Jim Hiller likes what Zack MacEwen is bringing into Leafs camp, and it’s not just the goal.
After Thursday’s practice, Hiller pointed to MacEwen’s physical edge and the way he jumped into the scrum when things started to get chippy. “He scored, but it was more important that when there was some stuff going on, he got in there fairly quickly and did his job”, Hiller said.
That theme - pace, pressure, and skating - is clearly the standard Hiller wants this group to hit. Asked to name the identity he wants his team to have as camp wraps up, he gave one word: “skating.” He said that when the Leafs are moving well and tracking back with purpose, he feels good about the way they’re playing, even if the results don’t always match the effort.
“I told you guys in my press conference that if you watch the Leafs play and you say they’re skating, on most nights, you’ll know we’re happy with how we’re playing.”
He pointed to the previous night’s home game as an example, noting the team’s work in tracking back and lifting sticks. In his view, that kind of effort is the marker.
There was also an update on Nick Paul, who did not skate Thursday. Hiller said it’s “nothing that we’re overly concerned about,” but added that the team is handling it “day by day.”
He would not say whether Paul will be available for the season opener next week: “No, I can’t say that. I can’t say that with certainty.”
Hiller also addressed the upcoming trip to Arizona, calling it a positive for a group that includes plenty of new faces, coaches and management included. He said the chance to get away together should help the team relax a bit.
“It’s a time to laugh a little bit and let loose a little bit.” He also noted that the captain lives there and has plans for the players, while the weather is “pretty good.”
As for lost ice time, Hiller said the schedule works out cleanly: the team has already gone four straight days, will take Friday off, practice the next day and then return home.
Matthew Knies was another player Hiller singled out. Before practice, the coach spoke with him after reviewing video, and said Knies appeared in most of the positive clips.
Hiller said Knies led the team in the kinds of plays they want to see: skating back, lifting sticks and winning puck battles. “Sometimes you get rewarded on the scoresheet for those plays, but sometimes you just don’t,” Hiller said.
“He led our team in those plays and in those areas last night. I just let him know it was a positive game for him and he can build on that.”
Hiller also had praise for Auston Matthews, saying the captain hasn’t really changed from the young player he coached before. “He probably could have been an NHL captain when he walked into the room at 19 years old,” Hiller said. He described Matthews as someone with natural presence who “doesn’t put on airs for anybody,” and called him caring and aware of his teammates.
The coach was equally direct about Nick Blankenburg, saying, “He’s an NHL defenseman, and we know that.” Hiller added that he was pleased Blankenburg could be at camp and said the dedicated NHL players in the group - Duhaime, Blueger, Blankenburg and Andrae - led the team well. “He, among those four, is doing a tremendous job.”
Hiller also said the shortened camp has its challenges for a new staff. He admitted he would probably prefer a longer runway in these circumstances, but said the players are in great shape and ready to go.
In his view, the compressed schedule may actually help the coaches avoid doing too much. “As a new coaching staff, you always overthink things.
You want to do this and you want to do that. Maybe it’s a blessing for us that the coaches can’t overcoach it.”
Practice lines on September 24 had Knies with Matthews and Roslovic, McKenna with Tavares and Nylander, Groulx with Sissons and Cowan, and Duhaime with Blueger and MacEwen. Joshua also skated.
On defense, the pairings were McCabe and Tanev, Rielly and Raddysh, Ekman-Larsson and Stecher, and Andrae with Blankenburg. Stolarz and Bobrovsky were also listed.
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