The Toronto Maple Leafs (0-2-1) take on the struggling Columbus Blue Jackets (0-4) in the first half of a back to back after a six-day layoff. Something has to give as both teams seek their first win of the 2015-16 season.
The Columbus Blue Jackets are in trouble at the moment. Vezina-winning goaltender, Sergie Bobrovsky, recently told the press he has “no confidence,” which is not what the Blue Jackets want to hear from their most important player. A well-constructed team, as big and heavy as they come in the league, has looked out of sorts.
Columbus had a hilarious 502 man games lost to injury last year; while that is never considered an excuse in professional sports, it gets the point where it has to be a major and legitimate factor when key players were out for so long, at such important positions and in such quantity. Those excuses aren’t there this season.
As far as team makeup goes, the Blue Jackets check a lot of boxes: Very good number one goalie (Sergie Bobrovsky), a blossoming stud number one defenseman (Ryan Murray), a big, young number one centerman (Ryan Johansen) — and a mix of big, heavy wingers with varying amounts of skill.
While they aren’t an elite team, they have a lot of pieces any team would covet and are underperforming to date. Todd Richards is certainly on the hot seat the moment as the team looks disorganized and unprepared.
Also bad news for the Blue Jackets—and good news for the Maple Leafs—is that oft-injured forward, David Clarkson, will suit up for the Blue Jackets against his former team tonight.
David Clarkson makes his season debut for #CBJ vs. #leafs tonight.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 16, 2015
Columbus recalls Kerby Rychel.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) October 16, 2015
The Toronto Maple Leafs were off for most of the week and have had—no doubt—a lot of chalk talk and video work under their belt. Changes to the line up were minimal: Martin Marincin draws out in favour of Scott Harrington, Marc Acrobello sits in favour of Shawn Matthias, who was out with a minor injury versus Ottawa. In that game, Marincin struggled with the uptempo pace that the coaching staff is trying to instil in Toronto, and so he will sit in favour of Harrington, who has had a good camp and start to the season.
Some Toronto Maple Leafs rumours to mull over.
Full load of scouts in Philly: WPG (3, including GM), COL, CGY (2), NSH (2), STL, TBL, NYR, TOR, MTL, LAK, CHI, FLA, EDM, DET, OTT
— Adam Kimelman (@NHLAdamK) October 14, 2015
Half the league was represented with a pro scout or front office member—or both. Vinny Lecavalier and Luke Schenn were healthy scratches, and there’s a couple of players rumoured to be available in Philly, namely Brayden Schenn and Sam Gagner. Food for fodder, anyway.
Mike Babcock Game Day Skate
Toronto Maple Leafs Projected Lineup
Toronto Maple Leafs vs Columbus Blue Jackets Lineup - Oct. 16th, 2015| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
|---|---|---|
| van Riemsdyk | Bozak | Komarov |
| Matthias | Kadri | Boyes |
| Grabner | Holland | Parenteau |
| Winnik | Spaling | Lupul |
| Left Defence | Right Defence | |
| Gardiner | Phaneuf | |
| Rielly | Hunwick | |
| Harrington | Polak | |
| Goal: | Reimer |
Columbus Blue Jackets Projected Lineup
| Left Wing | Center | Right Wing |
|---|---|---|
| Saad | Johansen | Foligno |
| Jenner | Dubinsky | Bourque |
| Hartnell | Karlsson | Atkinson |
| Calvert | Campbell | Clarkson |
| Rychel | ||
| Left Defence | Right Defence | |
| Johnson | Savard | |
| Murray | Goloubef | |
| Tytuin | Prout | |
| Goal: | Bobrovsky |
