Maple Leafs’ Shots: Simmonds, Der-Arguchintsev, Liljegren & More

Here on NHLTradeTalk, we’re going to try out a new kind of post. We’ve titled it “Maple Leafs’ Shots, and in it we’ll give Maple Leafs’ fans a collection of little “shots” of news and thoughts about the team. If the idea works, we’ll like try it with other teams as well.

Related: Maple Leafs Injury News: Frederik Andersen = Good; Nick Foligno = Bad

Maple Leafs’ Shot #1: Wayne Simmonds

After his great start at the beginning of this season, where his Wayne Simmons gone? He’s a great depth player in the team’s bottom six, but he started the season so powerfully – scoring particularly on the power play. He hasn’t seemed able to replicate that success recently. He hasn’t’ scored a single point in six straight games, and only has a single assist in his last 13 games.

The question about Simmons is how head coach Sheldon Keefe will use him in the playoffs. If he doesn’t add secondary scoring, is this physicality enough to keep him in the lineup?

Maple Leafs’ Shot #2: Semyon Der-Arguchintsev

It’s interesting to see that the Maple Leafs have moved young Semyon Der-Arguchintsev to the team’s taxi squad. The attraction for me with Der-Arguchintsev is his connection with Nick Robertson. The two played together so successfully with the Peterborough Petes that I’d like to see them playing together on the Maple Leafs roster one day perhaps in a couple of years. Obviously, it won’t happen this season because Robertson’s likely not to play in the Maple Leafs lineup so he doesn’t burn a season of his entry level contract.

Since his return from the KHL, Der-Arguchintsev has done just fine with the HL Toronto Marlies. The 20-year-old Russian scored four assists in six AHL games. He’s clearly not out of his depth in the AHL with the Marlies. He’s going to be an interesting prospect to watch.

Maple Leafs’ Shot #3: Timothy Liljegren

This is obviously not the season that Timothy Liljegren make his case for a regular roster spot. During his two games with the team after Zach Bogosian was injured, Liljegren played quite well. He didn’t make any glaring errors, at least that I saw.

The question is whether Liljegren will play again this season with the big club. I’m guessing the answer’s “No.” The emergence of his Swedish defensive colleague Rasmus Sandin has shaken the team’s three defensive pairings, which had been playing game after game.

Maple Leafs’ Shot #4: Zach Bogosian

Given the emergence of Sandin, what about Bogosian? The roster shifting that Sandin’s emergence has created has to be a good thing because it improves the team’s defense; and, it wasn’t that bad before.

It’s a good problem to have a young defenseman like Sandin bust out of the bubble and play so well. I’m guessing that, unless Bogosian’s willing to sign a very team-friendly contract after his contract ends, he’ll likely be with another team next season. There will be plenty of takers. Forget the analytics on Bogosian; he’s been solid.

Maple Leafs’ Shot #5: Travis Dermott

Speaking of the shake up on the team’s defence, one thing to notice is that Travis Dermott’s ice time dropping. In Thursday’s win over the Canadiens, Dermott skated only 12 minutes. It was his lowest time for any Maple Leafs’ defensemen.

Again, chalk that up to Sandin’s bursting onto the scene. Suddenly, Dermott’s fighting for ice time and even then he had to shift to his wrong side (to the right) to play. Still, Dermott might have a space. Because coach Keefe is a tweaker, he always seems to be experimenting.

Related: Nick Foligno Gives Four Reasons Auston Matthews Should Be Respected

Last season’s film watching during the season’s hiatus between the regular season and the postseason allowed the coaching staff to see that Alex Kerfoot was a penalty-kill demon. That discovery has proved to be successful. On Thursday night, Dermott played 2:10 on the penalty kill, which was the highest total for a Maple Leafs’ defenseman.

There’s no doubt that Dermott has value, but is it enough to keep him on the team’s roster? My guess is that he’ll be chosen by the Seattle Kraken in the expansion draft.