Season preview: From the crease to the bench, meet the brand new Maple Leafs

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Groups in complete rebuild mode have been recognized to money of their coach, get a brand new goaltender, bulk up on the blue line or signal free-agent forwards, all in a single low season. 

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Not a lot a membership coming off three straight 100-point common seasons. However with a shrinking likelihood to win the Stanley Cup whereas its core remains to be in prime, the Maple Leafs selected to alter all 4 aforementioned areas. 

Brad Treliving, in his second 12 months as Toronto’s common supervisor, has really put his stamp on the roster and whereas some strikes have a playing aspect, the pay-off can be if the Leafs are nonetheless alive in late Could. 

Meet the brand new guys on Bay Avenue, conserving in thoughts Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz nonetheless need to signal NHL contracts.    

G Anthony Stolarz 

Born: Edison, N.J., 1/20/94 

Nickname: Larz, Stolie 

WHERE HE’S BEEN: A second-round decide of the Flyers in 2012, Stolarz has by no means performed greater than a half season within the NHL in any of his 4 metropolis stops. However final 12 months noticed him in a key common season assist function with the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, 16 wins and a .925 save proportion. 

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WHAT HE BRINGS: Alternative knocks right here for a 30-year-old who stands 6-foot-6 and has lengthy sought an opportunity to indicate he can run with the No. 1 designation. If he doesn’t beat out Joseph Woll, he’ll actually push the youthful man. Stolarz did properly in three exhibition video games, together with a 30-save shutout. And in contrast to Woll and up to date Leaf netminding initiatives Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov, Stolarz hasn’t been distracted by accidents. 

DID YOU KNOW?:  Amongst goalies with at the least 20 appearances final 12 months, Stolarz posted first with 0.83 objectives saved above common per 60 minutes at 5-on-5, through The Hockey Information and naturalstattrick.com. He’s 14th general the previous three seasons with 0.27 GSAA/60, regardless of time with the weak Anaheim Geese.   

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D Chris Tanev 

Born: Toronto, Ont.,12/20/89 

Nickname: Tanny, Tan Man 

WHERE HE’S BEEN: It’s taken a very long time for the East York native to search out his approach house, 13 ½ seasons in Western Canada with Vancouver and Calgary earlier than the Dallas Stars rented him for playoffs. These 19 video games final spring accounted for a 3rd of his profession post-season appearances. He’s virtually at 800 profession video games, outstanding for an undrafted participant. 

WHAT HE BRINGS: Since Treliving bought to Toronto and noticed first-hand the necessity for long-term physicality on the blue line he’d been making a pitch for Tanev. His enthusiasm for nook work, contact and shot blocking make him “precisely the kind of defender Leafs have to be profitable in playoffs,” famous TSN analyst Craig Button. He could possibly be the proper complement for Morgan Rielly, a former Group Canada companion. 

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DID YOU KNOW?: He was a lesser-known GTHL teammate of future NHLers Steve Stamkos and P.Ok. Subban with the Jr. Canadiens. 

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D Oliver Ekman-Larsson 

Born: Karlskrona, Sweden 17/7/91 

Nickname: OEL, Ollie  

WHERE HE’S BEEN: Years of close to anonymity within the desert for the sixth general decide in 2009 (simply earlier than the Leafs chosen Nazem Kadri) ended couple of high-profile years in Vancouver after which a Cup with the Panthers. His 24 video games final spring practically doubled his profession playoff run, on prime of 80 regular-season video games, his finest attendance in 5 years. 

WHAT HE BRINGS: Along with expertise, he possesses a higher level shot than most on the present Leafs, which is able to assist at 5-on-5 and the facility play. If Berube can discover a complimentary right-handed shot as a companion, Ekman-Larsson will increase the third pairing or larger. 

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DID YOU KNOW: As a Coyote, broke the one season NHL file for game-winning objectives by a defenceman in a single season (eight), a mark that was partly held by Leaf legend Tim Horton. 

 D Jani Hakanpaa 

Born: Kirkkonummi, Finland, 31/3/902 

Nickname: Hawk 

WHERE HE’S BEEN: Virtually a decade after he was drafted by St. Louis in 2009, making a choice to remain in his fatherland, Hakanpaa made his NHL debut with Anaheim. He was finishing a 3rd sturdy season with the Dallas Stars final March when a knee harm sidelined him from full  observe proper till the tip of Leaf camp. 

WHAT HE BRINGS: The riskiest of all of the UFAs due to the uncertainty with the knee’s sturdiness, a wholesome Hakanpaa can nonetheless use his 6-foot-7 span in his zone and ideally assist a penalty kill that tumbled down the NHL rankings final season. 

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DID YOU KNOW: His favorite NHL participant as a child was American Brian Rafalski, who performed later performed membership hockey in Helsinki  gained the 1998 Finnish league title. 

 LW Max Pacioretty 

Born: New Canaan, Conn., 11/20/88 

Nickname: Patches  

WHERE HE’S BEEN: Ranks fifth in factors (668) from the primary spherical of the primary spherical of the 2007 draft that featured Patrick Kane and James van Riemsdyk. Simply missed the Stanley Cup practice in an extended tenure with Montreal and a transfer to Vegas, earlier than torn Achilles tendon surgical procedure put his profession unsure.  

WHAT HE BRINGS: When youthful and more healthy, he was a five-time 30-goal scorer. After a summer time spent solely on season prep relatively than harm restoration, Pacioretty may fill a gap as a bodily left winger created by Tyler Bertuzzi’s departure. He provides the voice of a former captain, one who has expertise within the ups and downs a significant Canadian market.   

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DID YOU KNOW: Like present Leaf captain Auston Matthews, Pacioretty’s mom is of Mexican origin. 

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F Steven Lorentz 

Born: Kitchener, Ont. 4/13/96 

Nickname: Renzo, Lorry 

WHERE HE’S BEEN: The previous Peterborough Pete junior paid his minor league dues as a mid-round decide of the Carolina Hurricanes, successful a Calder Cup with Charlotte. After some COVID-shortened time with the Canes, spent a 12 months in San Jose earlier than the proper timing of a half season with the ‘24 Cup champion Panthers. 

WHAT HE BRINGS: Extra dimension and velocity to a fourth line, probably with Ryan Reaves and David Kampf or as a centre, if not finally a task larger within the lineup. Waterloo native comes from a household of Leaf followers and is embracing this PTO alternative. 

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DID YOU KNOW: Years in the past when Jersey defenceman and former native junior Scott Stevens introduced the Cup to Kitchener-Waterloo, Mark Lorentz suggested younger son Steven to put on hockey gloves as it might be dangerous luck to the touch the trophy till he’d gained it himself. 

Coach Craig Berube 

Born: Calahoo, Alta., 17/12/65 

Nickname: Chief 

WHERE HE’S BEEN: After greater than 1,100 video games as a participant, one in all its best fourth liners and enforcers, Berube caught the teaching bug. Promoted behind the bench in St. Louis early within the 2018-19 season, he led the Blues to the primary Cup in franchise historical past.   

WHAT HE BRINGS: He gained’t hesitate to step on toes and bruise some egos of star gamers if the Leafs don’t reply to his urge  to up their depth. This can be a way more proficient workforce than the Blues and after years of playoff disappointment it shouldn’t be laborious for the Leafs to purchase into Berube. 

DID YOU KNOW: In Philadelphia underneath coach Mike Keenan, his willingness to tackle all comers in a battle included present Leaf president Brendan Shanahan when the latter was a Satan. 

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby  

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