2026 Training Camp Thread

[herman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2102826392681336930

How difficult is it to implement structure when you have less than two weeks between your first practice and first game?

Hiller: It’s been a challenge, and I think we talked about that coming in. We’ve had to prioritize maybe three areas of the game that we think are most important or would be most beneficial for our team specifically. There are areas we really haven’t touched much, or have touched just briefly with video and not so much on the ice. That’ll come in time.

We just don’t want to hit everything at the expense of missing maybe three of the most important things. If we do those well, maybe they cover up some of the other things as we get going.

This is good business.

 

[cw]

Early waivers for Cole McWard and Dakota Mermis

Mermis has been waived about 10 times before. Picked up by Utah once and waived shortly after and picked up by the Leafs once.
He did a nice job helping Villeneuve in the Calder Cup playoffs

Vancouver didn't qualify McWard. Islanders signed him and then waived him last year.

I doubt either will get picked up

If they want to sign Blankenburg, they'll have to open a roster spot.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2102450318466498898

lmao

https://twitter.com/x/status/2102827113313120454

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2103107692776796293

https://twitter.com/x/status/2103107788042055767

Field trip!

I haven't read these articles yet, but I can sort of guess where it'll go.

Last season the Leafs opened with a long stretch at home and not much opportunity to bond on the road. It showed on the ice and the players remarked to media about looking forward to the upcoming road trip.

This trip is pretty deliberate and not without risk (travel health, rest and lack thereof) but it feels right, if that makes sense. Usually they go to Muskoka and captain John Tavares would host the team. Sundin hosted his team in Stockholm one time, and Nylander got a chance a couple seasons ago that seemed to go straight to his legs and commitment level on ice.

This time captain Matthews gets to play host from his family residence (more like compound, by the looks of some photos), as does Chayka. Get to know the captain, get to know the new GM at that personal level, and use the trip time to build rapport and appreciation, etc, away from the Toronto fishbowl attention for a little bit. They also practice at Mullet Arena, which is going to be sort of an illustration about how good you, the player, have it with the Leafs when you make the big show for the prospects looking to earn a spot in the near future.

 

[herman]

Aside from the two waiver filings, the Leafs dropped a handful of right handers down to the Marlies (Vinny Borgesi, Brandon Buhr, Hayes Hundley and Borya Valis).

https://twitter.com/x/status/2102747195317661696

Rifai remains one of the best skaters in the Leafs organization, makes aggressive defensive actions and can move the puck quickly.

Yet the emotion Rifai brings on and off the ice is part of what makes him stand out.

“Guys sticking up for each other, that’s what it’s all about,” Auston Matthews said after the fight. “Marshall’s been around here for a bit now, and he’s one of the hardest-working guys I’ve ever come across. A guy, anytime he’s been called up, never complains. Always doing extra, always finding ways to try to get better, and it’s something you really appreciate when you see guys like that in the organization. That was very appreciated, him dropping the gloves like that.”


“(Matthews) is always pushing for me,” Rifai said. “(Last year) he was in the coach’s ear saying, ‘We’ve got to get this guy.’ He’s a great leader and he understands character. The way he sees things might be different from how a coach sees things.”

Matthews is not the most vocal captain, but this is an example of why so many players were raving about him at the Olympics even when he wasn't putting up numbers. Matthews also loves rock'em sock'em hockey.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1776768387114233924

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2102413519341933025

Arun does good work on the Leafs beat

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2103137738736488473

I kind of wonder why his coaches didn't develop him as a centre earlier on