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Tryouts Not On The Agenda For Toronto

August 18, 2016, 9:48 PM ET [212 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
With a month to go before the opening of NHL training camps, players such as former Leaf Jamie Devane have begun to accept tryout invites in hopes of earning a pro contract.

The 25-year-old winger was extended an invite by the Calgary Flames, whose Team President (Brian Burke) selected Devane in the 2009 Draft.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were “tryout central” one year ago, extending offers to veteran forwards Brad Boyes, Curtis Glencross and Devin Setoguchi and defenseman Mark Fraser (only Boyes made the club out of training camp), who along with short-term signings of Mark Arcobello, Shawn Matthias and P-A Parenteau bought some much needed development time for youngsters William Nylander, Kasperi Kapanen, Nikita Soshnikov and others who played the bulk of the season in the AHL.

This summer, the Leafs are likely not to offer invites to any free agent forwards, In spite of some quality veterans being still unsigned. GM Lou Lamoriello could potentially dabble in the market for an experienced blueliner if head coach Mike Babcock believes that young defensemen Connor Carrick or Frank Corrado cannot handle the NHL or to provide a buffer similar to last season for first-year pros Andrew Nielsen and Travis Dermott.

The position that is most likely to be addressed with an invitation to training camp is in the goal, as Toronto still has not found a veteran backup for new starting netminder Frederik Andersen after shipping Jonathan Bernier to Anaheim last month.

Former Sabres goalie Jhonas Enroth is likely not going to accept a tryout being the most attractive option remaining in free agency. After rumors of an impending signing emerged in late July, there has been no mention of the Swedish netminder and a contract offer from Toronto.

If Lamoriello opts to offer tryouts for the likes of Anders Lindback or Joni Ortio, it does buy the Leafs time to explore their options without committing to a contract and possibly clearing space under the 50-contract limit by moving extra forward before the start of the regular season

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An announcement regarding Harvard forward Jimmy Vesey’s destination could come as soon as Friday or could last into the weekend, as the 2016 Hobey Baker Award winner ponders the offers from as many as eight NHL teams.

The rumors of where the 23-year-old winger will end up with are so numerous that it is impossible to determine which are baseless or have merit.

For those hopeful Leafs fans, veteran hockey scribe Howard Berger reports that Toronto made an "outstanding" pitch for the sought-after Vesey and that a source said to not be surprised if the winger chooses the up-and-coming Leafs.

Other reporters have indicated that Toronto is out of the running and that Vesey is likely headed elsewhere.

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