The Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman was back on the ice during the team’s optional skate, but will sit out as head coach Sheldon Keefe continues to rotate his defense.
The Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman was back on the ice during the team’s optional skate, but will sit out as head coach Sheldon Keefe continues to rotate his defense.
ELMONT, N.Y — TJ Brodie showed no signs of injury when he took part in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ morning skate on Tuesday, but he will sit out against the New York Islanders.
"He's doing better here, but as we talked about with guys with bumps and bruises and the health and depth that we have there's no point of any of our guys playing through anything unnecessarily,' Keefe said of Brodie's scratch from the lineup. "We'll seek to get him better here for later in the road trip."
Brodie blocked a shot during the Leafs' 5-4 shootout win against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday. The veteran defenseman missed practice on Monday due to the ailment.
"It was mostly a maintenance day just to let it calm down," Brodie explained.
The defenseman fully expects to be back later in the team's road trip that continues through Florida, Raleigh and Nashville.
Brodie is the latest in a string of regular defensemen who is taking his turn by sitting out of a game. On Saturday, the Leafs scratched Mark Giordano for the first time this season in an effort to spread out some of the reps.
"Looking big picture and where we are in the season and our ability, it makes sense to maybe not let something linger longer than it needs to," Brodie said.
Toronto is carrying nine defensemen on its active roster and has dressed seven defensemen for six games this season. The different looks have been an adjustment for the Maple Leafs and Brodie appears to be no different in that regard.
"It's been hit or miss and with seven defensemen out there, it's an adjustment for everyone," Brodie said. "It's more of a mental thing and just being more alert and more aware out there."
In 47 games this season, Brodie has recorded two goals and nine assists and ranks second in average ice time among Maple Leafs defensemen this season at 21:08.
Acciari returns
The Leafs will stay with a 12-forwards deployment as Noel Acciari will come in for Wayne Simmonds.
Acciari stayed back in Toronto when the Leafs went to Ottawa on Saturday as a precautionary measure. He'll be back on the fourth line alongside Zach Aston-Reese and David Kampf.
Related
Maple Leafs’ Acciari Expected To Return Against Islanders on Tuesday