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SUMMERLIN, Nev. — There were moving parts in the Maple Leafs’ lineup as they headed farther west.
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Between Monday’s loss in Las Vegas and Thursday’s next game in San Jose, they added Filip Kral to a defense that was at the minimum of six men for the first two games of the trip and moved right wing Kyle Clifford in casualty reserve.
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Clarification of Clifford’s injury won’t come until later Wednesday, when the team was to train in this suburb of Las Vegas at the Golden Knights facility.
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The Leafs also officially moved defenseman Jake Muzzin to long-term injured reserve, joining goaltender Matt Murray and defensemen Timothy Liljegren and Jordie Benn. Muzzin suffered a neck injury last week, freeing up more cap space as the team tries to carry as many players as possible up to 23.
The 6ft 2in Kral was recalled briefly last week, then demoted again when Clifford joined the trip. Kral, a 2018 fifth-round pick, is one of the Marlies coach Sheldon Keefe wants to see at some point, with more than 70 AHL games under his belt.
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Clifford’s absence for at least the next week opens the door for one of three Vegas game forfeits, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Zach Aston-Reese or Denis Malgin, to work Thursday.
WISDOM TEETH
Wayne Simmonds and Clifford won’t be in the lineup every night, but their influence goes beyond a 60-minute game.
With Jason Spezza retired, the two fourth liners have taken on touchstone status for a team that needs to remember how hard it is to make the NHL, to stay there, and could also use some wisdom teeth. .
“It’s not really about what they do, it’s just who they are,” Keefe said before Clifford went on the injured list.
“They’re not going to come in (the dressing room) and make speeches, it’s just their presence. They’ve been through a lot in their careers and been through a lot with our team and our organization. So there is history there, they have ties to our players.
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“Having them around is a natural morale booster for the group and of course what they bring to the ice is different and unique. »
The season did not start well for the duo, Simmonds, a 34-year-old 1,000-game veteran and Clifford, 31, a Cup winner in Los Angeles. Both were canceled as part of Toronto’s opening night salary cap crisis, with Simmonds opting out of the Marlies after avoiding minors his entire career.
But Murray got injured, to free up space. Both forwards were added to this trip, in part to bolster a squad whose skilled players were getting roughed up in early games. They combined on a fourth line goal in Winnipeg to get another start in Vegas, though the roster was in flux with the healthy scratches itching to return.
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“For the rest of our guys competing for these spots, they’re new here and they’ll continue to feel comfortable and over time they’ll get that same kind of connection,” Keefe said. “But Simmer and Cliff, their personalities and backgrounds, have been around our team, so they’re a step ahead in that sense.”
Simmonds has embraced his role as a mentor as his career draws to a close.
“We have good leadership here with John as captain, Matty, Mitch and Mo. But we rely on all of us to be leaders. That’s how you have to think about it; you just can’t have one or two guys today, you have to have a group participating. Cliff and I are two voices to add to the collection.
Simmonds said rookie winger Nick Robertson is an example of a new player he would like to help.
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“You have to be aware of what these guys are going through. We were there once too, and it’s hard. When you’re younger and an older guy comes up to you with little advice, not just about hockey but about life in general, it helps a lot.
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CALIFORNIA CONNECTIONS
The Leafs wrap up their trip against three teams that are currently at .500 or worse in October. The Sharks and Anaheim Ducks, which the Leafs face on Sunday, are 3-11-1 combined, while Los Angeles is 4-4.
Toronto could face a familiar face in goal on Thursday. James Reimer, their one-time starter in the pre-Kyle Dubas days, continues to work at 34 and has been one of the Sharks’ highlights. He has a .923 save percentage in six starts, a workload matched only by Vancouver’s Thatcher Demko on Wednesday.
Leafs Ilya Samsonov ranks 11e overall, the league’s save percentage is .932, with one of Southern California’s back-to-back games expected to go to Erik Kallgren.
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