Roster-juggling could see Filip Kral make his Maple Leafs debut during stay in California

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SUMMERLIN, Nev. — There were moving parts to the Maple Leafs roster as they headed farther west.

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Between Monday’s loss in Las Vegas and Thursday’s upcoming game in San Jose, they added Filip Kral to a defence that was at the minimum six men for the first two games on the trip, shifted blue-liner Jake Muzzin to long-term injured reserve and moved right winger Kyle Clifford to injured reserve.

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Though results of an MRI on Clifford after his mishap on Monday in Las Vegas had not come back as the Leafs flew to San Jose, it’s going to be at least a week away.

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While the LTIR designation is not unexpected with his dicey neck injury, Muzzin joins goalie Matt Murray and defencemen Timothy Liljegren and Jordie Benn. The latter two are close to returning and can now be accommodated on the 23-man roster with Muzzin out.

For now, the 6-foot-2 Kral is here, coach Sheldon Keefe wanting to see the fifth-round pick from 2018 get playing time at some stage, with more than 70 AHL games to his credit and several close calls with making the roster.

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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 reminding how hard it is to make the NHL, to stay there and could use some wisdom teeth.

“It’s not really a lot about what they do, it’s just about who they are,” Keefe said before Clifford went on injured reserve.

“They’re not going to go in (the dressing room) and make speeches, it’s just their presence. They’ve been through a lot in their careers and through a lot with our team and our organization as well. So, there’s history there, they have connections with our players.

“Having them around is a natural morale boost to the group and then of course what they bring on the ice is different and unique.”

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The season didn’t start out that way for the duo, Simmonds, a 34-year-old 1,000-game veteran and Clifford, 31, a Cup-winner in Los Angeles. Both were waived as part of Toronto’s opening night salary cap crunch, with Simmonds electing not to report to the Marlies after avoiding the minors his entire career.

Then Murray was hurt, which freed up space. Both forwards were added to this trip, in part to beef up a team whose skill players were getting roughed up in early games. They combined on a fourth-line goal in Winnipeg to earn another start in Vegas, though the roster is in flux with three healthy scratches itching to get back in.

“For the rest of our guys competing for those spots, they’re new here and they’ll continue to get comfortable and over time, get the same sort of connection,” Keefe said. “But Simmer and Cliff, their personalities and experiences, have been around our team so they have a leg up in that sense.”

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Simmonds has embraced his mentorship role as his career winds down.
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We do have good leadership here with John as our captain, Matty, Mitch and Mo. But we rely on all of us to be leaders. That’s the way you have to think about it; you just can’t have one or two guys today, you have to have a bunch pitching in. 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’d like to assist.

“You have to be cognizant of just what these guys are going through,” he pointed out. “We were once there, too, and it’s tough. When you’re younger and an older guy comes to talk to you with little bits of advice, not even just hockey but about life in general, it helps a lot.”

CALIFORNIA CONNECTIONS

The Leafs conclude their trip against teams that are currently at .500 or worse in October. The Sharks and Anaheim Ducks, which the Leafs face Sunday, are a combined 3-11-1. Los Angeles is 4-4.

The Leafs won’t see former teammate James Reimer on Thursday. Though their one-time starter in the pre-Kyle Dubas era is still plugging away at age 34 and has been one of the bright spots for the Sharks with a .923 save percentage, he doesn’t do well versus his old team. The start goes to their goalie of the future Kaapo Kahkonen.

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