What we’ve figured out about the Maple Leafs in the pre-season

The Maple Leafs arrived in Gravenhurst, Ont., on Monday for a few days of follow and group bonding, though it appears like they could not will need considerably of possibly.

The Leafs have had a stable camp and a strong start to the pre-time, with wins in 4 of five online games. Accidents have been a huge story, most notably the indirect strain suffered by captain John Tavares, but there have been a good deal of positives, from the early participate in of goalies Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov to the emergence of ahead prosect Nick Robertson.

Superior goaltending

Murray has performed 50 minutes in two video games, halting 45 of the 46 shots he has faced. He’s healthful, seems to be self-confident and should really be the starter when the period opens Oct. 12. Samsonov has performed almost 50 minutes, allowing for three plans on 46 photographs. It is considered the two will share a generally equal workload, which should really make it possible for the two to get ample relaxation and with any luck , stay away from harm. Murray could be the eventual No. 1, even if that status doesn’t arrive right until later in the year.

A remaining-wing lock?

Leafs mentor Sheldon Keefe won’t say if Robertson has acquired a place on the opening-evening roster, but it appears to be a given. The 21-12 months-previous was tied (with Nashville’s Matt Duchene and San Jose’s Timo Meier) for the NHL pre-time scoring direct soon after Monday’s video games, with 7 factors. Robertson stands to obtain the most from the Tavares injuries — he, William Nylander and Alexander Kerfoot blended for 8 points in a gain in excess of Montreal on Monday — but there is nonetheless a adjust he doesn’t start in the NHL if he isn’t in a top rated-6 part.

Offence from defence

Morgan Rielly has seen some new developments: He’s invested some time lined up on the proper facet, and he will probable get far more probabilities to roam in the offensive zone this calendar year. The Leafs are not anticipating him to come to be Cale Makar — the Norris winner experienced 28 objectives last year to Rielly’s 10 — but they would be happy to see Rielly make on a 68-place period that was 4 factors shy of his profession substantial. Rasmus Sandin is one more who could make a lot more offensive forays from the blue line this time,

The fourth line

Wayne Simmonds’s work is likely safe but there’s a lot of level of competition to fill out the fourth line, such as Adam Gaudette, Nicolas Aubé-Kubel, Zach Aston-Reese, Alex Steeves, Joey Anderson, Nick Abruzzese, Pontus Holmberg, Denis Malgin, and Kyle Clifford. That task battle will arrive down to the remaining two pre-season games against Detroit. All those that get rid of out could assist make the Marlies strong contenders in the AHL this time.

The outcome of accidents

It is been small so much. People sidelined consist of forwards Tavares and Engvall, and defencemen Timothy Liljegren, Jake Muzzin and Jordie Benn. (Engvall and Muzzin hope to participate in this weekend.) But the Leafs look to be further than at any time, as revealed by the glut of forwards attempting to make the fourth line. They could be with out depth defencemen Benn (groin) for 3 weeks and Carl Dahlstrom (shoulder) for six months but veteran Victor Mete could move up as the seventh defenceman.

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