Short camp raises stakes
Most key spots are filled, but contenders on the bubble only have 10 days to impress the revamped coaching staff before season opener
Almost five months after their post-season came to an early end against the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Maple Leafs open training camp Sunday at the Ford Performance Centre with hopes of a much longer run next time around. After a solid off-season in which general manager Kyle Dubas bolstered the team’s defence, toughness and overall experience, the new-look roster has just 10 days to prepare for a 56-game season that opens against the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 13. Here’s an early look at some of the storylines worth watching:
In net: Frederik Andersen’s goaltending wasn’t the reason the Leafs lost to the Blue Jackets in five games, but there was speculation about his future nonetheless after a fourth straight one-and-done postseason. At 31, Andersen is heading into the final season of a five-year, $25-million (U.S.) contract. Dubas was quick with a vote of confidence after the playoffs, but Andersen’s ability to give the Leafs the goaltending they need to join the NHL’s elite remains a major question mark entering camp. He put up solid numbers in the series against Columbus (1.84 goalsagainst average, .936 save percentage) but his playoff record as a Leaf fell to 10-14. He’s also coming off his lowest regularseason win total in four years (29) and the worst save mark of his career (.909). His No. 1 status isn’t in danger, but expectations are higher.
Up front: The Leafs aren’t expected to have many intense job battles when camp begins, but the lineup isn’t set in stone. There are several question marks. The top five forwards are set — Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, Zach Hyman and William Nylander — but who’s the sixth? Is it Ilya Mikheyev, like he was last season until a severed artery in his right wrist sidelined him for several months? On the third line, does Joe Thornton at centre make sense when incumbent Alex Kerfoot will earn $3.5 million this season? Do you pay Kerfoot that much to be a fourth-line centre, or play him at wing further up and let Jason Spezza centre the fourth unit? The addition of a taxi squad of up to six players because of the pandemic will play a role in how the bottom six forwards look from game to game. The competition in that mix will include Jimmy Vesey (likely a winger on the third line), Pierre Eng
vall, Joey Anderson, Travis Boyd, Alex Barabanov, Nic Petan and Nick Robertson.
Joe job: At 41, Thornton arrives on a one-year deal with experience, hockey smarts and a presence that’s perhaps unmatched leaguewide. But how much does he have left in the tank? Where he might have an immediate on-ice impact is the power play. He is pencilled in on the second unit and has a history of success with the extra man, leading active NHLers in power-play points with 540 (143 goals, 397 assists). With San Jose last season, he averaged 15:30 in ice time per game. He enters camp not long after three months of staying sharp with HC Davos in Switzerland.
Bench strength: Head coach Sheldon Keefe will be under the spotlight from the start as he attempts to get the most out of a talented, upgraded roster in a shortened season. He’ll be working with two new assistants: Manny Malhotra behind the bench and Paul MacLean in the press box. Malhotra’s specialty is the power play, and he may consider using Wayne Simmonds on the first or second unit as a big body in front of the net. The Leafs ranked fifth with the man advantage last season, but with new options in Simmonds and Thornton plus T.J. Brodie on defence, there’s a chance to climb even higher.
Rebounds: Two core players in particular are looking to rebound from subpar seasons curtailed by injuries. Tavares finished with 26 goals (his lowest total since 2013-14) after missing time with a broken finger, while defenceman Morgan Rielly followed a career-high 72-point season with just 27 points in 47 games in 2019-20.
Matthews factor: Matthews was a sure bet to top 50 goals and on pace to break the Leafs’ record of 54 (set by Rick Vaive) before the pandemic cut the regular season short. He finished with a career-high 47 goals and 80 points, while ranking fourth in the NHL in shots on goal with 290 and upping his defensive game. His performance is always a key storyline for the Leafs. The question is how much better he can become.
Stable D: The Leafs signed Brodie to a four-year deal worth $20 million in hopes of stabilizing the defence, an element that’s been missing in recent years. After 10 years in Calgary, the 30-year-old Brodie is expected to line up with Rielly in the top pairing. Both are lefthanded shots, but Brodie has frequently played the right side.