TAMPA BAY — Kyle Dubas showed faith in the Maple Leafs at the NHL trade deadline, holding off doing anything major, not moving Tyson Barrie and choosing Monday to announce a contract extension for Jake Muzzin.
Starting Tuesday night at Amalie Arena, the Leafs must repay the general manager and not take their sweet time doing it in the thick of a playoff race. First order of business, score on an NHL goalie again — Andrei Vasilevskiy starts for the Lightning — and try to put the memory of David Ayres and Saturday’s loss to Carolina behind them.
“We need a bounce back,” understated Barrie. “It’s disappointing we haven’t reached our expectations yet, but we have a lot more to give. If we can hit stride and get hot at the right time, it sets up well for us.”
The defenceman did not ask for a trade, but in his situation, a sub-par first year as a Leaf and no contract after July 1, he was not going to be shocked if told to pack his things.
“It was touch and go for a couple of days, but I’m glad I made it through. We’re just focused on what we have to do to make the playoffs. It’s behind us now. I had a good chat with Kyle and we’re moving on. He believes in me. We’re still in a playoff spot (as long as the Leafs keep ahead of Florida, who also play Tuesday night).”
Muzzin, with a four-year deal carrying an AAV of $5.625 million US in hand, said he’s committed to seeing himself and the Leafs realize those pre-season predictions they would make noise in playoffs.
“Kyle brought in pieces earlier (Kyle Clifford and Jack Campbell) and he believes in this group,” said the veteran blueliner. “I wanted to be here, I like the team, the city. I can handle (the craziness of the past week).
“I know there was a big fuss (about emergency goalie Ayres) going in, but it wasn’t losing to him, it was losing to a good team that outplayed us. When we get away from being connected, you get results like that.
“Like Pittsburgh (a 4-0 win after looking terrible against the same team), we have to dig down and everyone has to be pushed a little harder being uncomfortable. It’s a crucial time for us.”
Toronto goes from here to Florida on Thursday.
“The core of the team needs to take a jump; we can’t have it one night and not the next,” Muzzin added. “That’s everyone, bringing on the younger guys as well. We have to give them no option but to come with us.”
Sheldon Keefe is heeding the advice a current old-time NHL coach gave him when he replaced Mike Babcock.
“The noise is a little bit louder now,” Keefe agreed. “(His colleague) said the difference between your job and mine is we have a bad month and nobody notices; you have a bad week and the world is ending. It’s on me to manage that.”
Defenceman Timothy Liljegren will be out of the lineup Tuesday for Martin Marincin. Frederik Andersen is in net.
“Now, this is our group and we can get to work,” Keefe said of the post-deadline dust settling. “We’ve teased ourselves with the effort we’re capable of against Pittsburgh at home. A lot of teams are seeking those types of answers.”
The Bolts made two trades heading to the deadline, bringing in forwards Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow and signing defenceman Zach Bogosian. While well ahead of the Leafs, they’re trying to head off a rare three-game losing streak.
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