GLENDALE, AZ - JANUARY 20: Tyler Bozak #42 of the Toronto Maple Leafs passes the puck against the Phoenix Coyotes during the third period at Jobing.com Arena on January 20, 2014 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/NHLI via Getty Images)
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Coverage from the first on-ice session of Toronto Maple Leafs 2016 training camp in Nova Scotia.


William Nylander donning #29


Training Camp Day 1 Shootout


Leafs Links

Infusion of young talent gives Leafs real reason for optimism (Sportsnet)

Laich saw what Matthews did against one of the best teams in the world and was as blown away as anyone else. “He puts a big smile on your face,” Laich said of new teenaged teammate. “You watch him live and I see a lot of little things in his game, habits that you don’t normally see in young players.”


Jim Hiller on Mitch Marner: “I don’t know how much he’s put on, but he’s just bigger and stronger” (MLHS)

Tyler’s been great. I just talked to him a little bit about setting the tempo for practice. I thought he did. I thought he worked extremely hard. Dishing the puck on the powerplay. You saw him make some plays. It’s important. He’s a veteran player. He’s got lots of experience. He’s scored points. Those guys look up to him. I just thought he looked good. I thought he looked really good. I was really impressed with Bozie this morning.


2016-17 Season Preview: Toronto Maple Leafs (THN)

There’s a lot of pessimism surrounding this team, which is fair because, well, they were the worst team in the league last season, but Toronto will be much improved this season. The Leafs were one of the unluckiest teams last season thanks to abysmal shooting and save percentages, both of which should bounce back this season. The latter should especially improve with the addition of former Duck goalie Frederik Andersen.


Who among the Maple Leafs will emerge as Auston Matthews’ sidekick? (Toronto Star)

It has to make you wonder who Auston Matthews will “have” as that other high pick from a draft who can be as dominating. Will it be Mitch Marner (fourth 2015)? Perhaps. Marner has game-breaking dynamic talent. The closest comparison would be Toews and Kane. Not bad. Or maybe it’s Morgan Rielly (fifth overall 2012). There certainly seemed to be some chemistry at the World Cup.


Bob Cole, Lawrence Hill among Order of Canada recipients honoured at Rideau Hall (CBC)

Bob Cole is a legend in Canadian hockey broadcasting. As the lead play-by-play announcer on Hockey Night in Canada for almost 30 years, he made viewers feel as though they were in the stands, at the game. He continues to engage new generations of hockey fans with his passion for the game and his rich voice, which crescendos up and down with every play.


The curious case of Joffrey Lupul and the Leafs (The Globe and Mail)

What Toronto does gain from Robidas and Lupul sitting out is two roster spots, which they can give to kids such as Connor Carrick and Mitch Marner, who are the future of the organization and focus of training camp, which begins on the ice in Halifax on Friday. They also keep their farm team reserved for prospects and centred on development.


After head coach Mike Babcock challenged the 2015 first-round winger to have the best off-ice summer he could possibly manage, to overcome a perceived weight deficiency and make it hard for the club to return him to junior hockey, Marner believes he’s followed orders.


Maple Leafs trending in right direction (Toronto Star)

“It was really interesting to watch,” said Connor Brown. “If you can have guys like that on your team it’s nothing but an advantage. I try to play with speed and pace and intensity and competitiveness. “Speed is huge. The main thing is smarts. If you can think the game you can play the game. That combination of speed, being fast and smart — it really is a deadly combination.”


Trainer Gary Roberts pushes Phil Kessel to walk the talk (Toronto Star)

“Oh, buddy — his power and strength. I would put him up against my No. 1 guy, which is Stamkos,” Roberts said. “We did sled pulls one day. (Kessel) was in a group with McDavid and Stamkos. The first five sled pulls he beat everybody because he has so much power over 40 yards. But then the last five sled pulls, he was last.”


Mitch Marner fights for a spot on right wing, and other issues at Toronto Maple Leafs camp (National Post)

Winger Tobias Lindberg tantalized the Senators and now it’s the Leafs who are looking for him to make the jump. But there are young forwards such as Connor Brown, Nikita Soshnikov and Zach Hyman who got a head start with the Leafs late last year. Defenders Andrew Nielsen and Travis Dermott, playing together and then apart, showed lots of maturity for 2015 draft picks and should at least be an important part of the Marlies. Two dark horses with speed in the rookie tourney were 2015 forwards Dmytro Timashov and Nikita Korostelev.

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