The Toronto Maple Leafs returned home following a perfect road trip that ended with a win in Colorado over the Avalanche Saturday night. This afternoon, they returned to practice for the first time in a week, as they chose to not have any while on the road.
Currently riding a 7-game winning streak, the Leafs received some good news at practice today in that both Mark Giordano and Calle Jarnkrok re-joined the team for on-ice sessions. Giordano has been away the past week mourning the loss of his father while Jarnkrok continues to recover from a broken knuckle.
Another forward that appears destined for the pressbox, however, is Noah Gregor. Gregor took to the ice in the standard grey "scratches" sweater which means that he will miss his third straight game.
For Gregor, it appears that his underwhelminy performance in recent weeks has made him the 13th forward for head coach Sheldon Keefe and given the strong play of Bobby McMann, Pontus Holmberg and even Ryan Reaves of late, it may make Gregor expendable at the trade deadline, should the Leafs choose to move him.
Depth is important for the playoffs, but Gregor being on the outside looking in even before the team has made any additions before the March 8th trade deadline, it would appear as though he's only going to slip further down the depth chart over the next two weeks.
