The Maple Leafs beat the Senators 6-1 at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday in a split-squad pre-season game. Toronto also beat Ottawa 4-2 at Canadian Tire Centre.
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The Leafs have held a bonding trip in Muskoka at the end of training camp the last few seasons. But instead of hopping on a bus and driving to cottage country this year, the team will be flying to Scottsdale, Ariz.
“Just a new year, fresh start, wanted to do something different,” explained general manager John Chayka. “[MLSE president and CEO] Keith Pelley actually brought it up to say, ‘You know, feels like Muskoka’s great, everyone loves it, but it’s getting a little stale.’”
So, Chayka asked Brad Lynn, the Leafs director of team operations, to put together a list of other places for a bonding trip.
“I think he’s the best in the league at what he does and so he came with four or five options and we talked about pros and cons,” Chayka said.
There is, of course, one big pro to Arizona. It also happens to be the home of captain Auston Matthews.
“Obviously, look, it’s meaningful to Auston, [his] hometown,” Chayka said. “This is all about getting to know each other better and spending meaningful time together. So, for him it’s an opportunity to show guys where he grew up and what he means to the community there. And obviously nice weather, a chance for guys to go and be themselves and spend some time together. That’s pretty much it.”
Matthews will host the players at his place one night. Chayka, who previously served as Arizona Coyotes general manager, also has a place there and will host team staff.
“Just getting to know people in our own homes is nice,” Chayka noted.
There will be golfing and dinners among the bonding activities. The team will also hit the ice for a practice at Mullett Arena, the former home of the Coyotes, on Saturday.
It’s bound to be a memorable trip, but it’s also a long way to go so close to the start of the regular season. The team departs on Thursday after practice and returns on Saturday night.
“With the way we travel now, we’re pretty lucky too, so whether we’re stuck in cottage traffic or on a plane, we didn’t feel like it makes a big difference,” Chayka stressed.
The Leafs will have a day off on Sunday and a practice on Monday before opening the regular season on Tuesday against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena. Toronto will then host the New York Islanders on Wednesday.
The Leafs wrapped up their pre-season schedule on Wednesday, which created a five-day break between games.
“We felt like the timing worked,” Chayka said. “All the travel and the time that we can get back before the first game, it just seemed to work out for us.”
The bonding trip is taking on added meaning this season with so many new faces in the organization. Chayka and new senior executive advisor Mats Sundin turned over almost half the roster during their first few months on the job and also made significant changes to the front office, support staff and coaching staff.
“We got a lot of new faces,” Chayka said. “New coaches, a lot of new staff, so just getting all the guys together as much as we can we think’s important.”
The trip also comes at a time when Canada and the United States are engaged in a trade war, but the geopolitical situation did not factor into the team’s decision-making process.
“I think what’s great about sports is it’s unifying and no matter what political spectrum you’re on or what religion you might be, you come to a game and everyone is a Leafs fan,” Chayka said. “We’ll do some community initiatives there as well and do some things that connect with people and that’s what it’s about for us.”
Chayka revealed that Wisconsin was on the short list of options this year with defenceman Jake McCabe, who is from the Badger State, advocating for that.
“So, that might be on the horizon,” Chayka said. “We’ll see as we move it around. I know we’re looking to go out East as well and, again, it just felt like this was the right one for this year and then we’ll take it from there.”
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Third-line centre Nick Paul left Wednesday’s pre-season finale with an undisclosed injury.
“I don’t think it’s too serious, I talked to him after,” said coach Jim Hiller. “But we’ll know a little bit more [on Thursday].”
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After being held off the scoresheet in Saturday’s debut, Gavin McKenna picked up his first pre-season point, a secondary assist, in Wednesday’s win in Toronto.
“I thought I had more puck touches and made a few more plays,” the 18-year-old winger said. “Yeah, I felt good out there. I think that’s good going into the first game.”
What led to more puck touches?
“I think just being around the puck a little bit more,” McKenna said. “First game, maybe a bit timid and then, yeah, I wanted to be around it a bit more and supporting it.”
It’s not taking long for the first-overall pick in the draft to figure out how his game fits at the NHL level. He appeared to have the puck on a string on Wednesday and finished the night plus-three.
“I think it speaks to the quality of the player,” observed linemate John Tavares. “From one game to the next you see a massive improvement and just how quick he can get comfortable.”
“He really settled in,” agreed McCabe. “Had the puck on a stick a lot. You know, a lot of quick plays to a lot of guys out there, give-and-goes and creating space for himself and his teammates. Yeah, lots of great flashes for him.”
McKenna drew one penalty and probably could have elicited a couple other calls as well.
Hiller had heard all about McKenna’s agility and puck skills before, but did not realize that skating would also be a big asset.
“If you ask me, ‘What’s the one part of his game that has caught you off guard?’ I would say it’s his skating,” the coach revealed. “It’s his speed. I don’t know if he was talked about that way, but his skating and his straightaway speed has been really good.”
It was a point of emphasis for McKenna during the off-season.
“It was a big key for me this summer,” the Whitehorse native confirmed. “You know, this is a fast league. Guys can skate in this league. So, yeah, for me, I think that’s something I pride myself in. I want to be a good skater and, you know, be deceptive with it. and I think it helped me out [Wednesday with] creating a bit more space for myself.”
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Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 13 of 14 shots while playing the full 60 minutes in Toronto on Wednesday night. It was a vintage performance from the 38-year-old.
“I think that’s what you love about Sergei,” Tavares said. “I mean, he said it to me this morning, ‘A game is a game.’ No matter when it is, what time of the year, the meaning to it, the game is meaningful, it’s purposeful, it’s special, and you want to go out there and prepare and treat them all the same. He loves to do what he does. He’s very diligent, he’s very prepared, and there’s a lot of joy to him as well.”
Bobrovsky’s best moment came in the third period with the Senators on a two-man advantage when he denied Tim Stutzle on a one-time chance right in front of the net.
“Bailed me out there,” McCabe said with a grin. “Yeah, you don’t really want to be chasing the corner in a five-on-three. Better get the puck, and I didn’t. But Bob, I told him I knew he had that one. Yeah, it’s nice to have Sergei back there. He’s just rock solid, a very calming presence for us.”
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Leafs lines in Toronto:
Knies - Matthews - Roslovic
McKenna - Tavares - Nylander
Cowan - Paul - Sissons
Pezzetta - Groulx - McEwan
McCabe - Tanev
Rielly - Raddysh
Ekman-Larsson - Stecher
Bobrovsky
Akhtyamov
Leafs lines in Ottawa:
Lorentz - Blueger - Duhaime
Brisson - Koblar - Lettieri
Quillan - Haymes - Tverberg
Sim - Rybinski - Holinka
Rifai - Blankenburg
Andrae - Myers
Smith - Danford
Stolarz
Hlavaj
