Timmins, it will come down to who they need to demote to make the money work and if Calle Jarnkrok is ready to play tomorrow. If Jarnkrok is ready to play, it’s pretty easy to just keep McMann and Benoit off the roster. If Jarnkrok isn’t ready to play, the Leafs need to decide whether it’s LTIR time for Klingberg or it might be beneficial to keep Timmins out one more game as they will need to use McMann at forward and give Benoit another game on the blueline.
Speaking of Klingberg…
Sheldon Keefe says the ailing John Klingberg is “working through things to determine what’s next for him.”
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) November 23, 2023
Does this not sound like debating whether or not to have season ending surgery? The decision seems to be sitting completely with Klingberg but this also sounds like it is coming down to a find a way to play through the pain or regroup for a chance to play next season. No matter what it doesn’t seem like Klingberg will be in the Leafs roster anytime soon and he could potentially have a minimal stay on the LTIR.
Back to Jarnkrok…
Keefe said Jarnkrok will go on trip, be a game-time decision tomorrow. “Took that puck yesterday (on a Matthews shot), we didn’t love how it was looking and feeling today. Sent him for imaging, the news has been positive so far.” #Leafs
— Terry Koshan 🇺🇦 (@koshtorontosun) November 23, 2023
If the Leafs can sit Jarnkrok to let him get right, Chicago is probably the opponent to do it against. It doesn’t seem serious although I don’t think getting hit with a Matthews shot sounds like something I’d want to deal with.
Ilya Samsonov starts for the Leafs tomorrow and Joseph Will starts Saturday, per Sheldon Keefe.
— Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) November 23, 2023
Seems like a pretty standard split for Samsonov and Woll. Samsonov as he still works his way back to where he was last season could use a goalie friendly opponent like Chicago, while the Leafs are still looking to test what they have with Joseph Woll against stronger opponents and the streaking Penguins are definitely that.
#Leafs lines at practice Nov. 23/23
Knies-Matthews-Marner
Bertuzzi-Tavares-Nylander
Robertson-Domi-Gregor*
McMann-Kampf-Reaves*
*Absent: JarnkrokRielly-Brodie
Giordano-McCabe
Lagesson-Timmins
BenoitSamsonov, Woll@BodogCA
— David Alter (@dalter) November 23, 2023
It will be interesting to see if the Leafs have to go with these lines in Jarnkrok’s absence. The speed of Gregor on the third line would be interesting and he’s certainly earned a look a bit higher up in the lineup to see what he can do. Even if the Leafs are able to play Jarnkrok tomorrow, it might be preferable to have Jarnkrok sit back in a fourth line capacity and limit his icetime in favour of Gregor.
Corey Perry, after being healthy-scratched due to an “organization decision” last night, is not practicing with the Blackhawks today.
Petr Mrazek is not either. Not a very joyous Thanksgiving around these parts. pic.twitter.com/eI55narTa1
— Ben Pope (@BenPopeCST) November 23, 2023
Finally, the Leafs might not be seeing Corey Perry on Friday and the notorious pain in the Leafs side won’t get a chance to visit with Ryan Reaves, who seems like he could find his way into the Leafs roster due to Toronto’s cap situation.
Perry was scratched in Chicago’s last game, wasn’t at practice, and with Luke Richardson being tight lipped about it, the odds of Perry playing against Toronto seems slim. It doesn’t sound like Toronto will get to shoot against Petr Mrazek and that’s a bit of a bummer.
It’s also noteworthy that Taylor Hall has been shut down for the season and won’t be in the Blackhawks lineup.
The Leafs play tomorrow afternoon in Chicago before heading to Pittsburgh for a game on Saturday.
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