Why Maple Leafs’ lack of defensive depth means maximum Giordano

TORONTO -- Mark Giordano isn't one for schadenfreude, especially when it comes to his own teammates.

Without question, though, the recent injury to top-four, left-side defenceman Jake McCabe has given way to increased opportunity and more ice time for the National Hockey League's oldest player.

"Caber will be pissed if I say excited," Giordano laughs.

Yet, like most athletes, Giordano absolutely feels more engaged and energized when he's hopping over the boards regularly. Further, his performance has sharpened a couple weeks into the season here, now that the 40-year-old engine is up and running.

Giordano tiptoed into opening night on a third-pairing, shot-blocking role befitting his modest $800,000 salary. His minutes have been juiced since fellow lefty McCabe went down with a pulled groin in Dallas.

Giordano skated a season-high 18:09 Thursday, then topped it with a new season-high 20:29 Saturday, looking as gleeful as a rookie when he potted his first goal of the season.

"Listen. Any player wants to play more, and I'm no different. I'm a lot older than most guys, but I enjoy playing," said Giordano, who had previously been averaging the lowest ice among Toronto's blueliners. 

"The more minutes you play, shift after shift, it's more about rhythm than anything, to be honest. And the more of a rhythm you get into, usually you play better and usually you forget about any little mistakes that you made the shift before. So, I think it helps you throughout the game."

"That's why all the top guys play a lot of minutes."

In speaking about the newly retired Joe Thornton's time in Toronto, coach Sheldon Keefe notes that fading stars arrive to the rink with more energy than some guys in their prime, simply because their appreciation for being in the league is stronger than when they were younger.

Like Thornton, that rule applies certainly applies to Jason Spezza and now to Giordano.

The 1,110-game veteran rarely skips an optional skate, walks around the rink with a smile on his face and a chirp at the ready, and never ducks a chance to chat hockey with a visitor.

McCabe's injury has triggered a little deja vu in these parts.

Last season, Giordano was required to take on more work and more difficult assignments when the Maple Leafs' blueline took a beating. (Morgan Rielly, T.J. Brodie, and Timothy Liljegren each missed 15 games minimum last winter.) And did so admirably.

Trouble was, Giordano ran out of gas by the post-season and went minus-7. 

"Wasn't happy with how the playoffs went, and that pushed him to have a great summer and make some changes in how he prepared," Keefe explains. "Gio's been off to a really good start to the season for us, and we don't expect that to change despite the fact he may need to play a little bit more."

What changed? 

Diet, for one.

Giordano set a goal of increasing his explosiveness and foot speed. Now listed at 202 pounds, he stepped on the scale at training camp five or six pounds lighter. 

"Definitely enough where I noticed a difference," Giordano says. "I'll try to continue that. It's hard. There's about 20 meals sitting around every day at the rink and around the hotel, so you got to be disciplined."

The whole Maple Leafs' blueline needs to be disciplined. 

Leaky to start, the group contributed to a minimum of four goals allowed in each of the season's first three games. But then the team hit the road and tightened things up significantly. With help from a dialled-in Joseph Woll, the Leafs did not allow more than three in any of its five away games.

Still, the recall of 27-year-old journeyman William Lagesson — who didn't play in the NHL last season — is telling of the club's defensive depth.

Standing theory: GM Brad Treliving still views this blueline as a work-in-progress (i.e., not ready for a deep playoff run) and will beef it up before the trade deadline passes.

No wonder Keefe said he was "definitely" relieved to see Timothy Liljegren (lower body) back at practice Monday, after leaving Saturday's overtime loss early. Liljegren suffered a muscle spasm and no structural damage, according to the coach, and should be fine to dress Tuesday.

We know Giordano will be there, excited for regular shifts (apologies, McCabe).

"If you look at a lot of the things that have caused us some trouble as a team or some of the individuals at times, it's trying to do a little bit too much," Keefe says. 

"Gio just knows who he is and gives you everything he has on every single shift. It's a pretty good recipe for success, especially early in the season."

One-Timers: Woll (1.33 GAA, .961 SV%) gets the nod in net Tuesday, a chance to build on his stellar three-game win streak on the road. "We’ve got Woll in a good place," Keefe told reporters. "We want to keep building Sammy up and taking advantage of every day."... McCabe (groin) could be back practising midweek.... The Marlies signed left wing Kieffer Bellows (a 2016 first-round pick of the Islanders) to a PTO.... William Nylander can take sole possession of the Leafs' season-starting point-streak record with a point against the Kings Tuesday. "He's on a mission," teammate John Klingberg said. "He's one of the absolute top players in the league right now, and he's been our best player." 

Maple Leafs projected lines Tuesday vs. Los Angeles Kings

Järnkrok – Matthews – Marner
Bertuzzi – Tavares – Nylander 
Knies – Kampf – Domi 
Gregor – Holmberg – Reaves 

Rielly – Brodie 
Giordano – Liljegren 
Lagesson – Klingberg

Woll starts
Samsonov