Benched Maple Leafs D-man Brodie needs to 'clear his head' Keefe says

Get the latest from Terry Koshan straight to your inbox

Article content

TJ Brodie’s time on the sideline has been extended.

Advertisement 2

Article content

The Maple Leafs defenceman will sit again on Saturday night, watching as his teammates play host to the Edmonton Oilers some 72 hours after the 33-year-old veteran was a healthy scratch versus the Washington Capitals. 

Article content

Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe acknowledged after practice on Friday that it’s mental reset, more than anything else, for Brodie.

“Brodes is a better player than he has played,” Keefe said. “And he has also played better hockey than the perception might be. He’s a guy that has taken on the hardest minutes and hardest matchups of anybody on our team and when you’re still finding ways to be on the positive side (plus-14), you’re doing lots of good things.

“(But) we and he acknowledged that he could be better and we need him at his best. If we have to take a step back in order for that to be the case, that’s what we’ll do. That’s where we’re at right now.”

Article content

Advertisement 3

Article content

Despite his inconsistencies, Brodie has averaged 21 minutes 51 seconds a game. Only Morgan Rielly (23:51) has played more on average for Toronto in 2023-24.

The Leafs need Brodie to find a way to improve once he returns because the lack of upper-echelon D-men in the Toronto corps calls for it. There’s a lot of depth, but not necessarily someone who can take Brodie’s minutes and be consistently impactful. Had there been, Brodie wouldn’t be getting the ice time, and the difficult matchups, as much as he has. 

The Leafs play in Carolina against the Hurricanes on Sunday, but there was no indication Brodie would be in the lineup as Toronto finishes a tough back-to-back set this weekend.

“I’d just like him to clear his head,” Keefe said. “That’s a big part of it. He has had a tough go right from the beginning of training camp (not long after his father passed away early in September) all the way through. 

Advertisement 4

Article content

“Because of the demands that we put on him, he hasn’t really had time to breathe and regroup and find himself. We added some defensive depth at the trade deadline, so we get a chance to help Brodes. 

“The mental part of it, we’re hoping it re-energizes him and with that comes an extra step. When you have an extra step, all of a sudden the puck moves quicker, you’re defending less. 

“The most important thing is just to give him the time that he needs to get back to being himself. When he’s at his best, he’s as good a defender as we have and reliable and consistent.”

Defenceman Ilya Lyubushkin, though he practised on Friday, also will not be in the lineup on Saturday. It was Lyubushkin’s first day on the ice, after recovering from an illness, since the Leafs lost last Saturday to Carolina.

Advertisement 5

Article content

Keefe will use the same defence pairs he deployed in Washington: Rielly-Jake McCabe; Joel Edmundson-Timothy Liljegren and Simon Benoit-Conor Timmins.

Forward Tyler Bertuzzi missed practice because he was sick and though Keefe wouldn’t rule him out of the game against Edmonton, it has to be doubtful that he would play. Ryan Reaves, who did not play against the Caps, was back on the fourth line at practice. 

HYMAN HYPE IS REAL

With a work ethic unmatched by most, the Oilers’ Zach Hyman earned the respect of every teammate he had with the Leafs. 

For those who played with him in Toronto, you can be absolutely sure they’re happy for Hyman as he closes in on 50 goals, coming to Toronto with 48, tied with Sam Reinhart of the Florida Panthers for second-most in the NHL.

Advertisement 6

Article content

“A lot of credit to (Hyman),” Leafs captain John Tavares said. “His evolution curve is pretty outstanding. I don’t think many people had him pegged to be where he is and what he is on the verge of doing. Being around him, the inner drive is very strong with Zach.

“He was a big part of things here for a long time and it was tough to see him go (when Hyman signed with Edmonton in free agency in 2021). He has fit in really well there and playing great hockey. He’s not just having a great season, he has shown it for many seasons now. 

“When you’re being highly talked about for the Canadian national team (for the 2026 Winter Olympics), that speaks to how much work he has put in and how it’s paying off.”  

MURRAY RETURNS

There was a Matt Murray sighting on Friday, as the goaltender took another step in his recovery from bilateral hip surgery in early October. The prognosis at the time was that he would be out of the lineup for six to eight months.

Murray worked in some pre-practice drills with the Leafs before departing once the main practice got underway.

“Very good sign,” Keefe said. “He has been out there a little bit with the guys here and there. It was probably the biggest step he has taken. 

“He is a long way away from being an option for games, but it seems like the work he has put in has served him well.”

[email protected]

X: @koshtorontosun

Article content