Babcock plays hurt, Matthews teens out
NIAGARA FALLS, ONT.— The Maple Leafs play their first of eight exhibition games on Monday night in Ottawa, and coach Mike Babcock sounds as if he’s going to get his veterans into as many games as possible.
“They need the exhibition games,” said Babcock. “We’re getting ready for Oct. 4 (opening night in Winnipeg). They will all play four.”
The Leafs play eight times in 13 nights — two each against Ottawa, Buffalo, Montreal and Detroit.
Babcock, by the way, had his left arm in a sling while walking around in public.
“I had surgery to clean it up,” said Babcock. “It’s been hurting for a year and a half. Couldn’t tolerate it anymore, so we cleaned it up. It’s fine.”
MATTHEWS HITS 20: Centre Auston Matthews turned 20 on Sunday. He was asked if his teenaged years were good for him.
“They were fun,” he said. “Getting old now.”
Maybe older than he thought, at least according to Mitch Marner, who turned 20 in May. Marner was also asked leaving the teen years behind.
“I think your teenage years end at 16, doesn’t it?” said Marner. “He’s 20 years old now. I haven’t talked to him today, so I can’t tell if he’s mature or not.”
Matthews said his traditional birthday gift has been a hockey stick.
“I’m usually doing stuff like this (training camp), playing hockey this time of year,” he said.
PLAYING IT SAFE: Frederik Gauthier hopes to get into a pre-season game, but isn’t holding his breath. The hulking centre appears to be ahead of schedule while rehabbing from a detached hamstring, suffered in the AHL playoffs in May. He’s training with the Leafs, but not taking part in the daily scrimmages.
“I follow what the doctors and the therapists tell me,” said Gauthier. “So far, my leg needs to get stronger. I’m hoping to play one, but will I be ready? I don’t know. It’s the doctors, whenever they tell me I’m good to go.”
DADDY’S HOME: Defenceman Nikita Zaitsev returned to the ice Sunday after his wife gave birth to a baby girl on Friday.
“It’s been really busy,” said Zaitsev, “but everything is good.”
Zaitsev said he added five pounds of muscle over the summer. Babcock said he expects good things from the Russian heading into his second year in the NHL.
“The biggest thing is, he’s learned the league, understands the physicality,” said Babcock. “He had a real good summer and knows what he has to do to compete. A year under your belt makes a difference.”