Toronto Maple Leafs prospects were put through their paces on Day 3 of the club’s 2016 Development Camp at the Gale Center Arena in Niagara Falls, ON, as groups of players worked in two sessions on skating techniques with instructor Barb Underhill and shooting and puck battle drills.
Interested in supporting the HockeyBuzzcast? Make a pledge here: https://t.co/hCZAQzNii9 #Leafs #NHL
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) July 1, 2016
The 41 players will be split into two squads for a scrimmage on Friday morning in Niagara Falls that is open to the public and then will return to the MasterCard Center in Etobicoke, ON for a second scrimmage on Saturday.
The center of attention has been Auston Matthews during the first three days of camp, as the 18-year-old familiarizes himself with his new team and teammates. The most interesting moment of the day was a feisty three-man puck battle between Matthews, roommate Dmytro Timashov and former Team USA linemate Jeremy Bracco.
Jeremy Bracco, Dmytro Timashov and Auston Matthews running a "keep away" drill. #Leafs pic.twitter.com/1Z7RLQU0or
— Michael Augello (@MikeInBuffalo) July 6, 2016
“There was a little chirping going on there with Bracco knocking off (Timashov) a couple times, it’s all in good fun.… Matthews said. “Everybody’s competing hard, trying to get better (and) working on these things that can help translate into more opportunities on the ice.…
Another player who has been the focus of some attention is Nolan Vesey.
The 21-year-old winger was selected in the sixth round of the 2014 NHL Draft and is hoping to turn things around after a rough sophomore season at the University of Maine, but interest in his older brother Jimmy (current property of the Buffalo Sabres) has many hockey observers curious if he will be joining the Leafs organization after he becomes an unrestricted free agent on August 15th.
“At the end of the day, Jimmy is going to make his own decision. Obviously, I’ve thought about playing with him before, he’s my brother.… Vesey said. “I want what’s best for him (and) he’s gonna choose the right team that is the best fit for him. "When August 15th comes around, (Jimmy) is going to make the best decision for himself"
Buffalo owner Terry Pegula and GM Tim Murray will reportedly meet with the elder Vesey this week to see if they can get the 2016 Hobey Baker Award winner to agree to an entry-level deal, but if he is unsigned on August 15th, he is free to talk and sign with any NHL club.
*******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.*******
Note : Continue to check back to my column on Hockeybuzz throughout the day for the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo 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.