> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Maple Leafs practice report: 16 skaters pass the test - URL: https://www.pensionplanpuppets.com/maple-leafs-practice-report-16-skaters-pass-the-test-marlies-covid-protocol-taxi-squad/ - Published: 2021-12-26T20:50:15.000Z - Updated: 2021-12-26T20:50:15.000Z - Description: That being the Covid test they all had to take to attend this first practice post break. - Author: Cathy Squires - Tags: Toronto Marlies, #chorus, #Import 2023-04-05 11:01 Update from Tuesday’s practice: > Players participating in Dec. 28 practice: > > Forwards: Anderson, Bunting, Clifford, Engvall, Kaše, Kerfoot, Marner, Matthews, Ritchie, Simmonds, Spezza, Tavares > > Defencemen: Biega, Brodie, Dahlström, Dermott, Holl, Král, Liljegren, Rubīns > > Goalies: Campbell, Scott > > — Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) [December 28, 2021](https://twitter.com/LeafsPR/status/1475871915885608960?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Sheldon Keefe was also present. > "Our medical director Dr. Noah Forman told me to forget about being the [#Leafs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leafs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) coach for a period of time & just worry about myself & getting better. Easier said than done. But then it hit me hard enough to the point where you're just focused on getting better & resting" > \-- Keefe > > — Mike Zeisberger (@Zeisberger) [December 28, 2021](https://twitter.com/Zeisberger/status/1475902480152252424?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Update from Monday’s second practice back after the break: > [#Leafs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leafs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) lines at practice Dec. 27/21 > > Bunting-Matthews-Marner > Kerfoot-Tavares-Kase > Clifford-Engvall-Anderson > Ritchie-Spezza-Simmonds > Extra: Seney-Steeves > > Kral-Liljegren > Dahlstrom-Holll > Hellickson-Biega > > Woll > Scott > D’Agostini (practice goalie) > > — David Alter (@dalter) [December 27, 2021](https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1475519458605154310?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > [#Leafs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leafs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) updated COVID-19 list. Down to 10 players. [pic.twitter.com/fRTAJCVLoE](https://t.co/fRTAJCVLoE?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — David Alter (@dalter) [December 27, 2021](https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1475518698312159243?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Leafs got permission from the NHL to put Matt Hellickson (AHL contract) on the ice so they’d have 6 defenders. --- In what reads like a practice for a preseason game, the Maple Leafs drew heavily on the Marlies for (not) enough players to put together some lines. > We have lines![#Leafs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leafs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) lines at practice Dec. 26/21 > > Bunting-Matthews-Marner > Ritchie-Tavares-Kase > Clifford-Engvall-Anderson > Seney-Steeves > > Kral-Liljegren > Dahlstrom-Holl > Biega > > Woll > Scott > > — David Alter (@dalter) [December 26, 2021](https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1475204054427082760?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) The good news is that John Tavares is back from Covid protocol. No one else has returned yet from this list: > The complete [#Leafs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leafs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) COVID protocol list. Fourteen players, three coaching staff members and four additional staff members. First cases confirmed nine days ago, so it’s possible we see some guys come off the list. [pic.twitter.com/nTHMCTIwIF](https://t.co/nTHMCTIwIF?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — David Alter (@dalter) [December 26, 2021](https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1475118413370568711?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Dean Chynoweth and Manny Malhotra ran the practice. With no one officially recalled from the Marlies, the assumption is that the Leafs are using the new Taxi Squad rules already. This has yet to be formally announced, but Elliott Friedman had the [news earlier today](https://www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/nhl-nhlpa-working-covid-19-roster-protection/?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com): **TAXI SQUADS:** These are in-place until the All-Star Break, for now. Teams don’t have to use them; maximum of six players; no one can be on it more than 20 days. There are some eligibility requirements. You can’t be on it if you’re on an NHL roster as of Dec. 22 (with the exception of emergency recall); are waiver-exempt; were on the NHL roster for at least 75 per cent of the regular-season days or played in 16 of a team’s last 20 games through Dec. 22 (goalies who dressed but did not play is counted as having “played”). Taxi squad players can practice and travel with the NHL team. Compensation is AHL-level pay with a stipend of $500 (US) each day they are on it. The more important rule for the potentially soon to be cap-strapped Leafs (Mitch Marner was at practice) is the emergency recall rule changes: > NHL Revised Emergency Exception Rules: > > \-Emergency Exception ($0 Cap Hit) now eligible for Cap hits <= $1M (up from $850K). > \-If short 12F/6D due to COVID, can recall w/out playing short 1 game > \-If short 2 G's for any reason, can recall w/out playing short[https://t.co/UPhgDtSdsc](https://t.co/UPhgDtSdsc?ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > > — PuckPedia (@PuckPedia) [December 26, 2021](https://twitter.com/PuckPedia/status/1475199227206586368?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) Kyle Dubas is set to update the media later this afternoon, so we’ll update this post with the highlights. > Kyle Dubas on [#Leafs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leafs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) organizational COVID update:[#Leafs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leafs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) have had 14 players and 7 staff test positive, and Marlies have had 24 players and 5 staff positive > > Alex Kerfoot, Wayne Simmonds and Jason Spezza set to return as well if they pass their cardiac screenings > > — Kristen Shilton (@kristen\_shilton) [December 26, 2021](https://twitter.com/kristen%5Fshilton/status/1475212861366489089?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > Kyle Dubas said at this point [#Leafs](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Leafs?src=hash&ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) need another healthy defender and another healthy goalie before they can play (Ian Scott isn't ready to back up) > > Mitch Marner back at practice, but not a player the team plans to rush along > > — Kristen Shilton (@kristen\_shilton) [December 26, 2021](https://twitter.com/kristen%5Fshilton/status/1475213135716003840?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com) > Dubas says if the Leafs next game goes ahead on Wednesday, as things stand, the Leafs would be one defenceman and one goalie short. > > "We don't have any NHL contracted players to call up to meet that requirement," says Dubas. > > — Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) [December 26, 2021](https://twitter.com/joshuakloke/status/1475213386120110090?ref%5Fsrc=twsrc%5Etfw&ref=pensionplanpuppets.com)