#CSP #NHL #LEAFSNATION
(Exhibition) Maple Leafs hockey is back, and it starts with a lineup with more than a dozen NHL regulars featuring against a Senators team heavy on AHL content
It goes without saying that this is game one of the preseason, and the lineups aren’t exactly strength vs. strength tonight (in favour of the Leafs), but here are some names/storylines to keep an eye on:
Nikita Grebenkin: The Russian with multiple years of pro experience under his belt — and a championship ring in the KHL — brings a package of size, strength, speed, and intelligence that has impressed Leafs brass in the early stages of training camp. Playing his preferred off-wing as a left shot, how does Grebenkin fare alongside two seasoned, highly-skilled NHL pros, John Tavares and Max Pacioretty, when it comes to the details of his game defensively, his forechecking/puck retrievals, and complementing his linemates offensively?
Easton Cowan: He’s been given nothing easy at the start of the exhibition season, starting on a line with college free agent signing/soon-to-be Marlie Jacob Quillan and Ryan Reaves. Craig Berube is impressed by the dog-on-the-bone relentlessness in camp, but the new head coach wants to be sure the “junior habits” are out of Cowan’s game before considering him for an opening night job. Can he drive the line with a mature game (and possibly earn some looks in offensive situations with other linemates throughout the night), and does the linemate situation help him keep it simple/north-south vs. trying to do too much to impress?
William Nylander: He’ll start between Calle Jarnkrok and Max Domi, and it looks like he will receive a fair shake at center this fall. While the evaluation period will need to be much longer than one preseason game vs. a weak Senators lineup, how motivated is he tonight to prove he’s up to the task with 200-foot dominance down the middle?
The OEL—McCabe pairing: The Leafs started Jake McCabe on John Klingberg’s left to start last season, and it did not pan out well whatsoever as both players were aggressive up the ice and left themselves exposed the other way. While the playing-style dynamic is similar with this OEL – McCabe pairing, the circumstances are different this time, with a healthy OEL (vs. an injured Klingberg) taking up the left side and McCabe shifting to the right, where his game settled down nicely last season. Simon Benoit-McCabe was a steady pairing last year, but if this OEL-McCabe pair could click, it would open up some nice options for Mike Van Ryn on the backend, especially as the Leafs look for a little more offensive pop from their blue line this season.
The Rielly—Tanev pairing: It’s game one of the preseason, and nothing will be determined tonight regarding this pairing (or the veterans in general) besides shaking off some rust and finding their timing. But this is the best partner Rielly has played with in his Leaf career and potentially a legitimate #1 pair the Leafs haven’t boasted in far too long. Hopefully, the complementary fit of their skill sets and past chemistry from their World Championships will help them hit the ground running.
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