It wasn’t a very long camp and game-schedule for the Maple Leafs rookies last week compared to previous seasons, but they couldn’t escape some injuries.
After losing this year’s first-round pick, defenceman Ben Danford, on Thursday during an intrasquad scrimmage, centre Fraser Minten couldn’t finish the final period of Sunday’s 5-4 win in Montreal over the Canadiens’ prospects. The Leafs’ 2022 high second-rounder was pulled from the game for precautionary reasons with a suspected leg injury.
The victory gave Toronto a sweep of the mini-series — both one-goal decisions.
Until being shoved hard into the Bell Centre boards by Canadiens’ David Reinbacher, Minten was having a standout weekend with left winger Easton Cowan. It was Cowan who squeezed a third-period power play goal through goalie Matteo Drobac to clinch the see-saw match on Sunday.
Marlies coach John Gruden, who ran the rookies’ team, said Minten would be evaluated upon their return to Toronto.
Danford absorbed a similar kind of hit from behind by Marshall Finnie, though it was a head or neck issue that scratched the young defenceman from the weekend set.
Free-agent invite Finnie was certainly on the Habs’ radar Sunday when he shook up one of their best prospects, second-round defenceman Lane Hutson, before scoring Toronto’s fourth goal.
Also getting rattled by a heavy hit Sunday was Toronto defenceman Noah Chadwick, one of the chippy moments that triggered some fights during the two-game set.
“An exciting game, a great environment (the sold-out rink was loud), great atmosphere and our guys did what they had to do to win,” Gruden said. “We had a little bend-but-don’t-break mentality (as in Saturday’s 4-3 shootout).
“We said in the locker room, this should give them some confidence going into main training camp (later this week), against pros and men that are established. They held themselves extremely well.”
Nikita Grebenkin was on a solid line through camp with Cowan and Minten, though Grebenkin was a scratch on Sunday.
WEBBER WASTES NO TIME
Lanky defenceman Cade Webber had a strong week for the Leafs. The Boston University grad was effective on both sides of the puck, particularly late in Saturday’s win. On Sunday, he and defence partner Topi Niemela combined to assist forward Roni Hirvonen’s opening goal.
“I like his skating,” Gruden said of Webber. “For a big guy (6-foot-7) he moves extremely well. He’s got a good stick and he’s positionally sound. He made big plays at key moments I’d say to clean up things on Aisle 5. He did a really good job of keeping things in front of him and using his length to create some turnovers.”
ON WITH THE SHOW
After four months to get past a Game 7 defeat to Boston in the first round and train for another season with a new coach and team captain, the Leafs begin on Wednesday with camp medicals. Some of the new players are expected to speak on Monday at the Leafs alumni golf tournament.
Many of the Leafs have been training around North America and Europe while a group that’s on the bubble has been working out all summer at the Ford Performance Centre.
NUMBERS GAME
New Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment president Keith Pelley has assured his priority is not about selling new sweaters.
But if you missed the official Leafs newcomer number designation which was posted in the past few days and are a big Chris Tanev fan, the new defenceman will be wearing No. 8 in Toronto. Also on the blueline, Oliver Ekman-Larsson will don No. 95 and, whenever his knee is sturdy enough to play on, Jani Hakanpaa will take No. 28.
Up front, the expectation is veteran Max Pacioretty will retain his No. 67 (he’ll begin on a PTO and thus has no registered number yet). PTO forward Steven Lorentz has worn different numbers throughout his career, but the
No. 11 he had in Florida is already being worn by second-year Leafs forward Max Domi.
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz will take No. 41, the first at his position in Toronto to wear that.
LOOSE LEAFS
Niemela, a Kyle Dubas draft pick, totalled five assists in the two-game series at the Bell Centre. As a Marlie last year, he had 31 helpers. “With time and space in the offensive zone, he does a really good job of creating space for himself and his teammate,” Gruden said … Hirvonen had two goals on Sunday, as he continues a full recovery from an eye injury that cost him half the 2023-24 season with the Marlies … Seventh-round (in 2024) left winger Sam McCue had the other goal for the Leafs prospects … Former Leaf James van Riemsdyk, who was in the mix to come back on a PTO before the Pacioretty offer went through, will join the the Columbus Blue Jackets on a camp invite. Both men are 35 … After Dennis Hildeby preserved Saturday’s win in overtime and shootout, Sunday was split between Russian draft picks Vyacheslav Peksa and Artur Akhtyamov.
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