The Maple Leafs got a tiny preseason sample - just two nights of split-squad action against the Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens - and even in that short window, a few names stood out in a big way.
Toronto lost both games to Ottawa before turning around and beating Montreal twice, which leaves plenty unresolved about what this team will look like once the games count. But there was still enough there to separate the players who popped from the ones who left more questions behind.
Auston Matthews looked sharp from the start. The Leafs captain played with more burst, attacked the offensive zone with purpose and looked far more eager to let it rip.
He finished with a goal and three assists in two games, and he was winning his minutes along the way. If this is the version Toronto gets in the regular season, a 60-goal year doesn’t feel out of reach.
Gavin McKenna also came out of camp looking every bit like the first overall pick from this summer’s draft. He didn’t get on the scoresheet in Montreal, but he was still one of the most influential players on the ice, driving play and showing comfort with the puck on his stick. In the second game, he added his first preseason assist by setting up William Nylander for a 2-on-1, another sign that the moment doesn’t seem too big for him.
John Tavares, at 35, is always going to be measured by age as much as production. But there wasn’t much in this preseason to worry about.
He put up a goal and three assists in two games, looked engaged in the offensive end and showed he still has plenty left. If that carries over, Toronto’s centre depth could be a real strength again.
Easton Cowan kept adding to the buzz around him too. Jim Hiller and Auston Matthews both praised him this offseason, and the 21-year-old backed that up with his play.
He finished with two assists in two games, drove possession, saw the ice well and kept creating chances with his passing. There’s already been plenty of talk about what he might become; this could be the season he takes a noticeable step.
Not everyone left camp with the same shine.
Matthew Knies had a rough couple of games. In the opener, he looked off the pace, had trouble making plays with the puck and didn’t do much to stand out defensively.
The second game didn’t bring much of a reset, either, and Hiller eventually moved him out of his original spot in favour of McKenna. Still, there’s no reason to read too much into two preseason games.
Knies had a strong year last season and has improved every year since reaching the NHL, so this doesn’t suddenly change the picture.
Jack Roslovic also had a mixed showing. He bounced back in his second game with three points, but his first outing was hard to ignore.
He was quiet for long stretches, tried to do too much with the puck, turned it over in dangerous spots and didn’t look sharp enough defensively. The chemistry with Matthews that had been discussed all offseason didn’t really show up, either.
The second game was better across the board, and that should at least give Leafs fans some hope, but the fit is still worth watching as the season goes on.
Emil Andrae is in a different spot entirely. The Leafs acquired him as part of the deal that sent Joseph Woll to Philadelphia, and there was a sense he could grow into a meaningful role on a younger Toronto blue line.
Instead, he’s currently on the outside looking in after camp. That doesn’t close the door - injuries will create chances, and he’ll almost certainly get opportunities once the season starts - but he didn’t do enough in training camp and preseason to win over Hiller.
For now, he’ll have to wait for his next shot and make it count.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Just Bought Themselves Breathing Room On The Fourth Line
Steven Lorentz clearing waivers gave the Maple Leafs a little more room to maneuver, and for a team that likes to keep its options open, that matters. Toronto can now move the depth forward between the NHL and AHL rosters within the rules, which gives the coaching staff more flexibility as it tries to balance the fourth line, injuries and the need to keep the bench fresh.
It is the kind of small roster win that can be easy to overlook until the schedule gets tight and the Leafs need bodies they can trust. It also stands in contrast to some of the waiver losses Toronto has taken under previous management, when depth pieces slipped away without much of a return, so keeping Lorentz in the organization at least buys the team a little breathing room. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs May Face A Massive Price To Reshape Their Top Six
The Maple Leafs search for help in the top six has reportedly reached a familiar place: expensive territory. On 32 Thoughts, Elliotte Friedman said Toronto has shown interest in Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko, a player who would fit the kind of scoring look the Leafs have been trying to sharpen around their core.
What makes the idea harder to ignore is the price tag attached to it. Any serious push for Marchenko could involve major assets, with Matthew Knies and a future first-round pick mentioned as part of the conversation because of the wingers expected contract demands. No deal is close, but the mere possibility shows how far Toronto may be willing to go if it decides a top-six shakeup is worth the cost. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Suddenly Have A Real Shot At A Familiar Target
The waiver wire may not usually move the needle for a team with postseason ambitions, but Brandon Tanev is the kind of name that can create real interest in Toronto. Utah is expected to place the veteran forward on waivers Friday, and the Leafs are viewed as a likely team to make a claim if he reaches them. A defensive specialist by reputation, Tanev spent last season in a limited offensive role, finishing with three assists in 55 games while bringing the sort of energy and matchup utility contenders often look for.
For Toronto, the attraction is easy to understand beyond the depth-chart fit. Tanev would instantly add another trusted checking presence to a roster that values reliability away from the puck, and he could also set up a notable family reunion with brother Chris already in the lineup. Brandon Tanev has 183 points in 608 career games, but his appeal has always been bigger than the box score, which is why this possibility feels like more than just a routine waiver story. [Read more 🡒]