Within sight of fans at fine-dining tables and a wine cellar, the Maple Leafs will begin taking a much more scenic route to the ice for Saturday’s home opener.
The new MNP Pass Social Club, with a corresponding platinum seat behind the players benches was to be operational with “Smartglass” allowing about 200 members to see the Leafs, the visiting team (plus the Raptors and their opponent) as they exit the dressing room to the ice. The 7,350 square foot tunnel area was part of the $350 million renovations to Scotiabank Arena.
“That’s cool,” said forward Max Domi. “But our room is the exact same and the ice is the same. I don’t think those things matter to us.”
The debate whether Leafs truly enjoy home ice advantage continues to heavily debated. The Leafs have a large segment of “corporate” fans in their season ticket base who tend to be less demonstrative, especially on a weeknight, while Saturdays and the occasional “Next Generation” game with younger patrons are louder.
“It’s still a hockey game and you have to execute,” Domi said. “Sometimes the key is to play a road game at home.”
WELCOME BACK
It was the official homecoming for East York’s Chris Tanev.
“We’ve had a few (exhibitions) under the belt to get to know the group,” the defenceman said. “It will be fun to get in there for my first home opener. No matter what team you’re on (Tanev was with Vancouver and Calgary), it’s bumping and it’s sold out.”
Tanev says he settled his family and friends’ ticket requests.
‘All good, nothing crazy.”
BUNT SIGNAL
Former Leaf Michael Bunting is better adjusted to Pittsburgh after this training camp, having been acquired from Carolina by old Toronto GM Kyle Dubas at last year’s trade deadline. He was part of the package for Jake Guentzel, The Pens missed the playoffs, Carolina won one round.
Naturally, the scrappy Scarborough winger is in awe of watching Sidney Crosby close-up.
“He’s got so much going on (team captain, top scorer, prep for the 4 Nations Face-Off, charity work and commercials). But he’s so humble. And he has time to talk (to himself, 1-on-1 to help with Bunting’s adjustment).”
Bunting is doing well in that department says head coach Mike Sullivan.
“The more time you get to spend with players, the better you get to know them, personally off the ice and on ice with their habits,” Sullivan said. “You get a better idea of what might make them tick. Bunts has been a really good player for us. He seems to have fit into our lineup really well, has played a lot with Geno (Evgeni Malkin).
“He drags people into the fight so to speak and that’s an asset in this game that has really helped our team.”
RED, WHITE AND BLUE
Sullivan was going to pay a little extra attention to Auston Matthews on Saturday.
He’s also coach of Team USA for the 4 Nations and Leaf captain Matthews is one of the Americans’ pre-determined selections for next February’s event.
“Auston and I, we’ve had conversations about that already,” Sullivan said. “I try to be respectful of (players’) time and space. But certainly we will continue to have conversations at opportune times.”
DANFORD RETURNS TO PLAY
This year’s No. 1 Leaf pick, Ben Danford, who missed rookie camp and some of Leafs’ main camp with a concussion, has played three games for the Oshawa Generals with one assist as of Saturday morning.
“I didn’t realy get the full experience , but it was still cool,” Danford told Terry Johnston of CKDO Radio this week. “I got to meet all the players. After the draft, I got to golfing with (former Generals captain) John Tavares and went up to his cottage. Just a high character person, very welcoming. He tried to show me the ropes, someone I can look up to in terms of preparation.”
LOOSE LEAFS
Saturday’s pre-game was to be another appearance by Toronto’s 48th Highlanders Pipe band, who’ve played at every home opener since 1931 … Toronto coach Craig Berube wasn’t much of a sentimentalist about keeping the puck from his first win in New Jersey the other night. Rookie goalie Dennis Hildeby got it for his first NHL win and Berube was fine with that … Some SBA renovations are continuing into the regular season, including eventual “frictionless” security gates to speed up building entry.
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