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Load management could be a problem for Jack Campbell with Mrazek sidelined for the next month

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Mike Armenti
November 8, 2021  (10:18)
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If the Toronto Maple Leafs wish to load manage Jack Campbell moving forward, the organization may have to get a little more creative, given the injury to 1b Petr Mrazek.

Mrazek was originally brought in during the offseason to augment Campbell and operate in a net-sharing situation, rather than re-upping starter Frederik Andersen, who had struggled mightily over his final two seasons in Toronto.

Now, with Mrazek sidelined for at least the next month, Campbell appears to have a larger workload ahead of him, with either 3rd string goalie Michael Hutchinson, or one of several unknown commodities in Erik Kallgren, Joseph Woll or Keith Petruzzelli to fall back on.

The Leafs appear to be putting their eggs into Campbell's basket in the short-term, and rightfully so, with the 29-year-old posting a 6-2-1 record through 9 starts and 10 appearances.

The team has been resting Campbell on off days, keeping him either limited at practice or off the ice entirely to prevent burning out their number one guy and risking injury from over-working him.

Campbell was given another practice off on Sunday, ahead of Monday's tilt against his former team, the Los Angeles Kings - something he doesn't seem to mind one bit.

"I've learned that, as I've gotten older, you got to rest when it's time. Coach has done a great job of balancing that workload for me. I appreciate everyone looking out for myself & my body," said the always-positive and upbeat netminder.

It will be interesting to see who the Leafs go with for their back-to-backs this month, while Mrazek is on the sidelines. Currently, Joseph Woll is the guy who is up with the team, backing up Campbell. With the team having a back-to-back situation on Friday and Saturday this week, it remains to be seen whether Woll will get his first career NHL start or if he will be returned to the Marlies in favor of having Michael Hutchinson take one of the starts.