On Thursday, September 20th, I attended the first official day of the Toronto Maple Leafs training camp. I got the opportunity to talk to some of the prospects, say hello to familiar faces, and welcome the new arrivals. In this article, I will be discussing some of the important notes during my time there, as well as additional notes before the start of the season.
Prospects
As many Leafs fans already know, star young prospect Fraser Minten has been sidelined from play due to a fractured foot. Minten could be seen at practice wearing a walking boot from this lingering injury. On a better note, a notable prospect has got to be a 6'7" unit, Cade Webber. Cade used his size in numerous intense corner battles to easily move defenders off the puck. In addition to Webber, another notable youngster is the dynamic Nikita Grebenkin. Signed to his three-year entry-level contract last year, Grebenkin used his size and speed to blow by defenders easily, and his ability to crash the net to generate chances is something the Leafs desperately need to help win games and put pressure on the opposition. Grebenkin showcased these net-driving skills on NHL defencemen such as Timothy Liljegren as well as Jake McCabe. As stated by head coach Craig Berube, "He's a big, strong guy. I was impressed with him. It was a tough practice, but his pace didn't drop off. He's a big, strong king and a powerful skater. There's some really good stuff in there. I love his size." This high praise from Berube gives Leafs fans something to get excited about when it comes to Nikita.
Possible Extensions
Notable to be eligible for contract extensions include defensive defenseman Jake McCabe as well as star two-way forward Mitch Marner. On the media day for the Maple Leafs, Mitch Marner made it very clear he would not be discussing contract extension talks when he stated he would not be engaging in talks with the media on that day. Contradictory to this statement, Mitch Marner's agent, Darren Ferris, stated, "To maintain the integrity of ongoing negotiations, these discussions must remain confidential... As such, we will not be providing public updates on their status at this time." This quote implies the fact that the organization and Marner have begun talks but will not get into specific details of this. On the other hand, according to insider Luke Fox, McCabe has been more open about contract talks, stating how he is open to discussing contract extensions during the season.
Additional Information
During my time at camp, I was able to watch numerous drills take place. Some players that seriously impressed me include William Nylander, Jake McCabe and Nikita Grebenkin. We know what Nylander is capable of already however, his work ethic in this practice just looked unbelievable whether it be his lethal shot or his revised edge work, it is evident that the star is shining brighter than ever. Additionally, Jake McCabe looked unbelievable. Eligible for a contract extension, McCabe was looking fantastic out there, not letting anyone or anything get by him, as well as showing off his underrated shot that I believe is not appreciated enough. Lastly, I noticed William Nylander was doing a lot of drills with newly acquired contract tryout Max Pacioretty. By the looks of it, Nylander will likely be running center with Max on his wing to at least start the season, which sets the Leafs up for wealth distribution a lot of teams, most notably the Boston Bruins, have seen so much success with this tactic.
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