Leafs Training Camp Opens

[TBLeafer]

Microscopically small sample size, but at this point Matthews and Nylander look like they play off each other a little better than Matthews and Marner 5v5.

Probably just because they've a few more games go of it, but that's what Babs said he's going with to start the season and from the looks of things right now, I agree with that decision.

For the remaining games Marner plays in before the season starts, he should get long looks playing both with Komarov and Kadri, and JVR and Bozak. 

 

[TBLeafer]

Le sigh...

[tweet]784076232774258688[/tweet]

Terry Koshan ‏@koshtorontosun  18m18 minutes ago
Bozak is dealing with an injury, Babcock said. Undisclosed.

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Terry Koshan ‏@koshtorontosun  13m13 minutes ago
Babcock on Bozak: "I don?t know what he is, but he is injured. How is that?"

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Tyler, you have a lunch appointment with Nathan, Joffrey and Stephane...

 

[herman]

I think Bozak is a bit banged up. He was a late scratch from the trip to Saskatoon, where the Leafs tried to send a lot of their Prairie-born players.

 

[herman]

Coach confirmed Bozak is injured. If he weren't, says Matthews would be playing with Nylander, not Marner #Leafs
? Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) October 6, 2016

Nylander, as we already expected, will be the go-to backup center anytime one of the top 3 go down. Matthews will always have a beautiful skilled RW to play with.

So going into the season, it'll probably look like:
Michalek - Kadri - Komarov
JvR - Bozak - Marner
Hyman - Matthews - Nylander
Martin - Holland - Laich
One of Leivo/Greening/Froese

Marincin - Rielly
Gardiner - Carrick
Hunwick - Zaitsev
Polak, Corrado

 

[herman]

Leivo said he had a little physical setback but okay now #Leafs
? Terry Koshan (@koshtorontosun) October 6, 2016

We'll see if he gets any more games in.

 

[WhatIfGodWasALeaf]

Leivo said he had a little physical setback but okay now #Leafs
? Terry Koshan (@koshtorontosun) October 6, 2016

We'll see if he gets any more games in.

Chicago's next top six winger? 

 

[LuncheonMeat]

I think Bozak is a bit banged up. He was a late scratch from the trip to Saskatoon, where the Leafs tried to send a lot of their Prairie-born players.

Well played!

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Kristen Shilton ‏@kristen_shilton  14 minutes ago
Group II practicing now. Matthews centering Nylander and Hyman again today. Marner back with Bozak and JVR. #Leafs

Likely middle-6 forwards right there. Michalek-Kadri-Komarov likely set too. Seems like the 4th line is still pretty up in the air, with Martin being the only lock.

edit: or as Mirtle put it:

My guess would be Holland and Greening take up the two empty spots.

 

[Kaberle15]

Kristen Shilton ‏@kristen_shilton  14 minutes ago
Group II practicing now. Matthews centering Nylander and Hyman again today. Marner back with Bozak and JVR. #Leafs

Likely middle-6 forwards right there. Michalek-Kadri-Komarov likely set too. Seems like the 4th line is still pretty up in the air, with Martin being the only lock.

edit: or as Mirtle put it:

My guess would be Holland and Greening take up the two empty spots.

Sounds about right. the Yellow spots are up to: Michalek (I do think he is in), Greening, Brown and Kapenen IMO with 2 games to go.

 

[digdug]

Kristen Shilton ‏@kristen_shilton  14 minutes ago
Group II practicing now. Matthews centering Nylander and Hyman again today. Marner back with Bozak and JVR. #Leafs

Likely middle-6 forwards right there. Michalek-Kadri-Komarov likely set too. Seems like the 4th line is still pretty up in the air, with Martin being the only lock.

edit: or as Mirtle put it:

My guess would be Holland and Greening take up the two empty spots.

Sounds about right. the Yellow spots are up to: Michalek (I do think he is in), Greening, Brown and Kapenen IMO with 2 games to go.

Holland should make it for sure  so he would be twelfth
my guess for the 13 man is Greening

with Brown and Kapanen going down

 

[herman]

Per Kristen Shilton: Kadri and JvR a bit banged up.
I would take the safe route and maybe give an extended look to some other players for Saturday's final tune up instead of forcing anything.

 

[Kaberle15]

Holland should make it for sure  so he would be twelfth
my guess for the 13 man is Greening

with Brown and Kapanen going down

Why I always do forget about Holland, and he is having a decent camp... He should make, for sure, ahead of Michalek and Greening

 

[bustaheims]

Why I always do forget about Holland, and he is having a decent camp... He should make, for sure, ahead of Michalek and Greening

You clearly missed Michalek on the top line of Mirtle's chart there. He's a lock to make the team out of camp. Holland and Greening are almost certain to the the last two forwards to make the cut - especially since we're talking about guys who will see most of their time on the 4th line.

 

[Kin]

That hypothetical third line on Mirtle's chart gives me pants feelings.

 

[Kaberle15]

Why I always do forget about Holland, and he is having a decent camp... He should make, for sure, ahead of Michalek and Greening

You clearly missed Michalek on the top line of Mirtle's chart there. He's a lock to make the team out of camp. Holland and Greening are almost certain to the the last two forwards to make the cut - especially since we're talking about guys who will see most of their time on the 4th line.

Yep, I Did... poor Kadri  :

 

[TBLeafer]

[tweet]784799270348226561[/tweet]

Leafs PRVerified account
‏@LeafsPR
The @MapleLeafs have trimmed their training camp roster to 29 players.

 

[bustaheims]

Yep, I Did... poor Kadri  :

Yup, poor Kadri may have to play with a guy who has shown that, when he's healthy, he can be a pretty good goal scorer in this league, and, as a pending UFA coming off some rough, injury plagued seasons, likely feels he has something to prove.

 

[sickbeast]

To tank or not to tank, that is the question.  We should hopefully know our answer a month or two into the season.  We will see how all these young kids respond.  It's going to be interesting to watch this season.  I know last year I only watched 2-3 games because they were so bad.  This year I plan to give the team a chance and take it from there.  Hopefully they have turned the corner now.  Things should hopefully continue to improve.

 

[herman]

https://mapleleafshotstove.com/2016/10/09/mike-babcock-post-game-comments-red-wings-4-vs-leafs-3/

With [Zach Hyman] and Connor Brown, the guys who have come through here a second time now, was there more onus on them to step up given the Marner and Matthews equation?

Babcock: The only thing I?d say is that some of the guys you?re talking to me about, I think, are already on the team. I don?t even know why we?re talking about them. I guess the way I look at it is ? we?ll make these decisions, and we?ll make the announcement on Monday like I said.

!!