4 Maple Leafs who need to bounce back after 4 Nations Face-Off

Keep an eye on Domi ahead of the deadline. With his $3.5 million AAV and the Leafs’ aspirations to upgrade down the middle, it makes sense to include him in the deal to open up a roster spot and balance out the trade financially. We’ll just have to wait and see if his 13-team no-trade clause becomes a story.

Morgan Rielly

Yes, before any overreaction, Rielly had himself a very strong four-game road swing before the 4 Nations Face-Off break, which is a great sign for the Maple Leafs. That doesn’t mean the unofficial first half of the season wasn’t rough for the longest-tenured Leaf.

When the Maple Leafs win this season, Rielly has four goals and 19 points in 33 games, meanwhile, when they lose Rielly has recorded two goals and one assist for three points in 22 games. No, it’s not all ‘Mo’s’ fault, of course not, but as the veteran defenceman put it recently, he has a lot more to give.

Let’s zone in on the recent strong play, as Rielly has his legs back. He’s skating as good as he has all year, he’s engaging in the rush, carrying the puck in the zone, head up looking for a play, and he’s also joining the rush as a trailer more than he has throughout the rest of the season. The Maple Leafs need more of this playing style after the break.

Rielly’s at his worst when he’s scared to make a play and get creative, or ‘risky’ with the puck. He’s been taken off the top power-play unit, where he absolutely shouldn’t have been in the first place. He’s not suited for a top unit. He doesn’t have a big slapshot, he rarely ever takes one, and his back-leg wrister just isn’t getting the job done when the likes of Matthews and Nylander create space for him to unload a cannon. The only problem is that Rielly also doesn’t kill penalties, which is a rare detail for a blueliner supposed to be the #1 d-man on his team. He also happens to make $7.5 million AAV against the cap.

There were some trade rumors popping up once J.T Miller was being shopped in Vancouver, a team that many feel would be the only one Rielly waived his no-movement clause for, but Miller has been dealt to the Big Apple, meanwhile any trade rumours have subsided. Despite the inconsistent play, Rielly’s one of the least likely Leafs to be dealt before the March 7 trade deadline. Instead, look for Treliving to try and find him a right-handed partner to play with on a new-look second pair because it’s very safe to say Chris Tanev, who was supposed to play that role, has found a secure partner in Jake McCabe, and the two have been carrying the load for the Maple Leafs’ blueline for weeks.

Nick Robertson

Robertson wants to go back to the preseason, where everything he shot touched the back of the net. The shifty winger has shown off a solid work ethic this season, which has included a bit of a bulldog mentality, but unfortunately has had issues consistently producing.

Robertson’s up to eight goals and 12 points in 47 games before the break, including seven goals coming at 5.vs.5, however, four of Robertson’s goals came over a six-game stretch in January, when himself, Domi and McMann were streaking. The other four have come in 41 games, and despite only carrying a $875,000 cap hit, that’s not good enough.

The former second-round pick is undersized at 5-foot-9, especially for a checking role on a third-line, but he’s done a good job showing off his motor, and his fearlessness this season. Early on in the year, Berube spoke publicly a few times regarding Robertson’s game and it’s obvious the coach liked what he was seeing at first:

The only problem is, that the puck hasn’t gone in for him, and while his trade value isn’t skyrocketing off the charts, Robertson is certainly a trade candidate to watch, recently being named to the Daily Faceoff’s Trade Targets list. Robertson’s no stranger to trade rumours, as he’s requested a trade before as well last summer, which went unfulfilled by the Maple Leafs. It will be interesting what Treliving does with him prior to March 7, as moving both Domi and Robertson could reshape Berube’s third line heading into the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Ryan Reaves

Conor Timmins and Pontus Holmberg get a pass here, as Reaves rounds out our four bounce-back candidates. The Leafs’ enforcer has hardly been enforcing mall security this season, but he’s managed to stay on the big club and be a team guy in the dressing room.

Reaves has appeared in just 33 games this season, chipping in with two points. He’s seeing an average of 7:42 of ice time per game, and when he’s on, he’s banging and crashing with Kampf and Lorentz, making sure to move his feet and get in hard on the forecheck. Less is more for Reaves, who worked a ton on his skating last summer, to try and gain an extra bit of speed, unfortunately, it hasn’t worked at all.

At 38 years old, and 6-foot-2, 230 pounds, the wear and tear could be catching up to the Leafs’ enforcer. It will be interesting to see how Treliving handles the final 1.5 years of Reaves contract, as he’s signed through next season at $1.35 million AAV. Crazy stat of the day, $1.35 million is also what Bobby McMann and his 17 goals make.

The Maple Leafs resume their NHL schedule on Feb.22, when they’ll host the Carolina Hurricanes. Second in the Atlantic Division, in an Eastern Conference that is wide open heading down the stretch, it’s going to be vital for Berube to get these four players consistently producing, or Treliving may have no choice but to make some bold roster decisions ahead of the trade deadline in early March.