2026 Training Camp Thread

[cw]

My opinion is MacEwen has made Lorentz redundant.

Sort of
63 fights MacEwen vs 13 Lorentz
After what happened with Matthews last season and all the fighting we've seen in the preseason games, they got someone to help with enforcement
It starts to make sense ...

As a fan (or me anyway), you cheer for these players on your teams (Marlies & Leafs). You pull for them.
So many of these players are close. They have some talent.
A bunch of them won a Calder Cup last year.
There is not as big of a gap between the NHL and AHL as there once was.
Yes, they often get paid a lot of dough to play a game.
I bet a bunch of them would give up some of that dough to play in the NHL.
But the NHLers fell badly short last year. When they do, it can be a tough business.
So when I see them get punted to the curb on days like today, in my case, I feel for them.
They have to phone home "Yes Dad, I got waived for the 10th time ..."
When they have to make calls like that, it doesn't matter how much they get paid.

 

[YYZ]

I believe it is officially Waterlooser (soft s). I don't make the rules.

Waterluvian is apparently the correct term.

 

[herman]

Waterluvian is apparently the correct term.

We should let the people of Canada decide.

 

[YYZ]

Sort of
63 fights MacEwen vs 13 Lorentz
After what happened with Matthews last season and all the fighting we've seen in the preseason games, they got someone to help with enforcement
It starts to make sense ...

As a fan (or me anyway), you cheer for these players on your teams (Marlies & Leafs). You pull for them.
So many of these players are close. They have some talent.
A bunch of them won a Calder Cup last year.
There is not as big of a gap between the NHL and AHL as there once was.
Yes, they often get paid a lot of dough to play a game.
I bet a bunch of them would give up some of that dough to play in the NHL.
But the NHLers fell badly short last year. When they do, it can be a tough business.
So when I see them get punted to the curb on days like today, in my case, I feel for them.
They have to phone home "Yes Dad, I got waived for the 10th time ..."
When they have to make calls like that, it doesn't matter how much they get paid.

Absolutely. There is the human element to this. Even a guy like Rifai, watching his interview the other day and talking about his goal is to make the team. You feel for these guys. They put in the work, but they are just not quite there talent wise to hold down a regular NHL roster spot.

 

[YYZ]

We should let the people of Canada decide.

Like, hold a national referendum?

 

[CarltonTheBear]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2103208622922559967

I get waiving Lorentz, not totally 100% on board doing it to get MacEwen playing time. I still hope Joshua will be given an opportunity to earn that 4th line role beside Blueger and Duhaime.

One of Joshua, MacEwan, and Groulx will still likely need to be cut soon (barring Paul needing an IR stint).

 

[cw]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2103208622922559967

I get waiving Lorentz, not totally 100% on board doing it to get MacEwen playing time. I still hope Joshua will be given an opportunity to earn that 4th line role beside Blueger and Duhaime.

One of Joshua, MacEwan, and Groulx will still likely need to be cut soon (barring Paul needing an IR stint).

I'd guess, like Ryan Reeves, MacEwan will probably only get 6-7 minutes in games when they feel they need an enforcer.

I wonder if Joshua will start on LTIR. "The general timeline to progress from your first day back on the ice to full game competition is typically 3 to 6 weeks, assuming there are no setbacks" Cleveland Clinic (for core injury)
With Joshua's injury/health history, them being cautious shouldn't come as a shock. That would roughly cover 10 games, 24 days for LTIR. (~Oct 23rd return - a month from now)

The only thing that might change that under present circumstances would be a trade or waiver pickup - then maybe Groulx would be exposed to waivers.

 

[cw]

One other observation about this roster and hits ... It might be the softest group of dmen in that regard in some time. McCabe and then Andrae would be 2nd, OEL is 3rd. Raddysh, Rielly, Stecher, Blankenburg & Tanev don't hit a lot. MacEwen, Duhaime, Joshua & Sissons help.

 

[herman]

One other observation about this roster and hits ... It might be the softest group of dmen in that regard in some time. McCabe and then Andrae would be 2nd, OEL is 3rd. Raddysh, Rielly, Stecher, Blankenburg & Tanev don't hit a lot. MacEwen, Duhaime, Joshua & Sissons help.

Can’t register hits if your team always has the puck

 

[herman]

I’m expecting they use the Blankenburg PTO signing at a weird number to maximize the cap room when Domi is officially LTIR’d.

 

[herman]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2103207457174475137

Anthony ponders the benefits and luxury of essentially having two Willys to play with.

 

[YYZ]

Anthony ponders the benefits and luxury of essentially having two Willys to play with.

Love that's the picture they decided to go with.

 

[cw]

Can’t register hits if your team always has the puck

That might work in a fantasy league ...

I do think, with the age of their D, that it was wise to have 8 dmen.
If they suffer injuries, they have depth.
If they don't, they can give some days off.

 

[dappleganger]

That might work in a fantasy league ...

I do think, with the age of their D, that it was wise to have 8 dmen.
If they suffer injuries, they have depth.
If they don't, they can give some days off.

I hope they decide to give guys days off. It's not for bad play, stay rested, stay healthy. Play at your best.

 

[cw]

I hope they decide to give guys days off. It's not for bad play, stay rested, stay healthy. Play at your best.

Me too. 84 game season. One of the oldest rosters in the league ..

They spent a few cap bucks on this but I thought it was smart under the circumstances:
All these players have played center (Nylander not so much but he has 1,800+ faceoffs)
Matthews (L) 53.9% Roslovic (R) 45.1%
Tavares (L) 57.5% Nylander (R) 50.1%
Paul (L) 52.3% Sissons (R) 53.9%
Blueger (L) 50%

If he clear waivers, Lettieri (R) 49.1%

The top 3 lines can do strong side draws on both sides of the ice which can elevate win% by roughly 6%
If a center goes down or they want to give say, Tavares or Matthews' wrist a rest, they have the center depth to do so.

They're probably going to lose some of their guys off waivers.
But they have credible waivers exempt depth at every position
And a bunch of these Marlies are coming off winning a Calder Cup.
An older roster that has some depth to help back it up.

Management deserve some credit for that aspect of their roster construction.

The other thing I like is because of all the turnover, coaching, systems and management changes, they've pretty much settled their roster and have several days to help pull it together. The coaching strategy of focusing on a handful of the most important things was also smart.

With so much change and such a short preseason, they're at a disadvantage out the gate vs other teams that do not have big coaching/roster changes. They have wisely done their best to minimize that though it will probably cost them some in the early going.

 

[Zee]

I have no idea what to expect this season. I can see it going both ways, the Leafs might bounce back, monster seasons by Matthews/Nylander and significant growth from Knies, coupled with McKenna hitting the ground running and they could be top 3 in the division. On the other hand it could all go to hell and they miss the playoffs badly. Guess is depends on health from key guys and bounce back year from Bobrovsky.

 

[herman]

I have no idea what to expect this season. I can see it going both ways, the Leafs might bounce back, monster seasons by Matthews/Nylander and significant growth from Knies, coupled with McKenna hitting the ground running and they could be top 3 in the division. On the other hand it could all go to hell and they miss the playoffs badly. Guess is depends on health from key guys and bounce back year from Bobrovsky.

both options are actually good results for the Leafs, but the latter feels less likely to me.

What we don't want is mushy middle.