*******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.*******
Injury update - GM Kyle Dubas in his state-of-the-club availability provided an update on defenseman Timothy Liljegren, reporting that he had surgery to repair a hernia, which was discovered when he reported to Toronto last week. The recovery time is expected to be six weeks, which means he will not be available until mid-November. Winger Pierre Engvall suffered an ankle injury while training in Sweden that will keep him out for most of training camp.
Marlies forward Mikhail Abramov missed last week’s rookie tournament with a back injury and goalie Joseph Woll is still recovering from shoulder surgery. 2020 first-rounder Rodion Amirov is going through his last round of chemotherapy in Russia and Dubas said that he hopes to bring Amirov to North America to have him around the team, but there is the hope that the 20-year-old winger could play in the KHL sometime this season.
Contracts - Defenseman Rasmus Sandin did not report to camp due to his contract impasse. There are reports of increased discussions between the Leafs and agent Lewis Gross, but his representative’s modus operandi is to use holdouts as a tactic.
Tavares was able to go through his off-season program fully this summer, as opposed to last year coming off the concussion vs. Montreal. #Leafspic.twitter.com/Ke9ITdQHG4
“We have been through (an impasse) before with a player that missed training camp and two months of the season. Everyone in this room saw it. It is tough.” Dubas said. “(Rasmus) is a player where this is a pivotal development time. I think it is very important. Like I said at the outset, we certainly wish he was here. I do think it has massive value. We hope he is here as soon as possible.”
Both Dubas and Auston Matthews commented on their respective contract situations. The Leafs GM is entering the final year of his deal and said that he did not have an issue with that.
“We are an organization that preaches accountability. In my position, I don’t view myself as any different. In fact, I think I have to be held the most accountable.” Dubas said. “With that said, I fully expect to be judged on the full body of my work over the five-year term of my contract. I have zero issue with being evaluated over the entire body of work here.”
Matthews has two years left on his current deal, but can sign an extension next July and was asked about that in the wake of Colorado’s Nathan Mackinnon becoming the highest-paid player in the NHL on an eight-year deal.
“I am really happy for Nate. I have been lucky enough to play with him and get to know him. He is a pretty incredible player. I think that contract is much deserved. As far as my situation, I am not really too focused on that. It is still a couple of years away.” Matthews said. “I am just focused on this season and what is to come. When that time comes, we will deal with it. I think I have been pretty clear that I’ve loved my time here. I really love playing in the city of Toronto. I consider it home now. I have really enjoyed my time. My teammates have been incredible year after year. It is nice to have the support that this city brings. We are all working towards that one ultimate goal.”
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
Join the Discussion:
»