Elliotte Friedman shares the Maple Leafs plan to get the best possible team on opening night
The insider Elliotte Friedman shared how the Toronto Maple Leafs plan to get the best possible team on opening night.
With training camp around the corner, fans can't help but notice that the Maple Leafs made many acquisitions this summer, even more than there are available lineup spots.
It appears that general manager Brad Treliving and head coach Craig Berube are planning to create a competitive environment in which players will need to give their all to impress the coaching staff.
Elliotte Friedman discussed this issue in the latest edition of his podcast, 32 Thoughts, and he said that the Leafs aren't afraid of making players push themselves to get into a better position.
"The one thing I really think about Treliving is, I think he's prepared to have some competition here. I don't think he and Berube are afraid of -- hey, if you get a great offer, you make your move, right? -- but I don't think they're afraid of letting some players who would look at this and think, 'am I on the bubble here?' be a little bit uncomfortable. I don't think they're afraid of that.
I think they want the competition, I think they want to see who it drives, and it wouldn't surprise me, like you don't have to have your roster set until the day before the season begins, so it wouldn't shock me if the Leafs let this play out a little bit. I think that is their plan. Again, you could get a good offer and say 'ah, we've gotta take this'... I think they're interested in making their camp a little more competitive, so we'll see where it goes."
I think they want the competition, I think they want to see who it drives, and it wouldn't surprise me, like you don't have to have your roster set until the day before the season begins, so it wouldn't shock me if the Leafs let this play out a little bit. I think that is their plan. Again, you could get a good offer and say 'ah, we've gotta take this'... I think they're interested in making their camp a little more competitive, so we'll see where it goes."
With young prospects Fraser Minten, Easton Cowen, Nikita Grebenkin, and Alex Steeves in a position to cause a surprise in the forward group, it'll be interesting to see how players like Connor Dewar, Nick Robertson, or Calle Jarnkrok respond to the challenge.
On the blue line, defensemen will likely compete for the last spot on the unit. Simon Benoit already has a foot in the door, but other players like Conor Timmins, Cade Webber, Marshall Rifai, Jani Hakanpaa, or even the Leafs' 2024 first-rounder Ben Danford will do all they can to impress the coaching staff and earn a lineup spot.
As for the goalies, with Anthony Stolarz coming in, it'll be exciting to watch the competition with Joseph Woll, but Matt Murray and Dennis Hildeby could also cause a surprise.
It's safe to say that this year's training camp will be one of the most interesting ones in recent years.
It all starts this weekend, when the prospects head to Montreal to face the Habs for rookie camp.
Source: Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts
Previously on Daily Hockey Dose
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13 SEPTEMBRE | 56 ANSWERS Elliotte Friedman shares the Maple Leafs plan to get the best possible team on opening night Do you agree with Elliotte Friedman about the Toronto Maple Leafs' training camp? | ||
| Yes | 37 | 66.1 % |
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