[Masters] Simon Benoit paired with Timothy Liljegren as Leafs practice begins (Group 2). Oliver Ekman-Larsson remains with Jake McCabe. With Steven Lorentz (upper body) sidelined, Roni Hirvonen getting a look with David Kampf and Ryan Reaves.
by malliabu
9 Comments
[Lorentz is day-to-day](https://x.com/LeafsPR/status/1837120243379904998)
This is fine as long as OEL is on the left. Forcing him to play RD is just setting him up for failure (again)
McCabe will probably end up with Benoit again. It just makes sense to get guys familiar with eachother, and no better time than preseason.
Unlikely, but part of me hopes this Kampf line in camp/preseason turns out to be guys that don’t make the team. Get out of the Kampf contract, let Reaves be the 13th forward if they really want him around.
Uhm
McCabe and Benoit worked very well together last year, despite Benoit’s relatively weak underlying numbers historically. I know they weren’t getting killer minutes, but that really feels like something that wasn’t broken and didn’t need fixing. That said, I guess given the puck movement issues on the back end, having one of OEL/Liljegren on the ice at all times Rielly/Tanev aren’t is probably a good thing.
The idea of Ryan Reaves playing this season makes my head hurt
What exactly is Reaves gonna do with Kampf?
I still have high hopes for Liljegren. I think he’s just a slow developer but his development doesn’t regress. He’s a slow and steady investment.
Nice to 👀 see Reaves playing still for the best team ever. Go, Leafs.