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It wasn’t a really lengthy camp and game-schedule for the Maple Leafs rookies final week in comparison with earlier seasons, however they couldn’t escape some accidents.
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After dropping this yr’s first-round choose, defenceman Ben Danford, on Thursday throughout an intrasquad scrimmage, centre Fraser Minten couldn’t end the ultimate interval of Sunday’s 5-4 win in Montreal over the Canadiens’ prospects. The Leafs’ 2022 excessive second-rounder was pulled from the sport for precautionary causes with a suspected leg damage.
The victory gave Toronto a sweep of the mini-series — each one-goal selections.
Till being shoved laborious into the Bell Centre boards by Canadiens’ David Reinbacher, Minten was having a standout weekend with left winger Easton Cowan. It was Cowan who squeezed a third-period energy play objective via goalie Matteo Drobac to clinch the see-saw match on Sunday.
Marlies coach John Gruden, who ran the rookies’ crew, mentioned Minten could be evaluated upon their return to Toronto.
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Danford absorbed an analogous form of hit from behind by Marshall Finnie, although it was a head or neck problem that scratched the younger defenceman from the weekend set.
Free-agent invite Finnie was definitely on the Habs’ radar Sunday when he shook up one among their finest prospects, second-round defenceman Lane Hutson, earlier than scoring Toronto’s fourth objective.
Additionally getting rattled by a heavy hit Sunday was Toronto defenceman Noah Chadwick, one of many chippy moments that triggered some fights through the two-game set.
“An thrilling sport, a terrific surroundings (the sold-out rink was loud), nice environment and our guys did what they needed to do to win,” Gruden mentioned. “We had just a little bend-but-don’t-break mentality (as in Saturday’s 4-3 shootout).
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“We mentioned within the locker room, this could give them some confidence going into fundamental coaching camp (later this week), in opposition to professionals and males which can be established. They held themselves extraordinarily nicely.”
Nikita Grebenkin was on a stable line via camp with Cowan and Minten, although Grebenkin was a scratch on Sunday.
WEBBER WASTES NO TIME
Lanky defenceman Cade Webber had a robust week for the Leafs. The Boston College grad was efficient on either side of the puck, notably late in Saturday’s win. On Sunday, he and defence companion Topi Niemela mixed to help ahead Roni Hirvonen’s opening objective.
“I like his skating,” Gruden mentioned of Webber. “For a giant man (6-foot-7) he strikes extraordinarily nicely. He’s obtained a great stick and he’s positionally sound. He made massive performs at key moments I’d say to wash up issues on Aisle 5. He did a very good job of preserving issues in entrance of him and utilizing his size to create some turnovers.”
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ON WITH THE SHOW
After 4 months to get previous a Sport 7 defeat to Boston within the first spherical and practice for one more season with a brand new coach and crew captain, the Leafs start on Wednesday with camp medicals. A few of the new gamers are anticipated to talk on Monday on the Leafs alumni golf event.
Most of the Leafs have been coaching round North America and Europe whereas a bunch that’s on the bubble has been understanding all summer time on the Ford Efficiency Centre.
NUMBERS GAME
New Maple Leaf Sports activities and Leisure president Keith Pelley has assured his precedence will not be about promoting new sweaters.
However when you missed the official Leafs newcomer quantity designation which was posted up to now few days and are a giant Chris Tanev fan, the brand new defenceman will likely be sporting No. 8 in Toronto. Additionally on the blueline, Oliver Ekman-Larsson will don No. 95 and, at any time when his knee is sturdy sufficient to play on, Jani Hakanpaa will take No. 28.
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Up entrance, the expectation is veteran Max Pacioretty will retain his No. 67 (he’ll start on a PTO and thus has no registered quantity but). PTO ahead Steven Lorentz has worn completely different numbers all through his profession, however the
No. 11 he had in Florida is already being worn by second-year Leafs ahead Max Domi.
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz will take No. 41, the primary at his place in Toronto to put on that.
LOOSE LEAFS
Niemela, a Kyle Dubas draft choose, totalled 5 assists within the two-game sequence on the Bell Centre. As a Marlie final yr, he had 31 helpers. “With time and area within the offensive zone, he does a very good job of making area for himself and his teammate,” Gruden mentioned … Hirvonen had two targets on Sunday, as he continues a full restoration from an eye fixed damage that price him half the 2023-24 season with the Marlies … Seventh-round (in 2024) left winger Sam McCue had the opposite objective for the Leafs prospects … Former Leaf James van Riemsdyk, who was within the combine to come back again on a PTO earlier than the Pacioretty supply went via, will be a part of the the Columbus Blue Jackets on a camp invite. Each males are 35 … After Dennis Hildeby preserved Saturday’s win in extra time and shootout, Sunday was cut up between Russian draft picks Vyacheslav Peksa and Artur Akhtyamov.
X: @sunhornby
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