Just two days into training camp and the Toronto Maple Leafs have taken Paradise Newfoundland by storm.
The first day, some of the Toronto Maple Leafs players were taken on a boat ride through St. Johns Harbour. The second night, teammates Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly, Frederik Andersen and Tyson Barrie were screeched in, which is where you take a shot of screech (rum), perform a recitation and finally, kiss the cod.
The third day had a lot of exciting segments as well. Newly re-signed Mitch Marner attended his first day of training camp, along with the father of a new baby boy, John Tavares. After their skate session, the players greeted hundreds of fans outside at the community barbecue.
While the fun was going on, Head Coach Mike Babcock was getting down to business with the media. He was asked a number of questions, one being about Matthews and whether or not we’ll see him on the penalty kill:
"“You know I talked to him about that, and I think it was two years ago and his basic thought was, I’ve never done it and I don’t plan on doing it. So, you know we’re gonna be able to get him, and especially without Naz here, him and Johnny, more than their fair share I’m pretty sure about what’s going, what’s coming.”"
It’s awfully weird, isn’t it? Matthews going to the penalty kill. Will he even succeed in that role?
Matthews has actually played on the penalty kill before. In all of his three seasons, he’s played an average of around one minute. His career total is 4.2 minutes, with the most minutes coming in the 2017-18 season.
Could that be what he and Babcock spoke about when the coach visited him in Arizona this summer? Either way, it looks like Matthews could be playing on the PK this season.
Tavares has also played on the penalty kill, most of it being with the New York Islanders. In his final year on the island, Tavares played 135 minutes on the penalty kill. Other than that, his penalty kill minutes have been in the low double digits.
With the likes of Jason Spezza taking on a different role, and the uncertainty of Alexander Kerfoot playing 3rd line centre, Matthews and Tavares could become the centre men of the penalty kill.
With newly hired coach Dave Hakstol running the PK, we could witness it be just fine, or we could see it climb up the NHL rankings and possibly crack the top-ten.