2016-17 Season Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs
With the start of the regular season less than a week away, we continue to look at each team’s offseason and preview the upcoming year. Today, we focus on the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Last Season: 29-42-11 record (69 points), 8th in the Atlantic Division.
Remaining Cap Space: $2.03MM as per Cap Friendly (Roster Size of 23), expected to increase to by ~$14MM when Stephane Robidas, Nathan Horton, Joffrey Lupul are placed on LTIR.
Key Newcomers: W Matt Martin (UFA, NY Islanders), C Auston Matthews (draft, NLA), RW Mitch Marner (draft, OHL), D Roman Polak (UFA, San Jose), G Frederik Andersen (trade, Anaheim), G Jhonas Enroth (UFA, Los Angeles), D Nikita Zaitzev (UFA, KHL), W Kerby Rychel (trade, Columbus)
Key Departures: RW P.A. Parenteau (UFA, NY Islanders), RW Brad Boyes (UFA, unsigned), RW Michael Grabner (UFA, NY Rangers), C Shawn Matthias (UFA, Winnipeg), C Mark Arcobello (UFA, NLA), G Jonathan Bernier (trade, Anaheim)
[Related: Leafs Depth Chart from Roster Resource]
Players To Watch: C Mitch Marner – Obviously, one of the biggest storylines this year will be first-overall draft pick Auston Matthews and his ascension to the number-one center position on the Maple Leafs. Not to be forgotten however, is the other top-five draft pick that the Leafs have yet to unveil: Mitch Marner. Marner is coming off a season where he basically won every team and individual trophy possible, leading the OHL’s London Knights to the Memorial Cup and scoring 160 points in 75 total games (regular and post-season).
The diminutive forward played some center in junior, and was once expected to take that position on the Maple Leafs. Now that Matthews is in the fold though, the Leafs have been playing Marner on the wing to fully utilize his elite offensive skills. In fact, for the last two days at least, Marner has been skating beside Matthews on what would be one of the youngest lines in the NHL regardless of the third player.
D Nikita Zaitsev – One of the most underrated signings of the offseason may come in Leafland, as Nikita Zaitsev will make his NHL debut this year after a number of successful seasons in the KHL. The 24-year old has already completed seven seasons in the Russian professional league, starred internationally for Russia and even made his Toronto debut in the recent World Cup. His right-handed shot fits in nicely with a group sorely lacking them, and should immediately jump to the Leafs top two pairings (depending on if Morgan Rielly moves back to his natural left side or not).
Zaitsev is an all-around blueliner who can work in both ends of the rink, and contribute on both special teams. While he may not possess any one elite skill, he’s proven that he can compete at the highest level. Already turning heads at Maple Leafs camp, Zaitsev scored his first preseason goal against Montreal on Sunday night and, according to Chris Johnston of Sportsnet, should already be considered part of the Leafs’ core.
Key Storyline:
While the Maple Leafs were clearly headed for the basement of the league last year (some would say on purpose), this year has a slightly different feeling in Toronto. While they’re not expected to make the playoffs or contend for any trophies, the youth injection is exciting enough to hope for a much improved club. With head coach Mike Babcock in no danger of losing his seat, the team can take a slow approach to development and shelter their young prospects.
In truth, the Leafs brass are just hoping for a slightly improved season, but will hope for another high draft pick to continue the rebuild. If they were to select in the top-10 once again, they could add another top prospect to their stocked cupboard, and focus on the free agent market next summer. With cap room, a hugely experienced front office and youth at all positions, the team is poised to succeed in the near future; whether that means contention for the Stanley Cup remains to be seen.
Injury Notes: Duchene, Andersen, Johansson, Wilson
Colorado forward Matt Duchene played through a separated shoulder for Team Canada at the recently completed World Cup of Hockey, writes Terry Frei of the Denver Post. The injury was sustained on September 13th, four days before the opening round of the tournament.
Duchene noted to reporters that it was a Grade One separation which equates to a small displacement of the joint. He practiced with the Avalanche for the first time today since returning from the tournament and while it doesn’t sound like he is fully healed, he isn’t likely to miss any time from it either:
“It’s better. It’s a little stiff in the mornings, but once I get warmed up, I don’t feel it. Obviously, the first time you go out, you’re a little tentative on it, but after that, it’s just fine. I feel good.”
After a discussion with new head coach Jared Bednar, Duchene expects to start the season on the right wing but wouldn’t be surprised if he still spends time at center, his natural position.
[Related: Avalanche Depth Chart]
Other injury news from around the league:
- After suffering an upper body injury while representing Denmark at the Olympic Qualifying tournament last month, Toronto goaltender Frederik Andersen will make his preseason debut with the team on Tuesday night, reports the Toronto Sun’s Terry Koshan. Head coach Mike Babcock wouldn’t confirm how much action he’ll see but noted that Andersen will play at least one period. The Leafs acquired the 27 year old netminder from Anaheim back in June for first and second round draft picks and immediately signed him to a five year, $25MM contract. Assuming there are no setbacks tomorrow, he should be on pace to start the season next week.
- Capitals winger Marcus Johansson skated on his own before practice today but is expected to miss a few days, notes Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post. He suffered a lower body injury in Sunday’s preseason contest against the Islanders. In the same report, right winger Tom Wilson participated with limited contact at practice as he continues to recover from an upper body injury suffered last week.
Snapshots: Lazar, Panthers, Andersen
As the season quickly approaches, even a few days off could set a player back substantially in his training, and with it knock the first part of his season out of rhythm. Curtis Lazar, the Ottawa Senators’ youngster who was set to enter his third NHL season at just 21-years old, has come down with a bout of mononucleosis and will be out indefinitely, reports Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Citizen.
The former first-round pick was set to play on Ottawa’s third line and build on his solid two-way game. Last season saw Lazar contribute 20 points, and while he’s not expected to win any scoring titles, this is a player who put up 41 goals in his final season of junior and made the NHL as a 19-year old.
- The Panthers have signed three players to PTOs today, bringing in some depth to fill out the practice rosters at camp, according to George Richards of the Miami Herald. Stephen MacAulay, Ryan Horvat and Brady Vail will all be pulling on Panthers sweaters for at least the next little while. All three have extensive professional experience at various levels, but have yet to crack an NHL lineup.
- ‘On track’, says Lou Lamoriello, when talking about Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen. Kristen Shilton of TSN reports that the injured goaltender is progressing on the original 3-4 week timetable given for his upper body injury sustained on September 5th. Monday would mark three weeks, meaning that Andersen should be able to at least make it into a partial camp before the season begins.
World Cup Notes: Grubauer, Kopitar, Caps
With the news hitting yesterday that Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen will miss 3-4 weeks with an injured shoulder, thus taking him out of the running for the upcoming World Cup, Team Europe has announced his replacement today. Philipp Grubauer will join the squad as the third goaltender, suiting up behind Jaroslav Halak and Thomas Greiss. Grubauer, a Washington Capitals product, played in 22 NHL games last season and put up a 2.32 GAA with a .918 SV%.
The 24-year old has performed well for his native Germany in international competition before, including three recent Olympic qualifying matches. Grubauer led his team with a 0.67 GAA in the three matches and helped Germany lock up a spot for 2018.
- Recently named Los Angeles Kings’ captain Anze Kopitar is getting used to having a letter sewn into his sweater, as Team Europe named him captain today for the tournament. Kopitar is the most talented player on the roster, and represented his home country of Slovenia remarkably over the years. He also recently led his team to a qualifying spot at the next Olympics, scoring five points in the three games.
- With the Capitals sending both of their goaltenders to the World Cup (Braden Holtby will be suiting up for Team Canada), Mike Vogel reports that the team will bring in Drew MacIntyre to fill a spot in their training camp. MacIntyre split last season between the Charlotte Checkers and Rockford IceHogs of the AHL, his 14th professional season. The 33-year old has six games of NHL experience, playing for the Canucks, Sabres and Maple Leafs.
Frederik Andersen Out 3-4 Weeks
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen will be out 3-4 weeks after suffering an upper body injury in an Olympic Qualifying game with Denmark. Andersen’s expected recovery time still puts him in line to start the season with the Leafs.
Andersen suffered the injury after being barrelled into by his own teammate during Denmark’s 3-0 loss to Slovenia in an Olympic Qualifying match. He then flew to Toronto to be examined by team doctors. Andersen was slated to play for Team Europe in the World Cup of Hockey this fall, and is instead replaced by Washington Capitals goaltender Philipp Grubauer.
The Maple Leafs acquired Andersen as an unsigned RFA from Anaheim for a 2016 1st and 2017 2nd round draft pick. They then signed the Danish goaltender to a five-year, $25MM contract. Andersen was expected to start for the Leafs this season, and with opening night not until October 12, he has ample time to recover. Speculating on the injury’s severity, however, should not be based on the proposed recovery time as many players in the last few days have announced injuries that take them out of the World Cup. Players (and teams) are exercising caution when it comes to injuries, and may not want to aggravate an injury for a pre-season tournament.