Hockey is back as the Toronto Maple Leafs start training camp with the rest of the NHL. There’s a lot of excitement around this roster. New defense core, new goaltending tandem, and promising prospects. However, with one playoff series win in the last 20 years, there is a lot of pressure on this group too, which means every decision made gets heightened attention. From roster questions to injuries to salary cap issues, there is always drama in Leaf-Land.
Leafs Try Nylander at Center – Again
William Nylander has been an anchor in this Leafs offense for the last nine seasons, and as expectations and pressures rise in Toronto, he will be leaned on even more in 24-25 than in years past. Nylander is coming off of his best statistical season, scoring 40 goals and 98 points. He has scored 40 goals in two straight seasons now and has increased his point total in each of the last three years.
Last year, under head coach Sheldon Keefe, the Leafs tried Nylander at center instead of his usual winger role, and it never stuck. Heading into training camp this season, with new bench boss Craig Berube, they are trying him at center again, and this time, hoping it will stick. For most of his career, Nylander has been a steady, reliable winger who is comfortable on either side and bounces between the first and second lines, depending on the needs of the team.
Right now, the Leafs need him at center, as they bolstered almost every other position. There’s no doubt he has the ability to make this move, but with his production so valuable on the wing, one wonders how that will be impacted if he does make the permanent switch. Matthews is the number one center; there’s no debating that. This move shows that the Leafs have questions about Tavares’, who has been the second-line center for the majority of his time in Toronto.
Injuries Bug Already Hits Camp
2022 second-round pick Fraser Minten suffered a high ankle sprain over the weekend during the weekend rookie series in Montreal. GM Brad Treliving said Minten will most likely be out for ‘weeks’, which means his camp is pretty much over. The Leafs had high hopes for Minten to break camp with the team, filling out the bottom of the roster at center.
Defenseman Ben Danford, a 2024 first-round pick, was diagnosed with a concussion last week in rookie practice and is also expected to miss the majority of training camp. There was little chance of Danford breaking camp with the Leafs, but the team was eager to see his early development this September.
Connor Dewar, acquired last year at the trade deadline, is recovering from shoulder surgery this summer and will not start camp with the team. Jani Hakanpaa has been recovering from a well-documented knee issue this summer and will start camp with the development players, not the NHL-caliber skaters.
Who Will Stay, Who Will Go?
According to PuckPedia, the Leafs start training camp at $1,069,667 over the $88 million salary cap. They are legally allowed to be as high as 10% over throughout camp, so how will they get back to the limit? Not only are they above the cap, but the Leafs are expected to sign Max Pacioretty, making his PTO invitation a mere formality.
This, of course, is causing trade ideas to swarm around Toronto. Jarnkrok and Kampf have been steady and reliable on the bottom two lines for the last couple years, but due to their cap-hits, they have become the main subjects of this rumor. Jarnkrok is on the third year of a four-year deal, making $2.1 million per season, while David Kampf is making $2.7 million per year for the next three years. Both players could be impactful on playoff rosters. D-man Connor Timmins is another player who could be on the move, but they can hide him with the Marlies if they need the money.
Final Thoughts
Every single decision should be made with the playoffs in mind. Sure, that’s the case for most teams, but the Leafs have been one of the best regular-season teams in NHL history, with nothing to show for it in the post-season. In the regular season, Toronto has finished in the top 10 in points in eight of the last 10 seasons and the top 5 three times. Still, they have won one playoff round in that same stretch.
Nylander playing at center could really benefit how the depth trickles down the lineup. That being said, if they’re going to try it, they should really try it. Last year the experiment didn’t last long, so it will be interesting to see how it shapes up.
As far as the injuries go, none of these will make a big impact on wins and losses, but again, this whole season is a slow build for the playoffs, and it’s important to allow as much time as possible for this roster to gel.
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