With Rielly expected to be out for some time due to suspension, the Maple Leafs will expect more from TJ Brodie and Timothy Liljegren.
With Rielly expected to be out for some time due to suspension, the Maple Leafs will expect more from TJ Brodie and Timothy Liljegren.
The Toronto Maple Leafs' defense has already been a major talking point this season and it will be further put to the test when they host the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday.
With Morgan Rielly essentially ruled out of the lineup as he undergoes an in-person hearing for his cross-check to the head of Ottawa Senators forward Ridly Greig, the Maple Leafs will spread out the responsibilities amongst their other defensemen.
Most notably, the Leafs need more from their two most underperforming defensemen.
Timothy Liljegren, who has struggled the find consistency in his game this season, will move up to skate on the right side of TJ Brodie, who will move to the left side of the club's top defensive pair.
Brodie has seen his possession numbers fall south compared to recent years and has acknowledged it hasn't been an easy year for the 33-year-old.
Just last week Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe acknowledged that Liljegren's play has slipped as of late.
"I suspect that when you lose a player like Morgan — with the minutes and role that he plays — everybody is going to have to move around, play in different spots, and play with different people depending on the situation and to manage the minutes," Keefe said of the change.
Liljegren played one game on the top pair this season but was quickly moved further back down the lineup after his matchup with Rielly did not go well.
"At times, there are some mistakes or whatever it might be, but he has played well for us. I expect he will do the same," Rielly said of Liljegren. "Any time you are all of a sudden needed that much more, you think that much less. You just go out and play. Sometimes, it can be beneficial to a player, too."
That attitude served Liljegren well when he was called on for more minutes last season when Rielly injured his knee and missed 15 consecutive games.
Toronto went 12-2-1 this season and Liljegren was helpful in that.
But this time it's happening later in the season. Other players like Rasmus Sandin and Justin Holl, who also elevated their game, are with other clubs.
The Leafs will also get Mark Giordano back after he missed one game due to a foot injury. David Kampf, arguably Toronto's top defensive forward, also returned to practice on Monday after missing the last week with an undisclosed ailment.
Both are expected to be in the lineup, provided they feel good Tuesday morning.
Rielly, who occupied Toronto's top power-play unit, will be replaced by Jake McCabe, a player who hasn't played on the special-teams unit all season long.
"Just familiarity with Mo obviously, but Caber’s been in that position before and a veteran guy and he knows what he’s doing up there," Auston Matthews noted of the change. "It’s not really rocket science. Just try and keep things simple for the full power play, in general, for all of us and try and attack and take what’s given to us and try to create opportunities out of their structure."
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