In Prague, the NHL season has begun, but back in Leafs-Land there is one more preseason game to be played, and decisions to be made. The goaltending is set in stone, but who will start on opening night? Robertson and Pacioretty are making the team, but how will the Leafs make the money work? Cowan has a bright future in Toronto, but will he start on October 9?
Robertson Makes a Statement the Leafs Can’t Deny
Heading into the summer, the conversation around Nic Robertson wasn’t overly positive. He didn’t get a lot of playing time under Coach Keefe, forcing him, he thought, to demand a trade out of Toronto. As training camp started, the salary cap issues raised questions about his future on the team. Would he be traded or would he be sent back to the Marlies?
As of Saturday morning, Robertson has five goals this preseason. More than that, they are the last five goals the Leafs have scored. That’s right, five straight goals, and now everyone in Toronto is declaring him a 30-goal scorer. That might be a bit extreme, but there’s no doubt that he will take the ice with the Leafs opening night.
Everyone knew Robertson could score goals, but the real question marks have been in the rest of his game, and Robertson knows this. “I’m just going out there using my strength, which is being a shooter,” Robertson said about his play this past week. “But to be a contributing player, you have to be good in both areas and that’s what I’m trying to concentrate on.”
His coach has been impressed with his performance in camp as well. “He’s been great,” Berube said on Thursday. “Killing penalties, producing offensively. He’s using his feet and using his skill really well.” With the amount of competition there is on the wing that’s exactly what you need. Strong play in every area of the game, and that’s exactly what Robertson has done.
Woll and Stolarz Will Be In Net
There are no questions about the Leafs’ goaltending situation heading into 24-25, at least not where each goaltender will be. However, there is still speculation on who will take the reigns as the season progresses, regardless of who starts on Wednesday. Joe Woll has only played in half of a preseason game, but after signing an extension this summer and showing nothing but promise the last two years, he seems to have the upper hand.
Yet, Anthony Stolarz has been the best backup netminder in the NHL for two years running and has had a terrific camp by all accounts. After stopping all 30 of the Red Wings’ shots on Thursday, he seems to be ready to do it again. “Nice to get a full one in and a higher shot volume game,” Stolarz said of Thursday night’s 2-0 win. “It gets you going for the regular season — I have that opportunity here and the rest is up to me.”
When asked about the competition in net, Stolarz had nothing but praise. “Woller (Woll) is a great goalie, Murray too — That’s what’s good about tandems, two or three guys trying to make the team better.” What makes this net his for the taking is the health of the other two goalies. Woll has missed large periods in the last two seasons, including Game 7 in last year’s playoffs, and Murray missed all of last season. If Stolarz plays well when his name is called, the health of the others may call on his name more often.
Training Camp Notes
Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz are still on PTO but seem to be a lock to make the team according to sources close to the Leafs and the local media, and both will play in Saturday’s final preseason game. The Leafs will be icing a predominately NHL roster tonight, with the one notable absence being Nic Robertson who has already been declared a member of the opening night roster.
While nothing is official, Easton Cowan will not play tonight, hinting that he will not be with the big club moving forward. They may keep him for the 10 games that is allowed, but when it’s now or in a few weeks, Cowan seems to be destined to return to the OHL.
Defensemen Philippe Myers has impressed so far in camp and will get another chance tonight to prove to the Leafs that he should be considered for the immediate future. Timmins is in the lineup as well, and for him tonight is a bit more crucial. His contract can be hidden in the AHL, so when the Leafs need to cut salary he might be the first to go.
Final Thoughts
Even though it is only preseason, Nic Robertson deserves a ton of credit for his performance the last few weeks. Ice time was hard to come by under Keefe, and he didn’t do any favors for himself requesting out of Toronto. However, he has proven that he has worked hard this summer regardless of the circumstances, and is ready to contribute at a high level night-in and night-out. Media moguls across the city were predicting Robertson leaving via trade this fall, but right now, that seems incredibly unlikely.
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