Training camp is already serving up a few early snapshots across the NHL, and three newcomers are drawing the most attention in Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal.
In Edmonton, Alex Formenton wasted no time making noise. He scored in a 5-2 win, and coach Babcock singled out his energy, his work on the penalty kill, and the way he hounded the puck. Babcock also said Formenton’s line with Mathieu Joseph and Colton Dach was the club’s best of the night.
The reaction in the building was just as noticeable as the goal itself. Even with protesters gathered outside, the fans inside the arena gave Formenton a huge cheer after he scored.
Formenton didn’t get into the off-ice noise and kept his focus on improving and proving himself. If the production keeps coming, the conversation around him figures to change.
Toronto’s new goalie is getting a warm reception too. Auston Matthews had high praise for Sergei Bobrovsky, calling it “an absolute treat” to have him around. Matthews pointed to Bobrovsky’s professionalism, preparation, and experience, and said he was thrilled when Toronto signed him.
Bobrovsky is expected to be the Maple Leafs’ starter, with Anthony Stolarz backing him up. After winning back-to-back Stanley Cups in Florida, Bobrovsky brings a proven résumé into a Toronto setup that’s looking for a bounce-back season from its new tandem.
Montreal has its own newcomer adjustment underway, and Chris Kreider has already run into one of those awkward-but-funny team moments. He joined the Canadiens’ “power of friendship” circle and looked completely confused while his teammates enjoyed the whole thing. Fans clearly did too.
On the ice, Kreider is getting a look alongside Suzuki and Caufield, and the early signs sound smooth. His teammates already respect him and believe he’ll be a great guy to have around.
In Other News...
Matthews Gave Leafs Fans One Reason To Exhale In Montreal
Auston Matthews gave Maple Leafs fans something to track in an otherwise rough split-squad preseason night in Montreal, where Toronto dropped both games and had to settle for smaller victories in the individual performances. Matthews looked closer to his usual self with noticeable speed and an assist, while Darren Raddysh provided the clubs lone goal and rookie Gavin McKenna flashed the sort of playmaking that can stand out even in a preseason setting.
For a Leafs team still sorting through early impressions, the point was less about the results than the signs underneath them. Matthews pace was the biggest takeaway, and McKennas creativity offered another encouraging note, even with a penalty mixed in. It was the kind of evaluative night that leaves the standings untouched but gives the coaching staff and the fan base a little more to chew on. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Fringe Forward Made An Early Statement In Montreal
Michael Pezzetta wasted little time making his presence felt in Montreal while skating with the Maple Leafs B-team. In a game featuring fringe players and prospects because Torontos main roster was elsewhere, Pezzetta dropped the gloves with Canadiens player Lucas Condotta and was ejected afterward, a flashpoint that fit the tone of a matchup built more on auditions and edge than star power.
The scuffling did not stop there, either. Shortly after Pezzettas fight, teammate Teddy Blueger also got into one in the same game, adding another layer of nastiness to a night that already had a distinctly old-school feel. For Leafs players trying to leave a mark with limited opportunities, these are the kinds of moments that can matter just as much as any shift in the offensive zone. [Read more 🡒]
Jim Hiller Saw Promise In The Leafs But One Clear Problem Too
After the Maple Leafs preseason loss to the Canadiens, Jim Hiller came away seeing both the kind of early signs a coach wants and the kind of issues that tend to linger if they are not cleaned up quickly. He pointed to Gavin McKennas good start and liked what he saw from Auston Matthews, especially his skating and the way he carried an offensive threat, which at least gave Toronto some encouraging takeaways from a game that did not go its way.
Still, Hiller sounded just as focused on the gaps as the positives, especially the teams skating without the puck, an area that can quietly decide preseason games and, later, more meaningful ones. He also addressed Sergei Bobrovskys playing-time management, another reminder that these exhibition games are about more than the final score as the Leafs sort through how their pieces fit and what needs sharpening before the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]