TSN Toronto reporter Mark Masters checks in with news and notes from Maple Leafs practices and game-day skates. 

- When the Leafs were on the clock at the 2015 draft both Mitch Marner and Noah Hanifin believed they had a chance to be picked fourth overall. "Obviously, it's pretty nerve-wracking," Marner said recalling that moment. "You hear speculation and things, but you don't know what's really going to go on." Toronto, of course, opted for Marner and the Hurricanes took Hanifin next. "I played with Mitch a lot when I was a kid so I was happy for him," Hanifin said. "He's a hometown kid here. I knew there was the possibility I could've went (to Toronto), but I didn't want to expect anything. I just wanted to be prepared for whatever happened. The result that did happen, I'm extremely happy. We have a young group here in Carolina, great coaching staff, it's a great organization so I'm really happy with what happened." There's plenty of respect between both players. However, Marner readily admits that Hanifin got the better of him when they took batting practice before a Miami Marlins game during draft week. "I was pretty bad," Marner said sheepishly. "I didn't do too well. I think I maybe got four or five balls to the outfield." Hanifin laughed when asked about that experience. "Being an American kid, I may have had a little bit of an advantage in a cage," he explained. 

- Hanifin made a pretty smooth transition from college into the NHL last season while Marner was sent back to the London Knights. As a result, the Marner-Hanifin debate was relived every time Carolina faced Toronto last season with fans and media wondering if the Leafs really made the right choice. But head coach Mike Babcock noted that the extra year of seasoning in the OHL was incredibly important for the undersized winger. "He got stronger. Unlike Hanifin, who played right away in the NHL, we sent Mitch back for a year to dominate, be a captain and win a championship and I think all those things are good." Babcock met with Hanifin and his parents in the lead up to the draft and came away impressed. "They got a real good player in him. Obviously, we made the decision to go with Mitch. They like their guy and we like our guy." While both Hanifin and Marner look like they'll be good for a long time, Babcock pointed out that the learning curve tends to be steeper for blue liners. "I think it takes d-men longer, it takes centres longer, anyone who has defensive responsibility it takes them longer, but, in saying that, the really gifted players seem to be really good right away and don't seem to take too much time adjusting to the league."

- Auston Matthews and Hanifin will put their friendship on hold tonight. "The first time I played with him was when we were eight or nine so I've known him for quite a bit of time now," Matthews said. "He's a very, very special player. I imagine it will be very competitive tonight." It's actually quite fitting that Toronto will be the site of their first NHL meeting. "I think my first youth hockey tournament was actually in Toronto and Auston was on my team," said Hanifin, who noted that their team, the Boston Junior Bruins, won the tournament. "He's just a man out there," said Matthews. "Ever since he was young. He's always been just an unbelievable skater, he sees the ice really well, he's very competitive, physical, he hates to lose battles." The pair, who played for Team USA at the world juniors and also the most recent world championship, texted a bit last week and hoped to meet up Monday night, but it didn't end up happening. Hanifin hopes they can catch-up after the game. The Boston College product was asked how Matthews, goalless in 12, handled slumps as a junior player. "When I was playing with him he was scoring quite a bit, but just knowing Auston as a kid, he's a very mentally tough kid. He works extremely hard and he really wants to get better every day," Hanifin said. "We're both pretty competitive guys so we'll be battling out there."

- Bill Peters had a question for the Toronto media as he walked into his scrum on Tuesday morning. "Who's the Leafs placekicker? Anyone know? He keeps missing the extra points!" The Hurricanes head coach then looked down at a sheet of paper listing the most recent Leafs wins at the Air Canada Centre (Toronto has scored six goals in four of its last five home games). "Use one of those 23 roster spots on a point-after dude and you got seven!" After the laughter subsided, Peters was asked what his team can do to slow down the ACC goal-spree. "Well, you got to slow them down by having the puck," Peters explained. "You got make sure they play a little defence too and you got to be good through the neutral zone and efficient leaving your D zone. D zone transition against this team will be important tonight." Babcock, for his part, is expecting a low-scoring affair. "They have a good, young team. Real good back end that makes it hard on you. They play tight," Babcock said. "There's not going to be a lot of room out there for either team so whoever works the hardest, generates more junk it front of the net, is going to have a chance to win."

- Peters has been friends with Babcock for years and served as an assistant on his staff in Detroit. So this morning Peters couldn't help but take a jab at his old mentor when asked why he flipped Teuvo Teräväinen and Jeff Skinner onto different lines at Carolina's skate. "No different than what they do, right? It looks like they have a line that plays at home and a line that plays on the road, not that I notice that, but that's what I would say they do," Peters said with a shrug before breaking into a big smile. "Hey, he's got to earn his money somehow. So, it looks like that's what Babs is going to do to try and justify his paycheque." Babcock has had William Nylander and Connor Brown switch lines in the last two road games, which he says creates a more balanced alignment and less mismatches. 

- Peters was in fine form this morning pulling out a few good one liners. On stopping the Leafs power play: "Don't put it on display a whole bunch. I watched it this morning in their pre-game skate, that's about enough. We watched it on video. We don't need to see it in person." The Leafs have the ninth-best PP (21.6%) in the NHL this season. "Be disciplined and check with your feet and not your stick," said Peters when pressed for more details. Carolina has the NHL's best PK this season (91.3%). As for Eddie Lack, who sustained a concussion at practice yesterday, Peters was asked if the goalie is considered day to day. "We're all day to day," Peters said. "Don't take it for granted. We're day to day."

- The departure of captain Eric Staal has created a new dynamic in the Carolina dressing room. "The guy who it has impacted the most is Jeff Skinner," Peters said. "From the trade deadline on last year, Skinner has been a better player, been a big part of what we're doing. He has grown into that leadership role. It feels like Skinny's been in the league forever, but he hasn't. He's still a young guy, still getting better as he goes. He's more competitive, he's stayed healthy, which is important for anybody. He's a guy we lean on for offence. We need him to generate offence here tonight." Skinner is tied for the Hurricanes scoring lead with 15 points in 16 games. Peters believes that the 24-year-old would defer a bit to Staal earlier in his career. "That’s human nature amongst young guys, right. They don't want to step on any toes, they are very respectful. What (Staal's departure) does too is it opens up ice time." Skinner is averaging 18:49 TOI/G so far this season, which is up from 16:17 last season. 

- Nikita Zaitsev played a career-high 26:18 on Saturday in Montreal. With Martin Marincin scratched, the Russian rookie took on a role with the penalty kill to go along with his power play duties. After practice on Monday, Babcock acknowledged that he's still trying to figure out how much to use Zaitsev. "Is playing him on the power play and penalty kill too much for him? I don't know the answer to that, but we'll work it out over time," the coach noted. At the morning skate on Tuesday, Zaitsev was on the PK during special teams drills. 

Lines at Leafs morning skate:

Forwards

Hyman-Matthews-Nylander
van Riemsdyk-Bozak-Marner
Komarov-Kadri-Brown
Martin-Smith-Soshnikov 
Extras: Holland, Leivo

Defence

Rielly-Zaitsev
Hunwick-Polak
Gardiner-Carrick 
Extras: Marincin-Corrado 

Goalies

Andersen starts 
Enroth 

* PP units at Leafs morning skate:

Gardiner
Matthews-Kadri-Nylander 
Komarov 

Rielly
Carrick-Bozak-Marner
JVR