Joel Edmundson made an impression on the Maple Leafs long before he became a teammate on Thursday.
The 2021 Stanley Cup playoff series between the Leafs and Montreal Canadiens remains fresh not only for Edmundson, who was patrolling the Montreal blue line with a menacing gleam in his eye, but for Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe.
“You just remember that he made it miserable to get to the net,” Keefe said. “Can’t remember how many times you’re watching the video and you think there could be five or six minor penalties called on a shift, but that’s playoff hockey and the way it goes. He’s ultra-competitive around the most dangerous area in protecting the net.”
This was Auston Matthews’ recollection: “Heavy stick, heavy lumber in front of the net and that makes it hard on you. If you’re going to go there, you have to pay the price. He’s going to bring it every night.”
Expect that kind of element in the years going forward as general manager Brad Treliving continues to put his stamp on the team, whether it’s from Edmundson or future acquisitions.
Among Edmundson’s more memorable run-ins against the Leafs came with forward Wayne Simmonds, who is done playing in the National Hockey League and had a good turn as an analyst with TSN during trade deadline day on Friday.
The Leafs had a 3-1 lead in the first-round series three years ago before the Canadiens rallied to win in seven games.
“It was a hell of a series, could have gone either way,” Edmundson said on Monday.
Had any of his new teammates said anything to him about it?
“Not yet,” Edmundson said with a smile. “I’m waiting for it, thoug
What matters most now, and in the coming weeks, is Edmundson’s adjustment to the Leafs following the trade with the Washington Capitals last Thursday. He played with Timothy Liljegren in his Leafs debut in Toronto’s win in Montreal on Saturday, and the pair was together at practice on Monday.
Edmundson, whose net-front cross-checks have left bruises across the NHL, hasn’t been back to the playoffs since the Canadiens lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Cup final in 2021.
“The refs let more slide (in the post-season),” Edmundson said. “I think that helps my game a lot. I’ve been playing my best hockey in the playoffs, and unfortunately haven’t been in the playoffs for a couple years now, so I’m excited to get back there.”
SCOUTING REPORT
Ryan Reaves was pretty pleased when the Leafs acquired Connor Dewar from the Minnesota Wild on Friday, given the pair’s time as linemates with the Wild before this season.
“He’s not afraid to get in those dirty areas, which to me, I need a guy like that,” Reaves said of now playing with the 5-foot-10, 183-pound Dewar on Toronto’s fourth line. “Really responsible defensively. Good getting out of our zone. Nothing fancy to his game.
“He’s hard in the corners. He’s scrapping in front of the net. Everything you want out of a fourth-line guy that plays with me.”
GLAD FOR MARCH BREAK
A scheduling quirk has given the Leafs some time to rest, and they’ll happily take it.
After playing seven games in 12 days, including four in six last week, it’s a light week with a road game in Philadelphia on Thursday and a home game against the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday.
“It’s good for our whole team,” Keefe said. “This was a tough stretch we just went through. We’re certainly seeing the effects of that.”
After a day off on Sunday, the Leafs had a rare practice at Scotiabank Arena on Monday as the team’s 2023-24 official photo was taken.
The players will get another day off on Tuesday before returning to practice at the Ford Performance Centre on Wednesday.
“These weeks are pretty hard to come by,” Matthews said. “Definitely want to be taking care of ourselves, recharging and taking these next couple of days to just get your mind right,
“It’s going to be a lot of hockey (to finish the season), it’s going to be a grind, it’s going to be tough competition.”
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