• For users coming over from tmlfans.ca your username will remain the same but you will need to use the password reset feature (check your spam folder) on the login page in order to set your password. If you encounter issues, email Rick couchmanrick@gmail.com

2022 Training Camp Thread

CarltonTheBear said:
cw said:
Zach Aston-Reese is a little unique. Off hand, I cannot recall a player showing up on a PTO and from the outset, media is saying "oh, everyone knows they're going to sign him ..". Sure he may deserve it. But it is unusual, isn't it? I do not remember it happening like that before. Go ahead and sign him then - what were they waiting for if it is that decided. Now, I hear he's starting to look for more $ - $100k above the minimum ... From afar, an odd situation.

I could be wrong but there's a chance his contract is being delayed because of cap stuff. I think they'll wait for day 1 of the regular season to sort out all their LTIR stuff with Liljegen before they finalize his deal.

Good chance that is what is behind it.
At the same time, any other team could offer him another $100k or whatever.
For someone they seem to be so sure they want, there is some risk.
And if he gets hurt on a PTO, where does that leave him ?? ...

They seem so sure of him, Malgin & Robertson seem to be duking it out for another spot. Nobody seems to be competing with Aston-Reese for a spot. It's like it has already been handed to him. If they'd signed him, it would be more 'normal' to anoint him.

They have enough injuries, this could all be academic if the players don't return before LTIR kicks in.

Maybe that's the carrot for him - they're trying to find him more $. A trade in the works? Who knows.

I just don't recall a similar scenario off hand. There probably is one ...
 
This preseason stat line might make some Leafs fans heads explode:
Holl 3GP 2G 2A 4Pts +7 (statistically leads the dmen, leads all but three forwards in scoring)
What I think that I saw is somewhat different. He wasn't terrible but there were some less than ideal moments.

That projects to 55G 55A 110Pts +191. Who knew Leafs had Bobby Orr in disguise?

https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/teams/TOR/toronto-maple-leafs/stats/preseason/?sortcol=p&sortdir=descending&table=TeamStatsTableNhl-Forwards%26Defensemen

Malgin 4GP 3G 3A 6Pts +3 .. how do you waive that guy? Beyond the stats, he's looked pretty good. Nice problem to have.

I haven't minded what I've seen of the whole team except for maybe Anderson who I think is capable of more (might be forgetting someone). We'll see what the waivers process leaves them with but some of the waivers exempt guys look like they'll be able to help.

Most importantly, Murray and Samsonov have been doing alright.

The tricky part, as many know and as Holl's stats prove, is that these short term performances can be mirages. So many times, we've seen hot preseasons fizzle out.

Management and coaches don't have an easy job trying to figure this out. But they do have a lot better data and proximity than we do.

Overall, from a distance, there are a lot more good signs than bad. Too early to be certain but a good basis for optimism.
 
cw said:
Most importantly, Murray and Samsonov have been doing alright.

I am most enthusiastic about this.  While I don't put a lot of stock in what positional players are doing in the preseason, I think the goalie position is different.  The way they are tracking pucks and looking in pre-season is a good indication of how they're gonna be going forward.  Goaltending is goaltending and they've both looked confident and fairly solid in net so far.  Small sample of course but it's far better than seeing both guys let in 4 goals a start.
 
Zee said:
cw said:
Most importantly, Murray and Samsonov have been doing alright.

I am most enthusiastic about this.  While I don't put a lot of stock in what positional players are doing in the preseason, I think the goalie position is different.  The way they are tracking pucks and looking in pre-season is a good indication of how they're gonna be going forward.  Goaltending is goaltending and they've both looked confident and fairly solid in net so far.  Small sample of course but it's far better than seeing both guys let in 4 goals a start.

If they had stunk it up, there would be a whole different tone to our discussions.

Most important position. Biggest question mark going into the season. Your enthusiasm about this is very well placed as I think you know.

The position seems to be more unpredictable since the days of Roy, Hasek, Brodeur, Belfour, Joseph, etc. Not too many getting drafted in the first round. Some of it probably relates to better coaching, training, etc leaving less separation between the best and worst.

I found Jack Campbell to be one of the nicest Leafs ever. I was really pulling for him. But they're in the business of winning and I can see why they made the decision they did. The jury is out as to whether it was the right one. It's early but so far so good.

Sawchuk was 37 and Bower about 42 when the Leafs last won a Cup. It was not expected. Anything can happen ..
 
https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1577699449643622401

This sure does look like an opening night line-up. Once Tavares returns one of Robertson or Malgin come out.

Also ZAR still taking reps on a NHL line at this point pretty much confirms his status on the team.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
This sure does look like an opening night line-up. Once Tavares returns one of Robertson or Malgin come out.

Also ZAR still taking reps on a NHL line at this point pretty much confirms his status on the team.

Actually I'm not sure how they'd pull that roster off cap wise. With Liljegren on LTIR and Tavares on the IR it looks like it'd still be $600-700k over. Jordie Benn's contract could also end up complicating things because the Leafs can't assign him to the AHL until he's healthy and it doesn't seem like it'll be out for a long enough time to place him on LTIR. Ah well, we'll see what ends up happening on Monday/Tuesday I guess.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
CarltonTheBear said:
This sure does look like an opening night line-up. Once Tavares returns one of Robertson or Malgin come out.

Also ZAR still taking reps on a NHL line at this point pretty much confirms his status on the team.

Actually I'm not sure how they'd pull that roster off cap wise. With Liljegren on LTIR and Tavares on the IR it looks like it'd still be $600-700k over. Jordie Benn's contract could also end up complicating things because the Leafs can't assign him to the AHL until he's healthy and it doesn't seem like it'll be out for a long enough time to place him on LTIR. Ah well, we'll see what ends up happening on Monday/Tuesday I guess.

Yeah, I?d love to figure out how they?ll make the cap work but it seems ? impossible.  I?ll just have to wait.
 
This is definitely a question for the capologists on the site:

If someone like Nick Robertson, who can be sent down without waivers, is sent down on non-game days, and called up for games, does the cap accrue on the days that he's sent down?  Would it then balance out with the games that he actually plays?  Or is there a daily cap limit teams cannot go over?
 
princedpw said:
CarltonTheBear said:
Actually I'm not sure how they'd pull that roster off cap wise. With Liljegren on LTIR and Tavares on the IR it looks like it'd still be $600-700k over. Jordie Benn's contract could also end up complicating things because the Leafs can't assign him to the AHL until he's healthy and it doesn't seem like it'll be out for a long enough time to place him on LTIR. Ah well, we'll see what ends up happening on Monday/Tuesday I guess.

Yeah, I?d love to figure out how they?ll make the cap work but it seems ? impossible.  I?ll just have to wait.

I wonder if they just plan on playing short a forward in game 1 to allow them to use an emergency call-up that won't count against the cap until Tavares is cleared to play.
 
CarltonTheBear said:
https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1577699449643622401

This sure does look like an opening night line-up. Once Tavares returns one of Robertson or Malgin come out.

Also ZAR still taking reps on a NHL line at this point pretty much confirms his status on the team.

Do we think they're going to put Nylander on centre duty? Might be a good idea honestly, even once Tavares is back.
 
Bender said:
CarltonTheBear said:
https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1577699449643622401

This sure does look like an opening night line-up. Once Tavares returns one of Robertson or Malgin come out.

Also ZAR still taking reps on a NHL line at this point pretty much confirms his status on the team.

Do we think they're going to put Nylander on centre duty? Might be a good idea honestly, even once Tavares is back.

I like Nylander at centre, taking the draws especially. I'd just have Kerfoot take over the centre duties in the defensive zone.
 
Bender said:
CarltonTheBear said:
https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1577699449643622401

This sure does look like an opening night line-up. Once Tavares returns one of Robertson or Malgin come out.

Also ZAR still taking reps on a NHL line at this point pretty much confirms his status on the team.

Do we think they're going to put Nylander on centre duty? Might be a good idea honestly, even once Tavares is back.

That's intrigued me for some time.
He's ok at faceoffs.
I guess a key question was always if he'd be disciplined enough to play defense.
He's playing so well right now, maybe that would take care of itself to a degree.

Jarnkrok seems to be better at faceoffs than Kerfoot and is known for being defensively responsible. I thought he might get more reps at center. I have seen some discussion that they might platoon him with Kerfoot depending on which side of the ice the faceoff is on.
 
I find it interesting that there are some articles floating around predicting the leaves opening day lineup, but none of them show how to achieve the predictions under the cap. One has to guess that the leafs cap wizards have some trick up their sleeve, but it seems no one in the media is able to figure out what that is.  It will be interesting to see what exactly that wizardry turns out to be.
 
louisstamos said:
This is definitely a question for the capologists on the site:

If someone like Nick Robertson, who can be sent down without waivers, is sent down on non-game days, and called up for games, does the cap accrue on the days that he's sent down?  Would it then balance out with the games that he actually plays?  Or is there a daily cap limit teams cannot go over?

While we are using LTIR pool, cap cannot be accrued as usual. I did see an instance either last year or the year before where LTIR was invoked but then players were moved around to bring us back below the regular cap ceiling and it allowed accrual (but I can't remember enough to find those exact details). So it is conceivable to use Liljegren's LTIR space, but punt all the waiver-exempt bodies down on off days to paper some marginal cap space accrual.

https://www.capfriendly.com/ltir-faq
CapFriendly explains it as usual if you need the nitty gritty.
 
https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1577687758671323142
Kiss of death for Anderson and Hollowell's Leaf aspirations.
 
herman said:
https://twitter.com/dalter/status/1577687758671323142
Kiss of death for Anderson and Hollowell's Leaf aspirations.

After signings, Leafs right wing NHL depth:
Marner
Nylander
Jarnkrok
Aube-Kubel coming from winning a Cup
...

He could play on the other wing ...

But I think Steeves had moved ahead of him.
Robertson was already ahead of him.
Then Malgin shows up ...
and the incumbents ..

Nearly all of those competing for the roster spots played better in preseason.
Anderson got beat fair and square.
Previously, there seemed to be grounds for higher hopes.

I thought he'd be likely to be picked up from waivers.
Now, I'm not so sure ...
Rough for him personally.
 
https://twitter.com/koshtorontosun/status/1578069907266207745
Terry Koshan
In grey sweaters today at #Leafs practice: Kerfoot, Engvall, Aube-Kubel, Aston-Reese, Jarnkrok
Keefe giving a very clear signal to the other bottom-6ers who are trying to make a mark for that final spot to put up or waive goodbye.
 
Back
Top