For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter The Toronto Maple Leafs are readying themselves for a difficult first round match against the Boston Bruins, showing some youthful exuberance during high paced drills at MasterCard Centre in Etobicoke, ON. After Monday’s practice, five Leafs veterans (Tyler Bozak, James van Riemsdyk, Nazem Kadri, Leo Komarov and Jake Gardiner) who played for the Leafs in 2013 fielded questions regarding the Leafs epic collapse in Game 7 five years ago. While that loss will serve as an emotional reference point and a backdrop, it will likely lose all meaning once the series starts on Thursday. Toronto will be looking for their core group of youngsters (Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Zach Hyman, Connor Brown and Mitch Marner) to step up after their playoff baptism last season, but for the Leafs to advance past the first round this season, they may have to rely on the experience provided by veterans Patrick Marleau, Ron Hainsey and Tomas Plekanec. Hainsey was signed to a two-year, $6 Million contract after winning a Stanley Cup in his first playoff appearance with Pittsburgh last season to provide veteran stability to the Toronto blueline. Marleau signed with the Leafs after spending almost 20 years in San Jose and scored 47 points (27 goals, 20 assists), while the 35-year-old Plekanec was added at the trade deadline as depth up the middle and as a faceoff specialist. “Hainsey has won the Cup. Hainsey is a real good partner for Morgan Rielly (and) he's a real good leader of our back end. He's a guy who's a calming influence back there, he can help out in many ways that a coach can't and he's doing that.… Leafs head coach Mike Babcock said. “I'd say the same with Patrick Marleau, he's just been around. Patty – just like these [Bruins] guys, Patty has been on those Olympic teams, he's been in that winning atmosphere, he saw what guys have to do to win and be successful and, yet, he doesn't have his Cup yet. He wants one.… The addition of the three veterans and the Leafs being completely healthy entering the postseason gives Babcock more flexibility. Defensemen Nikita Zaitsev was not at 100% and missed the start of the Capitals series last season and Roman Polak was lost to a broken leg in Game 2. With the lineup expected to start the series, the Leafs head coach has the luxury of two experienced hands in Leo Komarov and Plekanec alongside rookie speedster Kasperi Kapanen or Andreas Johnsson on the fourth line, which allows Babcock to be less concerned about line matchups. “(Kapanen) can really skate or (Johnsson), whoever’s going to go, so that gives us a good mix there.… Babcock said. “(Boston) has real good depth, if you look at there lineup. There are getting some guys back, just be their lineup here today, so they are going to be no different that way than us.…
The first Leaf on the ice at MCC is this guy. #Leafs pic.twitter.com/9tvdfJpqx0
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) April 10, 2018
#Leafs prospect Carl Grundstrom gets his 9th goal of the season on a nice feed from likely 2018 top pick Rasmus Dahlin vs. Farjestad. The TOR 2nd rounder also had an assist in Frolunda's 5-4 OT loss. pic.twitter.com/rgFWa92ufu
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) February 3, 2018