Cuts looming over Leafs camp
Liljegren likely making debut Monday or Tuesday
NIAGARA FALLS — As the Maple Leafs wagon train made its way to Toronto on Sunday, the first round of cuts are coming.
At some point in the evening, the club was to announce 25 players either returning to junior teams, ending tryouts or starting to form the nucleus of the AHL Toronto Marlboros and ECHL Orlando Solar Bears. Leafs’ coach Mike Babcock said the slimmeddown roster would consist of 28 forwards, 16 defencemen and four goalies.
Toronto begins eight NHL exhibition games Monday night in Ottawa, with a return engagement Tuesday at the Air Canada Centre against the Senators. An announcement on a game roster was pending.
Babcock and general manager Lou Lamoriello have something of a juggling act ahead in the next few days. As well as the desired look at past draft picks, PTO defenceman Roman Polak and free agents looking to at make the Marlies, they must dress at least eight veterans who played 30 games last year, under terms of the CBA, a move to insure clubs have some semblance of a competitive lineup for the ticket buying public.
The eight can include 2017 first round picks, thus defenceman Timothy Liljegren will likely play Monday or Tuesday, as well as players with at least 100 total NHL games or goalies who dressed at least 50 games in ’16-17. Babcock wants his projected starting lineup to play at least four pre-season matches.
“They need the exhibition games, right off the get-go,” Babcock stressed. “We’re getting ready for Oct. 4 (the opening game in Winnipeg). They’ll all play four games.
“We’re just going about it like we always do, try to end up in a situation where the players determine who’s on the team and who’s playing in the right situation. This (three day portion of camp in the Falls) was an opportunity for us to see our kids build structure and work ethic into our game winning habits, Now we get the evaluation period. The next eight games, as much as it’s about the team game, is also an individual time. You’re battling for your lot in life.”
It’s not quite official just yet, but Mark Stone will inherit the “A” that used to be stitched so proudly to Chris Neil’s sweater at some point in the next few weeks.
“He’s one of the guys who helped me grow as a person,” Stone said of Neil, who is waiting on his future after not being signed by the Senators as a free agent in the summer. “He always protected me, helped me feel safe on the ice, a guy I have a tremendous amount of respect for, a guy I enjoyed sitting next to in the locker room.”
Stone is trying not to make too big a deal out of the letter, but hopes that younger players can look towards him for guidance.
“I don’t want to change my role, but just grow it a bit,” he said. “Whether it’s speaking up a bit more in the locker room, or helping guys get through some things… on the ice, I want to become a more consistent player.”
FORMEN’ AN EARLY OPINION
Senators coach Guy Boucher cautions that the pace of the game will ramp up in a hurry as the exhibition schedule begins this week, which is often an eye-opener for younger prospects.
So far, though, the biggest surprise of camp has likely been Alex Formenton, the 18-yearold left winger who was drafted in the second round, 47th overall, by the Senators in June.
“Formenton was outstanding last weekend (at rookie camp) and everyday is more impressive,” Boucher said following Sunday’s scrimmage. “Let them sort it out, but right now, he looked great at the beginning and now he looks even better. That’s what you’re looking for.”
Formenton, who scored 16 goals and 18 assists in 65 games with London of the OHL last season, is expected to play Tuesday in Toronto – effectively a home game for the King City native.