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Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable: Biggest Storylines Out of Training Camp

By Wilbert Timmermans

TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 07: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his third period goal at 16:54 with Morgan Rielly #44, William Nylander #88, Auston Matthews #34, Zach Hyman #11 amd Mitchell Marner #16 against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 07, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ONTARIO - AUGUST 07: John Tavares #91 of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his third period goal at 16:54 with Morgan Rielly #44, William Nylander #88, Auston Matthews #34, Zach Hyman #11 amd Mitchell Marner #16 against the Columbus Blue Jackets in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Qualification Round prior to the 2020 NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on August 07, 2020 in Toronto, Ontario. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs Morgan Rielly
Mar 10, 2020; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly  Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

My Take

Obviously, the biggest storyline out of training camp is the transformation of the Toronto Maple Leafs blue-line during the offseason.

While Barrie walked in free agency and Pietrangelo turned out to be unavailable for Toronto, Dubas did manage to resing Dermott and sign T.J. Brodie, Zach Bogosian and the coveted former KHL FA Mikko Lehtonen in free agency. Adding the much-needed depth in what has been Toronto’s Achilles heel for almost decades now, their blue-line.

While none of those names come close to the coveted right-handed shutdown defenseman, many Toronto Maple Leaf fans have been dreaming off, it does provide more depth and options.

So much even, the forever 7th defenseman and last years hero, Martin Marincin was placed on waivers earlier. Even with Marincin on waivers, the Toronto Maple Leafs could dress 7 defensemen and would still have to bench one potential starter.

With the pairings at yesterday’s practice, perhaps the most interesting storyline would be how long it will take before either Bogosian or Dermott will be swapped out in favour of Lehtonen.

However, I think the biggest storyline to develop will be that of the Rielly and Brody pairing. With Brodie being signed semi long-term and Rielly’s extension coming up, their chemistry and potential success as a pairing will play a major role in Rielly’s extension.

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