Maple Leafs Training Camp Update: Day 5

Maple Leafs Training Camp Update: Day 5

After five days of Maple Leafs training camp, we’ve learned a lot about what the team could possibly look like on opening night. Auston Matthews will be getting more minutes due to his new role on the Leafs and the power play units have been changed, too.
There’s also an update on Alexander Kerfoot’s leg injury and if he’ll be available for Wednesday nights season opener. And finally, we have a Maple Leafs scrimmage! It will be on Sportsnet and TSN tomorrow night with tons of familiar faces — some who I wish would be on the broadcast regularly.
Here’s all the news, plus my new series that will be coming to TLN after every Maple Leafs game:

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Author: Nick Barden / The Leafs Nation

Toronto Raptors: Free agency rumors surrounding Serge Ibaka

Toronto Raptors: Free agency rumors surrounding Serge Ibaka

Free agency begins in a couple of days for the Toronto Raptors and the NBA. The Raptors have some high profile free-agent decisions to make, and Serge Ibaka is one of them while rumors abound about his status. The Toronto Raptors 2020 off-season choices may be the most consequential decisions the franchise has made in […]
Toronto Raptors: Free agency rumors surrounding Serge Ibaka – Raptors Rapture – Raptors Rapture – A Toronto Raptors Fan Site – News, Blogs, Opinion and More

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Author: Jason Mills / Raptors HQ

The Toronto Maple Leafs reveal reverse retro jerseys

It’s been a grueling three days seeing other NHL teams release (part of) their reverse retro jerseys, but finally, the Maple Leafs have shown off theirs:

Details from the past. Remixed for the future.
adidas #ReverseRetro coming soon pic.twitter.com/GZex7H5tlE
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) November 15, 2020

We didn’t get much other than the 1970 Maple Leafs logo on the shoulder. But at least it’s something to be excited about, right?
It’s not yet known when the Maple Leafs will release the full jersey, or even put it for sale. This is the first (sort of alternate) jersey released since 2017 unless they only use these once which would be like the Winter Classic, Stadium Series, and Centennial Classic jerseys.
Also, the reactions from fans are pretty sweet:

there goes my money
— bea (@xoxbea) November 15, 2020

My money too, Bea.

my bank account says no but my heart says yes
— alyssa (@lysstori_) November 15, 2020

A lot of people are saying their bank accounts will be dry after this purchase.

how does Martin Marincin on the back sound?
— Nick Barden (@nickbarden) November 15, 2020

Oh, how did that get there?

Nice. pic.twitter.com/ypOfMJTQdN
— Mason Carr (@masoncarr5) November 15, 2020

Even BB8 …

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Author: Nick Barden / The Leafs Nation

It looks like the Leafs might be playing in an All-Canadian Divison after all

The dog days of the offseason are well underway, with the caveat being that we’re in the middle of November with no clear sign of when the 2020-21 season will start and how it will look.
It appears we have gotten better clarity on both of these Thursday as Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic provided updates with an NHL Board of Governors meeting set to be held later today.

Both the NHL and NHLPA continue to maintain a Jan. 1 target date for opening night, which means mid-Dec opening of camps (and 7 days before that for the 7 non-RTP teams from last summer). But that’s not written in stone yet. Could change. (con’t)
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) November 12, 2020

And finally, given the continued border restrictions, looking more and more like a 2020-21 season begins with an all-Canadian division at least until they can figure out how to cross the border later in the season… so that should be fun. But again, nothing decided for sure yet
— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) November 12, 2020

It’s worth mentioning that the Return to Play Committee (which includes Zach Hyman and former Leaf Ron Hainsey has been a major driving force in these talks for the state of …

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Author: Michael Mazzei / The Leafs Nation

The NBA’s projected start and how it affects the Leafs and the NHL

During any offseason, we are usually counting down the days until our favourite sport(s) return for another year of exciting action. This year has changed that and instead of eagerly awaiting the start of a new campaign, we are instead wondering what the start date will be.
While a certain election was continuing to dominate the headlines, the NBA voted to approve a projected start date of December 22 and compile a 72-game schedule.

The NBPA player rep vote has completed, approving a December 22 start/72-game regular season, source tells ESPN. Next up: NBA/NBPA finishes financial terms on amended CBA, which will take into next week. Expect trade moratorium to be lifted shortly prior to Nov. 18 Draft.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) November 6, 2020

They are now the latest league to try and determine the beginning of the 2020-21 season after the OHL and AHL did the same just last week. While all of this is contingent on the state of affairs with COVID-19 cases remaining on the rise, it gives fans a clear picture of the duration of the current offseason.
But how does this affect the Leafs NHL?
It has been well documented that the NHL has been trying to …

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Author: Michael Mazzei / The Leafs Nation

Prospect Roundup: Lehtonen strikes, Scott ready and waiting, Barabanov lands

With the initial fury of the offseason’s early days behind us, the Leafs’ organizational depth chart is beginning to take shape. Many of Toronto’s most prized prospects are still a year or more away from playing professional hockey in North America, but there are also a number of them that will be fighting for playing time with some of the team’s more recent acquisitions in the NHL and AHL when training camps get underway. There are lots of bodies, both up front and on the blueline, so any extra bit of preparation could be the difference in a camp that promises to feature some serious battles for roster spots.
Mikko Lehtonen – LHD – Jokerit (KHL)
Lehtonen recorded two goals and an assist over his three games this past week, bringing his totals to eight goals and eight assists over 14 games. He is currently the second leading scorer on his team and he is averaging 22:47 of ice time per game – about three minutes more per game than anyone else on Jokerit’s roster. Lehtonen’s abilities on the power play have been well documented but five of his eight goals on the season have come at even strength, helping …

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Author: Nick Richard / The Leafs Nation

Grading the Maple Leafs’ draft and free agency signings

So, here we are. Four days after free agency and seven days after the NHL draft. Are you having fun yet?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a few key additions during free agency along with drafting a great bundle of prospects. It’s been an interesting yet different free agency, but one that I can say the Maple Leafs succeeded in. Bringing in toughness and adding a few defenders, it looks like Toronto is moving closer and closer to contention.
Yet I still don’t believe they’re done yet.

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Author: Nick Barden / The Leafs Nation

LeafsPR does us dirty and announces Denis Malgin’s loan agreement

News is news, and on most days in the offseason this would be fine, but on draft day, in a week that includes free agency, and all those other fun things that go along with it, this was a tad underwhelming.

The @MapleLeafs have loaned forward Denis Malgin to Lausanne HC (Switzerland) #LeafsForever
— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) October 6, 2020

Malgin, who is from Switzerland, will be driving up the road to play for one of the Swiss teams while he waits to return to North America. This is a great situation for him, as well as the Leafs, as the Swiss League might be one of the better options talent wise for AHL/NHL tweeners at the moment.
The Lausanne team features former Leaf/Marlie Josh Jooris, and few other recognizable names in Mark Barbiero, Brian Gibbons, and Cory Conacher. Probably a sign that the team will be somewhat competitive.
As noted the other day, the Leafs have lent out Mikko Lehtonen, Kristians Rubins, Egor Korshkov, and Filip Kral, along with having prospects like Mikko Kokkonen, Pontus Holmberg, Filip Hallinder, and others playing overseas at the moment.
It certainly doesn’t hurt Malgin, a player that shows some promise and as a 23 …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

My (horrible?) idea for a P.K. Subban to the Leafs trade proposal

I could tell a couple of days ago that I would get carried away with Leafs trade speculation. The fact that we were treated to an early Kasperi Kapanen trade, we’re seeing a barrage of Frederik Andersen rumours, and the fact that we’ve still got over a month until the draft means that there is going to be a lot of trade talk going forward. Also a lot of draft talk. A lot of free agent talk. And probably a lot of Assistant Coach talk. Today we’ll revisit one of the players who has historically dominated Leafs trade speculation, and that’s P.K. Subban.
It’s probably worth acknowledging right off the hop that P.K. Subban isn’t P.K. Subban of a couple of years ago. Time makes fools of us all. In this case I’m probably the fool for not letting go of the idea of trading for Subban. There’s also the small matter of Subban’s contract, a contract that will carry a cap hit of $9M in each of the next two seasons. That’s not particularly attractive.
Now, …

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Author: Jon Steitzer / The Leafs Nation

The Rangers’ reported asking price for Lance Lynn was ridiculously high

A couple of days before Monday’s trade deadline, it was reported that the Blue Jays were one of a handful of teams interested in Texas Rangers’ ace Lance Lynn.

Lynn would have made all kinds of sense for the Jays, given the fact that beyond pitching very well this season, he’s also under control at a reasonable price for next year.
But, the deadline came and went and Lynn remained in Texas. The Jays, as we know, ended up acquiring a handful of players, Robbie Ray from Arizona, Ross Stripling from Los Angeles, and Jonathan Villar from Miami, but didn’t pull the trigger on a deal for a top-of-the-rotation guy like Lynn.
Given the reported ask the Rangers had for their ace’s services… I can see why.
According to David O’Brien, an Atlanta Braves reporter for The Athletic, Texas was seeking either Cristian Pache or Drew Waters, who rank as the organization’s top two prospects. Even the gun-slinging Alex Anthopolous, a guy who, as we know, isn’t afraid to make a big trade, backed off.

#Braves were talking to the Rangers right up until …

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Author: Cam Lewis / Blue Jays Nation