After a solid training camp and pre-season, has Matt Read done enough to earn himself a spot on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster?
The Toronto Maple Leafs for what seems to be the first time in likely over a decade, have considerably too much depth up front. With their top nine set in stone, there is only room for two wingers alongside newly acquired centre-man Jason Spezza.
As training camp progressed, it became evidently clear that Frederik Gauthier was going to do whatever he could to make this team. After a fantastic showing during the pre-season games Gauthier played in, he has likely solidified his place on the fourth line with Jason Spezza. Not only has Mike Babcock raved of Gauthier’s play, he decided to rotate Spezza and Gauthier at centre to fully utilize their strong face-off abilities in certain situations.
Between many of the forwards in training camp, there hasn’t been a whole lot that separates roster spot player from minor league player. Agostino, Shore, Timashov, Korshkov, Petan, and Read have all had their moments to shine. While scoring is nice, Mike Babcock expects much more from his fourth line.
Matt Read
Before Friday nights game in Detroit, Babcock made it very clear on what he expected from the forwards left in camp battling for that final spot on the fourth line; as reported by Jonas Siegel.
"I want them to play twenty minutes tonight, but I want them to play like they are on the fourth line. So if you get out there and start toe-dragging and turning over the puck – wrong answer."
So where does Matt Read fit into all of this? Matt Read was given a PTO by the Toronto Maple Leafs in early August. Known as “Meat” in Philly, Read was quite the fan favourite.
He is a former two-time twenty goal scorer with a sneaky good shot, and a work ethic that fits the model of a Babcock style grinding player. With the absence of Zach Hyman for at least the first fourteen or so games to start the season, Matt Read plays the kind of game that fits the model Babcock is describing quite well.
Read’s training camp went very well, scoring two goals and totalling three points in four games.(via fox sports) After Friday nights game in Detroit, Babcock had some very encouraging words for Read.
"I think Reader has been fantastic all through camp, he’s a real good pro. He’s a penalty killer, we don’t have many of those. I think that helps him out."
If we have learned anything from Mike Babcock from his time as the head coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s his nature to always side with will over skill. Babcock rarely gives an opportunity to those who do not deserve it, and his decisions usually stem from the amount of trust he has in his players.
For Matt Read, it has been a stressful training camp for him without a contract. Despite the stress and uncertainty of his career in the NHL, Read has earned praise from Babcock and that should usually be an indication that he will likely stick around.
On a team that needs a player who fits the fourth liner build, Read may be the only player in camp with that skill set.
As training camp comes to a close, Matt Read hopes his solid training camp and pre-season work is enough to allow him to be one of the very few players on PTO’s to receive an NHL contract.