Maple Leafs: Five questions, five answers ahead of training camp
As the Toronto Maple Leafs open the door on their 101st training camp, the optimism surrounding the team is palpable.
It’s a young, talented roster that experienced a taste of the playoffs last season and has a hunger for more. Adding veterans like Patrick Marleau, Dominic Moore and Ron Hainsey has elevated expectations, while at the same time making it harder to crack the roster.
But there are questions that remain, and they will begin to be answered in training camp:
1. Who will Patrick Marleau play with?
This is probably the biggest question entering camp. The soon-to-be 38-year-old has first-line speed, second-line scoring talent and thirdline checking ability. The Leafs already have left wingers in those roles: James van Riemsdyk, Leo Komarov and Zach Hyman. Marleau would be a natural fit with Auston Matthews, but could start the year with Nazem Kadri.
2. How good is Timothy Liljegren?
The first-round pick will get a long look-see. The defenceman was rated much higher a year ago — before a bout of mononucleosis cost him nearly half a season — but fell at the NHL entry draft to 17th overall, where the Leafs felt lucky to pick him. His performance in camp will determine if he’s a Leaf, a Marlie or heading back to Europe.
3. What will the defence look like?
The top four are set: Morgan Rielly, Ron Hainsey, Jake Gardiner and Nikita Zaitsev. Barring a trade, the bottom pair remains a question: Connor Carrick and Martin Marincin are returning; Liljegren is a long-shot but an option; Calle Rosen and Andreas Borgman were signed from Sweden; and Marlies Travis Dermott and Andrew Nielsen might get a call-up.
4. Will Kasperi Kapanen make the team?
Kapanen probably deserves it. He’s fast, can score and kill penalties and looked like he belonged at the end of last season and the playoffs. But he can be sent to the Marlies without waivers, which may be where the Leafs will park him until something opens up at forward.
5. Will the Leafs start the season healthy?
At this time last year, goalie Freddie Andersen was coming off a summertime concussion and role player Nikita Soshnikov never got quite got going, missing camp with a lowerbody injury.
But the Leafs were by and large healthy, a big reason why they were able to make the playoffs while teams like Buffalo (Jack Eichel) and Tampa Bay (Steven Stamkos) suffered through key injuries.