The Most Surprising Players at the Toronto Maple Leafs Training Camp
Over the course of the summer, Dubas was tasked with bringing a new look to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
That new look entailed Dubas performing fiscal gymnastics with the Toronto Maple Leafs salary cap structure.
Team cap expert Brandon Pridham made his bones, finding new ways for the Leafs to prepare themselves for any financial hardships that came their way. When trying to make a Stanley cup contending team, the most dire ingredient for it, is cap space.
Coming into this brand new season of 2019-20, Toronto has had to cut ties with several over paid players, and even fan favorites like Nazem Kadri. Filling in for the departures are- Tyson Barrie, Alexander Kerfoot, Ilya Mikheyev, Cody Ceci, and potentially Rasmus Sandin. Looking at these additions, there was a clear motive behind these players: fast, mobile and skilled.
As for what this years training camp looks like, there are several players that have stood out.
When assessing players in training camp, there are a number of variables to keep an eye on:
Experience, age, position, opportunity, skill set and developmental history. Let’s remove the superstars on the Leafs for a minute, we know what they can do on the ice, there are no questions with them.
As for the players on the bubble, there obviously tends to be more questions regarding what they exactly mean to the Leafs. Who is Trevor Moore, who is Cody Ceci, who is Ilya Mikheyev? I am here to answer these questions.
Here are my top 5 prime standouts
Ilya Mikheyev (6’2, 190 lbs, Omsk, Russia, LW)
My first pick as a training camp standout is Ilya Mikheyev.
He has a non stop motor that is evident when you see him blaze past a defender. He has a Babcock-type work ethic on the ice and a Dubas-like skill set to complement it.
Despite Mikheyev not registering any points this training camp, fans should not dismiss him. This pre-season, Mikheyev has shown high-end skill and that willingness to drive the net. If given the right opportunity and proper linemates, Ilya is a lock for 45+ points this season.
Mikheyev will have every chance to contribute immediately, and is expected to start Wednesday night with Alex Kerfoot and Trevor Moore on the Toronto Maple Leafs third line.
Based on his play in camp, it appears the Toronto Maple Leafs will be getting a steal on a player making roughly the league minimum. Players like Mikheyov finding success will go a long way in making the Leafs decision to pay their elite players such a high portion of the salary cap a success.
Cody Ceci (6’2, 209 lbs, Ottawa, Ontario, Right Defence)
Whenever you assess a player’s game, the last place to look is the points.
Taking an overall look at how Ceci has played this pre-season is encouraging, as he has shown a stable defensive game and sturdy physical game.
He is strong to begin with, so when he gets shots off in the offensive zone, he’s effective at creating rebounds. The Toronto Maple Leafs are the best team Ceci has ever played with in his entire career. It’s not crazy to think that Cody could put up around 30+ points this season
Ceci’s career high in points, is 26, so there could be untapped potential with Cody. Now I cannot stress this enough, we need to be patient with Ceci, what he’s been doing with the Leafs, has been in the pre-season. If Toronto can rebuild Ceci’s game, that would go a very long way in balancing their roster.
Ceci will start on Toronto’s top pair, replacing Ron Hainsey as Morgan Rielly’s partner. Ceci had a strong pre-season, leading the Leafs in ice-time and putting up some solid possession stats.
If he can earn his spot alongside Rielly, the Leafs will get a huge boost. If not, his salary and the rise of the Leafs two rookie defensemen will make him expendable.
Trevor Moore (5’10, 182 lbs, Thousand Oaks, California, LW)
Another Dubas-Babcock lovechild, Moore brings tenacity and skill to the table for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Last year Moore got into 25 games for the Leafs, scoring two goals and eight points in total. He then suited up for all seven games against the Boston Bruins in the playoffs.
Moore acquitted himself well and has earned a shot to play a full season with the Leafs.
Moore has had a very good pre-season, putting up 3 points in 2 games. Granted, it is pre-season, Moore looks to have taken another step offensively this year, as a Hyman/Brown hybrid. Moore being able to show that he’s capable of filling into the top nine, will be huge for Toronto’s options going forward.
Moore will start on a line with Kerfoot and Mikheyev, and while it’s hard to know if they’ll be successful, it is certainly one of the more intriguing lines in the NHL heading into the season.
Moore’s tenacity will make him a fan and coach favorite, and if he can score at the NHL level then he’s going to be a very good player.
Yegor Korshkov (6’4, 190 lbs, Novosibirsk, Russia, LW/RW)
Here is a player who is polarizing to say the absolute least.
One thing we know about Korshkov’s game, is that Babcock will be sure to like it, as Korshkov is practically a taller, a little more skilled version of Zach Hyman.
The main issue with Yegor, is Toronto could have picked several better players instead, but hindsight is always 20/20. Yegor has a tough hill to climb in order to live up to these expectations from Leafs nation.
Watching what Yegor has done this pre season requires a bit of patience and careful eyes. He is coming from Russia, so there is a learning curve for Korshkov. He is effective on creating screens in the offensive zone and works hard to win puck battles on the boards and in the corners.
In his two games it was clear to see that when he is involved in the play, he is a handful for defenders, as he has the skill and size to deal with.
The main issue is getting him engaged with making quicker decisions, as he can go quiet in and out of games. All in all, Yegor Korshkov has had an encouraging training camp.
He won’t start with the Toronto Maple Leafs, but he’s likely to get the call sooner than later.
Nic Petan (5’9, 179, Delta, BC, Center)
Acquired last spring as the Toronto Maple Leafs only move at the trade deadline, there were high expectations for Petan, but Babcock never really seemed to give him a chance.
Nic Petan was dubbed by many as an afterthought, heading into this season. After putting up 3 points in 3 games this pre-season, it looked as if Petan had possibly played himself on the Leafs 4th line.
Alas, he was cut and sent to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies. If he clears waivers, he will likely be one of the first Leafs called up when an injury occurs.
Babcock is notorious for playing a more physical 4th line, players who are blue-collar on the ice. Petan is neither big, nor physical, so he immediately faces an uphill battle in earning his playing time. Despite that, he’s done well when given an opportunity and during an AHL themed pre-season game he was the best player on the ice.
The potential options for being the first call-up are likely Yegor Korshkov, Pierre Engvall, Pontus Aberg, Kenny Agostino and Garrett Wilson. That makes 5 players Petan has to get by if he wants to get back to the NHL. If and when Petan does make the Leafs, it may only be as a press box piece. What is clear, is that Petan deserves a fair chance and he’s earned that in this training camp.
Rasmus Sandin (5’11, 183lbs, Uppsala, Sweden, Left Defence)
When Rasmus Sandin was first drafted, there were some skepticism towards the pick.
Some people thought former Soo Greyhounds GM, Dubas was just going with a “homer” pick, seeing as Sandin played junior hockey for the Soo Greyhounds. Dubas developed his hockey acumen through the Soo, so Dubas was able to maximize his intel on Sandin, that draft year.
Fast forward a year later, Dubas looks like a genius for taking Sandin. Now thought as a potential top 4 defenceman , Sandin plays a precision based game, as he takes calculated risks.
Sandin may only be 5’11, but he is certainly sturdy enough to withstand heavy forecheckers, as he has a smart stick and has a great centre of gravity.
At times it’s as if Sandin plays with ice in his veins, it’s easy to forget that he’s just 19. Looking at his training camp thus far, he has only solidified his case to be on the Leafs opening lineup, October 2nd.
Not only was Sandin a shoe-in to make the team since last week, but Babcock named him as his fifth best option during a press conference. He’s going to be a good one.
Honourable mention: Matt Read (5’10, 188 lbs, Ilderton, Ontario, RW)
Last but certainly not least, is a player I feel that deserves an honourable mention, Matt Read.
It seems like everyone keeps forgetting that Toronto extended an invite to Matt Read. Brought in via PTO, Read had a lot on the line coming into training camp. After three games, Read has put up two points and has shown that he is still capable of keeping up with pro competition.
Matt Read is a warrior on the ice, willing to grind it out, and help his team do whatever it takes to win. Read has had a good camp, and has been extended a contract by the Toronto Marlies – it isn’t surprising in the least.
Next. The Cody Ceci Experiment Makes No Sense. dark
In conclusion, the expectations for every player is different. Leafs nation has a concrete idea of who exactly will be on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster, but it’s where for some players, that is the pressing question.