Good news for critics of ‘the swarm’ and those who want to see the shots against reduced next season — sounds like the coaching staff is making some defensive zone coverage adjustments in training camp and preseason that will attempt to address last season’s glaring holes. Joffrey Lupul sounds more comfortable with it already.
As far as premature lineup projections go, we’ve gotten the following hints out of Randy Carlyle:
- He believes Roman Polak and Dion Phaneuf could form a “minute-munching top pair,” with Dion shifted to the left.
- While Mike Santorelli can play center, he envisions him as a winger to start. He has mentioned there has been past chemistry between David Booth and Santorelli which they will try to reprise in Toronto.
- Petri Kontiola and Peter Holland appear to be competing for the third line center spot in training camp and preseason.
- The top line probably stays in tact to start, but they’re at least flirting the idea of rotating Lupul back onto the top line with Bozak and Kessel, with JvR down on line two centered by Kadri.
- Carlyle wants three scoring lines and an energy line.
Have fun building your lineups with some of those conditions in mind.
Randy Carlyle after Saturday’s on-ice sessions:
Sunday Links:
- Maple Leafs Video Centre: Intrasquad Training Camp Scrimmages — Game 1; Game 2
- Toronto Sun: Colton Orr turns heads at Maple Leafs training camp
- Toronto Star: Maple Leafs changing things defensively
- Sportsnet: 2014-15 Preview — Toronto Maple Leafs
- Toronto Sun: Fresh start for Cody Franson
- Toronto Star: Former Sabre Henrik Tallinder looks to crack Leaf lineup
- Jonas Siegel: Biggest season of NHL career looms for Cody Franson
- Siegel: Will Maple Leafs lighten the load on Dion Phaneuf?
