The Toronto Maple Leafs are working their manner by the preseason as they attempt to finalize their opening-night roster for the 2024-25 season, and followers proceed to observe the potential way forward for their crew with prospects showcasing themselves in an enormous manner. Whereas the preseason is usually an opportunity to see how some children fare in opposition to larger competitors, it additionally offers the veterans an opportunity to get their toes moist and contact up some small components of their sport earlier than the common season.
Nevertheless, there was an incident in a latest preseason sport that led to William Nylander taking place with a minor harm after Nicholas Robertson pushed him along with his stick to provide him a lift for a puck battle. Since Nylander wasn’t prepared for it, he fell and collided with a Montreal Canadiens participant. He gave the impression to be okay, and the harm wasn’t one thing he wanted to take care of long-term, nevertheless it nonetheless apprehensive Maple Leafs followers. He talked about the incident by no means led to any points within the room or between himself and Robertson, however he made it recognized he didn’t consider the push was wanted.
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Maple Leafs followers went by a serious harm scare a few seasons in the past when John Tavares had a freak accident and ended up unconscious on the ice in one of the vital awkward harm conditions ever seen within the NHL. As he gave the impression to be attempting to rise up on his personal after colliding with two gamers, he misplaced consciousness because the medical employees tried to carry him to his toes, freaking out commentators, former common supervisor Kyle Dubas, and followers as Tavares started to fall backward along with his physique seemingly limp.
Tavares ended up being okay, however seeing Nylander go down and get hit within the head by one other participant in what was one other freak accident needed to remind some followers of the Tavares incident. Fortunately, each Nylander and Tavares ended up being okay in every of their respective accidents.
Nylander & Robertson Anticipated to Have Huge 2024-25 Campaigns
Commerce rumours surrounding Robertson have died down now after he was re-signed by the Maple Leafs on a brand new one-year contract, and plenty of followers predict him to lastly escape offensively if he can keep wholesome. The brand new deal he signed could possibly be seen as a “show it” deal as he has but to seek out himself a full-time spot on the NHL degree, and nonetheless hasn’t spent a whole season with out beginning in or being despatched right down to the American Hockey League (AHL). Final season, he had 11 factors in 9 video games within the AHL with the Toronto Marlies, and 27 factors in 56 video games with the Maple Leafs.
Nylander had a robust 2023-24 marketing campaign scoring 40 targets and including 58 assists for 98 factors by 82 video games, and goes to be leaned on to offer the identical quantity of manufacturing offensively, if no more. The Maple Leafs went out and bolstered their depth with Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson to strengthen their blue line, in addition to signing Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Anthony Stolarz who ought to stabilize their depth between the pipes.
Both manner, each Robertson and Nylander are going to have a ton of stress on themselves to assist lead the Maple Leafs to their first Stanley Cup since 1967. With their present core possible having yet one more likelihood at profitable a championship earlier than administration decides to make a serious change, these two forwards can be key elements to their success this season. Hopefully, Robertson can keep wholesome and escape offensively, and Nylander can elevate his two-way sport to a degree we haven’t seen from him but.
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