Plus Minus: Toronto's Defensive Depth, Handshake Ban, Paul Maurice Reaches New Heights, Tkachuk Struggles

The Leafs' deep bench is stepping up on defense and Paul Maurice is set to coach his 1800th game, but on the flip side, Hockey Newfoundland and Labrador has banned post-game handshake lines, and Matthew Tkachuk continues to struggle offensively.

This is THN.com’s Plus/Minus column, a regular feature in which we assign “pluses” to certain hockey figures who’ve done something positive, and “minuses” to figures who’ve made news for the wrong reasons. Let’s get to it:

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ group of defensemen have been a banged-up bunch this season, but fringe blueliners Simon Benoit and William Lagesson solidly held the fort through the past few weeks – and now, the Leafs are going to benefit from the return to action of greybeard D-man Mark Giordano, who has been sidelined since late November with a broken finger.

The strong play of Lagesson and Benoit means Toronto’s final defense pairing is in better shape than some suspected. This is not to say Buds GM Brad Treliving isn’t going to pursue a defenseman or two on the trade market, but it is to say the Leafs’ depth on the back end is in above-average condition, and if the injury bug strikes again between now and the Stanley Cup playoffs, Toronto brass can breathe a little easier knowing they can lean on depth defenders to keep the team competitive. Lagesson and Benoit have been excellent, cost-effective acquisitions, and there could be a long-term fit for them in Leaf Land if they can maintain their current standard of play.

Hockey governing body Hockey Newfoundland And Labrador announced last week it will eliminate post-game handshakes beginning in 2024. Citing physical run-ins that have led to players and coaches being suspended, Hockey N.L.’s minor council executive committee chair Gonzo Bennett said the traditional handshake will be replaced with a pre-game handshake. It’s clear what the governing body is trying to do here, but we believe a post-game handshake requires sportsmanship regardless of what’s happened on the ice, and this move feels like a cop-out, knee-jerk reaction to a bunch of hot-headed players and coaches who ought to know better.

Hockey can be an emotional game, but one of the appealing elements of the sport is the post-game handshake line because it shows that players can compartmentalize the physical nature of the competition and maintain a base level of respect for opponents. Backtracking and pushing the handshake line to the moments before the game is not an ideal way to address hockey community members who can’t control themselves. We want to see the handshake line remain a part of the post-game festivities, so we’re hoping Hockey N.L. changes its mind and reaffirms the tradition that’s worked well for the past century.

Congratulations to Florida Panthers coach Maurice, who will be behind the bench Wednesday night to coach the 1,800th regular-season game of his career – the third-most in NHL history. Maurice has been a credit to the profession, and his longevity speaks to his ability to grow and adapt his coaching approach as players have evolved.

Only coaching legends Scotty Bowman (2,141 games) and Barry Trotz (1,812) have more experience at the NHL level than the 56-year-old Maurice. He’ll pass Trotz soon enough, and although Bowman’s record is not in jeopardy just yet, Maurice could eventually pass Bowman and secure a place for himself in the history books. Given how fast the coaching carousel spins in the modern era, it could be next to impossible for anyone to catch the three top coaches in terms of experience, so Florida fans should take time to appreciate Maurice for the coaching icon he is.

The Panthers have played fairly well thus far this season, but they’re doing so despite the (relative) struggles of star forward Matthew Tkachuk. The 26-year-old is on pace for only a 12-goal, 60-point season. That’s nowhere close to his 40-goal, 109-point year last season.

Tkachuk is earning $9.5 million per season, and his offensive totals are not nearly enough for that type of salary. He needs to dial things up if Florida is going to replicate their post-season success from last season.