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Leafs open training camp without Marner

September 12, 2019, 5:52 PM ET [463 Comments]
Mike Augello
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The Toronto Maple Leafs opened training camp at the Ford Performance Centre in Etobicoke, ON on Thursday with 75 players listed on their roster, but GM Kyle Dubas, head coach Mike Babcock, and every player was asked about the player who was not there.

Negotiations between the Leafs and Mitch Marner have not resulted in a new contract, and Dubas discussed the current impasse but also indicated that he would not provide further updates until there was a final resolution.

“In every negotiation, everybody thinks on their side they are being reasonable. I think the major argument then comes down to arguing about who is being more reasonable than the other.” Dubas said. “People care deeply about the team. At times they probably have thought that we haven’t been reasonable, and I would say it’s vice-versa in every negotiation that we do. I don’t try to get too tied into that, Mitch is a great player, he’s a great person, that comes in here every day and brings great energy and enthusiasm, and he’s obviously had three great years here, so we are just focused on that and keep that in mind regardless of what the noise is around the situation.”



The club went through medical exams and photo sessions prior to boarding a plane for St. Johns, Newfoundland, where they will go through on-ice drills for three days and play their first preseason game against Ottawa on Tuesday.

The new members of the Leafs revealed their jersey numbers. Forward Pontus Aberg wore #46, Kenny Agostino #20, Alexander Kerfoot #15, Ilya Mikheyev #65, and Jason Spezza #19. Defenseman Tyson Barrie #94, Cody Ceci #83, Ben Harpur #22, and Jordan Schmaltz #2, while PTO goalie Michal Neuvirth #35.

The club added former Soo Greyhounds goalie Brandon Halverson on a professional tryout. The former Rangers second rounder played for the Hartford Wolfpack last season and may have been a training camp replacement for Leafs prospect Joseph Woll, who suffered a broken finger prior to the Traverse City Prospect Tournament.

Dubas provided an update on two of the four injured players entering camp. Free agent forward Garrett Wilson is expected to miss most of the preseason with a hamstring injury, and Woll is expected to get on the ice this week. Babcock indicated that Dermott will miss around 12 to 14 games, which means that the 22-year-old is not expected back until early November.

Winger Zach Hyman has started skating and is making progress in his recovery from off-season knee surgery, but the normal time for a repaired ACL is six months, which would make late October to early November his earliest possible return.



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