Leafs’ young talent on full display
Marner, Matthews shine in development camp’s first full scrimmage game
NIAGARA FALLS, ONT.— There were onice revelations — jaw-dropping moves by Mitch Marner and Auston Matthews — and there were off-ice revelations from Leafs coach Mike Babcock on Friday, the penultimate day of the Maple Leafs’ development camp.
Babcock announced he already has decided Matthews and William Nylander will skate together at training camp. And while there had been some talk Nylander and Marner could be centres, they will definitely be wingers now that Matthews, a natural centre, is in the fold.
“I’m going to put Nylander and Matthews together and they work that out. He (Nylander) will end up on the right side quite a bit, but he might take some right-side faceoffs,” Babcock said. “As far as Marner goes, we’re going to play him on the wing for sure.”
Marner, who said he’d play wherever the Leafs want him to play, expects to make the leap to the NHL this fall. In his second summer Leafs camp, he seems more mature.
“I feel more comfortable on the ice,” Marner said. “Last year, I just wasn’t myself. It’s hard coming into your first year and feel you need to show up and do everything. This year, I realize it’s about the guys you play with, get them the puck, and get open for them.
“At the next level, you don’t get to carry the puck everywhere you go. I have to get that marked in my head. It’s going to help me in the long run.”
Matthews, meanwhile, said he’s looking forward to pairing up with Nylander.
“He’s a pretty special player,” said Matthews, who knows Nylander from international play.
“He’s a pretty special player. He moves his legs really well. Really skilled, thinks the game.” AUSTON MATTHEWS ON WILLIAM NYLANDER
“He moves his legs really well. Really skilled, thinks the game.”
It will take a while for Nylander and Matthews to play together. Matthews will be participating in the World Cup of Hockey for Team North America, which could keep him busy for the first week or two of camp, depending on how deep the team of under-23 stars advances.
Still, if Friday’s scrimmage was anything to judge — Marner’s Team Blue beat Matthews’ Team White 4-1 — the Leafs have some quality young players.
Marner was involved in the day’s prettiest goal, leading a 3-on-2 rush with Adam Brooks and Carl Grundstrom, drawing defenders to him, passing tape-to-tape to Grundstrom while Brooks crashed the net for the goal. On the bench, Jeremy Bracco watched in wonder.
“I turned to (Dmytro) Timashov and said, ‘Uh oh, this is going to be a problem,’ ” Bracco said of Marner’s rush. “He does special things like that and to find that play was impressive.”
Matthews, who played with Bracco and Timashov, missed on a penalty shot and emerged with a five-stitch gash on his chin from a high stick.
“That’s hockey,” said Matthews. “I’m not too mad about it.”
But he drew “oohs” and “ahhs” from the 2,000 or so who were in attendance at the Gale Centre with a spinnerama move to get around Marner. His backhand shot was stopped. “He walked me pretty good,” Marner said. “He was spectacular. Everyone notices him. Luckily enough, I didn’t get high-sticked in my first camp.”