Maple Leafs goalie Andersen is back … with the Marlies
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Author of the article:
Lance Hornby
Publishing date:
May 05, 2021 • 20 hours ago • 5 minute read • 9 Comments 
Frederik Andersen will begin his anticipated conditioning stint by playing a half-game with the AHL Marlies on Thursday afternoon. Photo by Jean-Yves Ahern /USA TODAY Sports Article content
The Marlies have used six goalies so far this season, but the seventh is sure to cause a stir on Thursday afternoon.
Frederik Andersen will begin his anticipated conditioning stint with the farm team that could be his ticket to NHL playoff action and perhaps resurrection as a Maple Leaf. Andersen, who hasn’t played since March 19 when his physical and mental edge both went south, will play half of the Marlies’ 3 p.m. game against the Manitoba Moose at Coca Cola Coliseum.
The move came after he completed a second full Leafs’ practice Wednesday with no complications and following his agreeing to the demotion. The AHL stint can last up to 14 days, but the Leafs are mostly interested in getting Andersen some game experience to take them just beyond May 14, the last day of the regular season. After that, Andersen’s $5-million US cap hit, which is in large part why he can’t be activated in the NHL roster, won’t be a restriction.
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Andersen has had knee-related issues monitored by specialists, and in his only recent comments said he still considers himself a No. 1-caliber goalie, though realizes Jack Campbell has the job for now.
“Today was important for him,” coach Sheldon Keefe said of Andersen. “All indications are he feels good, and that being the case, he’ll play the half game. It’s a good way for him to get back into it. Things will be re-assessed from there.”
Campbell and Andersen were the only two goalies used in a high-pace practice Wednesday, while David Rittich and Michael Hutchinson were taking pucks on another ice sheet at Ford Performance Centre.
“Freddy is an important part of our team and he’s going to be an important part (in playoffs),” said defenceman Justin Holl. “The sooner we get him going, the better for us. He’s looking good.”
NICK KNOCKED FROM LINEUP
While Andersen was prominent on Wednesday, Nick Foligno’s absence was duly noted.
Foligno was last seen struggling off the ice Monday night in Montreal with what the club said was an upper-body injury. Keefe would only say the right winger was “day-to-day,” won’t be available for Thursday night’s home game against the Habs and likely not Saturday for the season finale of the series between the teams.
Keefe didn’t think an extended absence would hurt the chemistry Foligno had built with first liners Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner and the team in general. Foligno had a point in four of the five games he’s played since the trade with Columbus.
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“In terms of his own game and how he’s adjusting to our team, he’s already passed that (comfort level) point,” Keefe said. “He’s in a good place.
“Obviously, I was looking to try him in different spots in the lineup and him missing time will impact my ability to do that. It also has a trickle down effect (with other lines).”
Joe Thornton was with Matthews and Marner on Wednesday. So, Keefe decided to re-vamp Thornton’s whole line, at least for practice, replacing him with Wayne Simmonds, leaving Jason Spezza at centre with Pierre Engvall on the other side.
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Adam Brooks, who was on a roll between veterans Thornton and Spezza, was a spare in favour of newcomer Stefan Noesen, who has yet to play, Noesen and Ilya Mikheyev flanking Alex Kerfoot.
Keefe said some undisclosed injuries could see those lines stay for the Montreal game or change by the 7 p.m. puck drop.
“I wanted to get Noesen a look on a line in case he needed to play,” Keefe said.
RED ROVERS
There was also some encouraging signs when Zach Hyman came out for practice for the first time since spraining his knee April 18 in Vancouver, along with trade acquisition Riley Nash, who has a similar injury. The two forwards were dressed in non-contact red sweaters and Keefe doesn’t see either playing before Wednesday of next week, the first of two remaining regular season games.
“Having guys like that back gets everybody excited,” Spezza said. “We know what’s around the corner with playoffs and we want to be as healthy as possible.”
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After exiting Saturday’s game against Vancouver when he took a puck in the face and skipping the start versus the Habs, Justin Holl was back with a full visor Wednesday.
“It was more preventative, sitting out that game, but probably the smart thing to let it heal,” Holl said. “I find myself in the bubble (helmet) at least once a year, so it’s pretty familiar.”
POST-WILSON
Wednesday was the first time the Leafs were asked about the Tom Wilson incident in the Capitals-Rangers game on Monday night, the crease storm in which the Rangers’ Artemi Panarin and Pavel Buchnevich were roughed up, with ensuing fan and media outrage when Wilson was merely fined.
“I saw what happened,” captain John Tavares said. “When you have a history like (Wilson) does, you’re always going to question the intent and the aggressive nature of it.
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“There’s a competitive aspect in defending your net and being hard around scrums, but there’s certainly a time when it crosses the line and to me, it did. Whatever the punishment is, that’s not what I worry about, I think the league tries to do the best they can.”
LOOSE LEAFS
Toronto will have another Russian under their roof next season — and a league champion at that. On Wednesday the Leafs signed forward Kirill Semyonov to a one-year entry-level deal for 2021-22. Semyonov just hoisted the Gagarin Cup with home city Avangard Omsk for winning the KHL title. The 6-foot-1 Semyonov is 26 and played 60 regular-season games with 26 points this year, adding nine more in 23 playoff contests, to go with —198 regular season and playoff points in 442 KHL games … Marner turned 24 on Wednesday. “Nice to see him grow up in front of our eyes,” Holl said … On Tuesday, the Marlies won their first game in a month since being shutdown by COVID-19 protocols in a big way.
Joseph Woll stopped a franchise record 57 shots in the 4-3 overtime win at Laval. Goals came from Noel Hoefenmayer (his first in the AHL), fellow defenceman Martin Marincin, Jeremy McKenna and the winner by Nic Petan.
lhornby@postmedia.com
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