A roster of 64 players reported to the MasterCard Center in Etobicoke, ON Thursday morning for the first day of Toronto Maple Leafs training camp for medicals, media interviews and the recording of promos that will be part of the game operations presentation throughout the season.
Head coach Randy Carlyle and new assistants Steve Spott and Peter Horachek will begin evaluations the group on Friday that includes eight new players added over the summer and will whittle the roster down to 23 after eight preseason games in slightly more than two weeks(starting with a contest against the Philadelphia Flyers in London, ON next Monday).
As with most training camps throughout the league, the most intense fight for jobs that are for the last few spots at forward and on the blueline, but due to the versatility of the players brought in by GM Dave Nonis, the battle at Leafs camp will be equally as heated for line assignments and certain positions.
Here are the key spots that will draw most attention from now until the beginning of the regular season on October 9:
2nd Line RW: David Clarkson will be given every chance to win this spot after a disastrous debut season with the Blue and White, but he did not appear to be a good fit last season with speedy Joffrey Lupul and Nazem Kadri. 2014 top pick William Nylander may get a couple pre-season games on this line, but he is likely bound for another season in the SHL barring a miraculous training camp. The main competition for Clarkson could be David Booth(who could be an adequate Mason Raymond substitute this season) or Matt Frattin, who effectively combined with Kadri with the Toronto Marlies.
3rd and 4th Line Center: Unlike last season, the Leafs have Mike Santorelli, Daniel Winnik, Petri Kontiola,and Leo Komarov(in the KHL) who can play up the middle and the wing, along with natural centers Tyler Bozak, Kadri and Peter Holland.
Carlyle indicated at his press conference on Thursday his plan to assemble three balanced offensive lines and a fourth line to play 8 to 12 minutes per game and chip in on special teams. The battle for third line center is likely between Holland; who showed flashes last season with the Leafs and scored regularly for the Marlies in the Calder Cup playoffs, and Kontiola; who was effective in an offensive role playing for Finland in Sochi and at the 2014 World Championships.
Winnik and Santorelli will fight it out with Marlies captain Trevor Smith for the fourth line spot.
RD with Dion Phaneuf: The uncertain status of Stephane Robidas could mean that Roman Polak will be paired with the Leafs team captain, who is moving to the left side with three right-handed shooting blueliners on the roster. If Carlyle wants to pair youngsters Morgan Rielly and Jake Gardiner with more defensive minded veterans Polak and Robidas, then power play partner Cody Franson.
Seventh D: The Leafs have a number of defenseman who are on the cusp of being ready for the NHL. If Petter Granberg, Stuart Percy or Andrew MacWilliam have a great camp, they could very well stay with the Leafs, but it is tough to imagine that the organization would keep a developing defenseman up in the NHL when he could be playing every night with the Marlies.
Korbinian Holzer may get another chance after a bad showing during the lockout-shortened 2013 season and an entire year in the AHL, but veteran tryout invite Henrik Tallinder may have a chance to earn an NHL contract if the 35-year-old Swede is still capable of keeping up in the fast-paced NHL.
*******
Opening day of Leafs training camp had its share of intrigue due to recent comments made by MLSE Chairman Tim Leiweke about character issues and an article in the Toronto Star regarding a rift between assistant coach Steve Spott and winger Phil Kessel over a tactical difference of opinion.
According to the Star’s
Dave Feschuk , Spott was given the responsibility of coming up with a new breakout play out of the defensive zone and when the plan was revealed to the club’s leading scorer, he was not pleased and refused to do it.
“It’s tongue and cheek.” Leafs coach Randy Carlyle responded regarding the reported exchange. “Our focus is not on things that are done a month ago, our focus is on today.”
The column also indicated that Kessel has an adversarial relationship with Carlyle and the coaching staff, to which led both the head coach and his leading scorer to respond in similar fashion.
“I don’t know if he hates me, I haven’t asked him.” Carlyle said.
When asked if he hated Carlyle, Kessel said he did not, but when asked if the feeling was mutual, he replied “I don’t know, you’ve got to ask him.”
Hold on folks, this season is going to be one bumpy ride!!!!!!
*******If you are interested in sponsorship or advertising your business in the Greater Toronto / Southern Ontario area on this column, please send a message for more information by clicking on the “Contact” button at the top of the page.*******
For Those on Twitter:
KINDLE USERS: Please sign up for Maple Leafs Buzz, which includes a free-of-charge 14-day trial and is just 99 cents per month afterwards. For more information
click here.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»