2021 Training Camp Thread

[herman]

Once NJD picks Calvin Pickard off waivers, we can safely bump Dell down.

Keefe making Brooks and Engvall fight for his love sure is something.

Doesn't Chicago have more pressing Goalie needs?  Or Hurricanes?  Surprised to see Boyd on waivers, though he had a helluva scrimmage.

It is in Chicago's best interests to not try this season lol

Carolina, if it were to get a goalie, would be looking for NHL roster level goaltending (trade), rather than backup fodder (waiver). Waiver pickups would need to stay on the NHL roster or risk waivers again.

[Groundskeeper Willie]

Once NJD picks Calvin Pickard off waivers, we can safely bump Dell down.

Keefe making Brooks and Engvall fight for his love sure is something.

Wasn't Keith Kinkaid on waivers too? Maybe Jersey tries to resurrect some of their previous work with him.

I can't help but wonder if it might have been better to put Dell on waivers as soon as it was an option at the start of camp. He was obviously #3 and teams might not have known what they wanted to do for backups yet.

Who knew signing Michael Hutchinson might end up being the most important move the Leafs made this summer?

[Guilt Trip]

Once NJD picks Calvin Pickard off waivers, we can safely bump Dell down.

Keefe making Brooks and Engvall fight for his love sure is something.

Wasn't Keith Kinkaid on waivers too? Maybe Jersey tries to resurrect some of their previous work with him.

I can't help but wonder if it might have been better to put Dell on waivers as soon as it was an option at the start of camp. He was obviously #3 and teams might not have known what they wanted to do for backups yet.

Who knew signing Michael Hutchinson might end up being the most important move the Leafs made this summer?

I think they're hoping teams are settled maybe by the weekend or whenever and then they can put Dell on waivers. Hutchinson clearing is great news because not only are they guaranteed a 3rd  goalie, they're covered for the ex Draft.
Boyd was destined for waivers unless Vesey stunk the joint out.

[herman]

#Leafs players who have had their listed weight go down 3+ lbs:

Auston Matthews -12, 211
Mikko Lehtonen -9, 187
Rourke Chartier -9, 194
Zach Hyman -7, 207
Justin Holl -4, 201
Nic Petan -4, 175
Rasmus Sandin -3, 181

— Kyle Cushman (@Kyle_Cush) January 3, 2021

Brazeau is huge. Nylander gets up to 200 lbs. Matthews drops down a bit, was always weird seeing him listed at 220+ lbs.

https://theathletic.com/2315039/2021/01/12/auston-matthews-weight-trainer

?At the end of every season, I?m evaluating all aspects of my game,? Matthews explained recently. ?I?m always trying to improve. I?d heard really good things about Ian from players I know and respect. And he seemed to fit perfectly with what I was looking for.?

Ian in this case is Ian Mack. Despite coming from a basketball background and being based in Chicago, Mack has quickly gained a reputation for his work with NHL players thanks to the transformation he helped Blackhawks veteran Patrick Kane undergo two years ago.

[...]

Matthews sat down with Mack and his Toronto-based partner, Sam Gibbs, to explain what he was looking for. In short, Matthews said he wanted to have more ?pop? on the ice. More flexibility and agility ? with the ability to avoid injuries better ? while also maintaining higher pace on the ice as he absorbed a bigger workload.

Matthews was aiming for dropping to 210

Stick around for the heartwarming cameo by Leo Rautins

[CarltonTheBear]

A faster Matthews would be a very dangerous thing for the rest of the league.

[herman]

All the Leafs cleared waivers.

With two goaltenders claimed off waivers -- Anton Forsberg to CAR, Eric Comrie to NJ -- the #leafs strategy of keeping No. 3 Aaron Dell pays off. If he isn't waived for a spot on the taxi squad, TOR can only carry 20 skaters on its active roster for the forseeable future.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 12, 2021

Komarov is on waivers today

[CarltonTheBear]

So basically we're really hoping Comrie gets a shutout in his first game.

[herman]

Brendan Shanahan on following Ottawa's lead and submitting a proposal to have fans present in Toronto:

"I can't speak for the Ottawa Senators, but those aren't the conversations we're having at this time."

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) January 12, 2021

[herman]

"I was really pleased we had guys who wanted to come home to Toronto and be a part of this."

Brendan Shanahan on expectations for 2020-21, the club's offseason additions,  Matthews' development as a 200-foot player, and more 👇https://t.co/BIOxKRjDUC #LeafsForever

— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) January 12, 2021

[herman]

Training Camp is over

Toronto Maple #Leafs have opted to start with a 5 player taxi squad:

Forwards:
Robertson
Brooks
Boyd

Defense:
Lehtonen
Sandinhttps://t.co/BPt2vFET34

— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) January 13, 2021

That open slot is nominally reserved for Aaron Dell once it is safe for him to be waived. It will likely be used to shelve Barabanov for cap savings on off days until then.

Once Dell and his cap hit is down and barring injury, any one of the Taxi Squad can be flipped into the roster for game days as needed without additional transactions (e.g. giving Thornton a break and Robertson a spin).

The Kessel retained salary continues to hurt: could've had Engvall/Agostino up (or Marner could be a 12M guy).