The Leafs’ rookie group got a stiff test Saturday at the Slush Puppy Centre, and the first night of the split-squad set was messy in the way these games often are: goals, odd-man rushes, and a long list of players trying to make a case in limited minutes.
Luke Haymes gave Toronto an early spark. The 22-year-old right winger, who has four NHL games with the Leafs from last season, finished off Blake Smith’s rebound chance before Valis answered with a breakaway. For Haymes, it was a nice follow-up to the two big playoff assists he delivered during the AHL Marlies’ Calder Cup run in June.
Toronto also got a look at Kasper Halttunen, who had the game’s other major answer in the back-and-forth. Halttunen picked up his second point of the game by sending a sharp pass to Eskild Bakke-Olsen, and that play countered Valis’s goal. Later, London Knights grad Cover came up with a steal and turned it into the winner.
There were plenty of Leafs sweaters in the building, with some fans surely expecting to see the unofficial debut of NHL first overall pick Gavin McKenna. That didn’t happen. After Friday’s practice, the Leafs said the left winger wouldn’t be used Saturday or Sunday against Winnipeg, with Toronto’s main camp nearing.
That left management to evaluate a different group of prospects and try to sort out who stood out in the noise. Associate coach Daniel Alfredsson was in the building for his first visit to his old homestead, and the Leafs got a look at forwards like Norwegian national Tinus Luc-Koblar, Haymes and Miroslav Holinka.
They also watched the defensive pairing of Ben Danford and Noah Chadwick, along with 2026 second-round OHLer Alexander Bilecki. Another former Knight, free agent Sawyer Boulton, opened the scoring for Toronto.
“He can shoot it,” praised Campbell to Ottawa media earlier in the week of the second-round pick of San Jose from 2023. “He has that innate, raw ability to put the puck in. I’m excited to see him this weekend.”
In goal, Obintsev made several good saves through overtime, even though Landen Hookey beat him from distance in the second period. The Leafs also have 2026 Latvian draft pick Patrik Plumins on the trip, and he is set to start Sunday afternoon’s game against the Jets.
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