Marshall Rifai and Nick Blankenburg were paired together Monday as Jim Hiller unveiled an unexpected new look for the Toronto Maple Leafs' blue line.
Toronto's practice in Utah featured a completely reshuffled third defensive pairing, with Oliver Ekman-Larsson absent and Chris Tanev placed on injured reserve.
Suddenly, the Leafs are turning to two names few expected to see playing together this early in the season. And the timing makes the decision particularly interesting.
Rifai and Blankenburg skated behind Jake McCabe and Darren Raddysh, while Morgan Rielly remained alongside Troy Stecher. The top two combinations stayed intact, leaving the biggest changes at the bottom of the defense.
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For Rifai, this represents an opportunity to earn Hiller's confidence and potentially secure regular NHL minutes. Toronto needs dependable depth, and the current circumstances have opened that door.
Blankenburg finds himself in a similar position. Rather than simply providing insurance, he's getting a serious look alongside Rifai as the coaching staff evaluates its available options.
Two unexpected names could change Toronto's defensive plans
The bigger concern remains Ekman-Larsson's absence. With Tanev already on injured reserve, losing another established defenseman from practice leaves Toronto facing uncomfortable questions about its defensive depth.
There has been no confirmed timetable attached to Ekman-Larsson's absence in the information available. His situation will be worth monitoring closely before the Leafs settle on their next lineup.
Meanwhile, Rifai and Blankenburg have an immediate opportunity to make their case. Strong defensive positioning, clean breakouts and reliable shifts could help both players earn further consideration.
Hiller must also decide how much responsibility an unfamiliar pairing can handle, particularly against opposing teams capable of sustaining pressure deep in Toronto's zone.
The forwards offered another interesting look. Auston Matthews centered Kirill Marchenko and Jack Roslovic, while Easton Cowan joined John Tavares and William Nylander.
Those combinations suggest Toronto is exploring its options throughout the lineup, although the defensive changes carry greater urgency because of the missing personnel.
Nothing guarantees Rifai and Blankenburg will remain together when the puck drops. But Monday's practice gave both players a meaningful opening that wasn't there before.
With Tanev sidelined and Ekman-Larsson's status uncertain, Hiller may soon have to trust an entirely new third pairing in meaningful NHL action.
Should Jim Hiller give Marshall Rifai and Nick Blankenburg a real opportunity together on Toronto's third pairing?
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