There are two new things in the works for tonight’s Toronto Maple Leafs’ game against the Dallas Stars. Two newcomers to the team will be making their starts. The first newcomer is defenseman Conor Timmins. Timmins has had several NHL starts, just not with the Maple Leafs. For the other newcomer, Semyon Der-Arguchintsev, it will be his first NHL start anywhere.
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Conor Timmins Starts In Place of Mac Hollowell
Timmins has been practicing with the Maple Leafs since his trade to the team. Because Timmins has been with the team for almost two weeks, he’s had a chance to get used to the team culture. He’s been getting ready for tonight’s game a bit longer than SDA.
When Timmins was traded from the Arizona Coyotes to the Maple Leafs, at first it seemed as if the Maple Leafs would jump him right onto the team’s defense. But, the Big Mac Attack (Hollowell) strung together some good games and stayed in the lineup.
That gave Timmins a chance to get his feet wet with the team. Hollowell’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning was likely the poorest of the six he played. As Maple Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe noted, the timing was right for Timmins to play.
I know I’m looking forward to watching the 24-year-old Timmins in his first start with the Blue and White.
Related: Maple Leafs’ Quick Hits: Kallgren, Hollowell, Mete & Kampf
Brodie Is Returning: Time to See Timmins
Part of the “right timing” head coach Keefe talked about was likely that Hollowell stumbled a bit. However, part was also the imminent return of TJ Brodie. I’m sure the coaching staff wanted to see first-hand what Timmns brought. And, Brodie’s absence allows that to happen.
In addition, the newcomer defenseman has something going for him. He’s right-handed. And that’s rare on this Maple Leafs’ team.
Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (SDA) Makes His NHL Debut
The 22-year-old Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (SDA) will get his first NHL start tonight. It’s been something he says, “I’ve been waiting for it my whole life. Just an incredible feeling. I can’t explain how happy I am.”
Like all young hockey players with a dream, SDA admitted “That was my goal — to get called up this year.” He got it.
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SDA Wants to Be Like Mitch Marner
What’s to know about Der-Arguchintsev? SDA is a smaller very skilled player who started as a natural playmaker. However, over the years, he’s built up his strength, grown physically, and learned how to play good defensive hockey. Although SDA didn’t say this, but when he grows up he wants to be like Mitch Marner. That’s his inspiration.
SDA did note that Marner is “such a good player. He’s not very big, but he plays big. He’s strong on the puck. He wins puck battles. He plays hard. I really like that.”
The other thing that Marner did was to give SDA hope. Der-Arguchintsev noted that Marner “gives you more hope that, (even) if you’re not the biggest guy, you have a chance of making it. You have to understand that you have to work hard. I’ve talked to some people about him, and they all say he worked hard to get there. That’s what I’ll have to do as well.”
Der-Arguchintsev is a solid skater who had to break his habit of thinking “pass first.” He’s had to also become a shooter. He’s learning, and has now scored 19 goals and added 35 assists in 77 AHL games.
Maple Leafs Line Combinations and Defensive Pairings
The following are the projected Maple Leafs’ lines based on Tuesday’s practice in Dallas.
Line Combinations
First Line: Michael Bunting – Auston Matthews – William Nylander
Second Line: Nick Robertson – John Tavares – Mitch Marner
Third Line: Alex Kerfoot – David Kämpf – Pierre Engvall
Fourth Line: Zach Aston-Reese – Pontus Holmberg – Semyon Der-Arguchintsev
Defensive Pairings
First Pairing: Mark Giordano – Justin Holl
Second Pairing: Rasmus Sandin – Timothy Liljegren
Third Pairing: Victor Mete – Conor Timmins
Starting Goalie
Matt Murray
Ilya Samsonov (Backup)
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