2018 Training camp/Pre-season thread

Time to get this going.

Leafs' rookie tournament is being held in Laval, Quebec from September 7-9.

Training camp will be in Niagara Falls from September 14-16.

Pre-season begins September 18 against the Sens and runs 8 games long.

Go Leafs Go!

Stupid Montreal getting the rookie tourney. I've gone to the last two and really enjoyed them.

2018 Rookie Showdown

September 7, 2018, 7:30 p.m. ET - Game No.1 Montreal Canadiens vs. Ottawa Senators
September 8, 2018, 3 p.m. ET - Game No. 2 Ottawa Senators vs. Toronto Maple Leafs
September 9, 2018, 3 p.m. ET - Game No. 3 Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

Assuming they will be broadcast on LeafsTV

Leafs invites:

PLAYER POS 2017-18 CLUB(S) ACQUIRED

Bracco, Jeremy F Toronto (AHL) 61st overall (2015)
Bradley, Matthew F Regina (WHL) Signed to AHL Contract
Brooks, Adam F Toronto (AHL) 92nd overall (2016)
Der-Arguchintsev, Semyon F Peterborough (OHL) 76th overall (2018)
Elynuik, Hudson F Spokane (WHL) Signed to AHL Contract
Estephan, Giorgio F Swift Current (WHL) / Lethbridge (WHL) Signed to AHL Contract
Ferguson, Brady F Toronto (AHL) / Robert Morris (NCAA) Signed to AHL Contract
Grundstrom, Carl F Toronto (AHL) / Frolunda (SHL) 57th overall (2016)
Marchment, Mason F Toronto (AHL) Signed to NHL Contract
McGregor, Ryan F Sarnia (OHL) 172nd overall (2017)
Moore, Ryan F Hamilton (OHL) / Flint (OHL) Signed to AHL Contract
Piccinich, JJ F Orlando (ECHL) 103rd overall (2014)
Plouffe, Derian F Toronto (AHL) / Niagara (NCAA) Signed to AHL Contract
Pooley, Scott F Toronto (AHL) / Holy Cross (NCAA) Signed to AHL Contract
Pucek, Roman F VHK Vsentin (Czech2) / HC Vsentin U18 (Czech U18) Free Agent Invite
Stotts, Riley F Calgary (WHL) / Swift Current (WHL) 83rd overall (2018)
Zummack, Eli F Spokane (WHL) Free Agent Invite

Durzi, Sean D Owen Sound (OHL) 52nd overall (2018)
Gordeev, Fedor D Flint (OHL) 141st overall (2017)
Hollowell, Mac D Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) 118th overall (2018)
Hunter, Drew D Niagara (OHL) Free Agent Invite
Kral, Filip D Spokane (WHL) 149th overall (2018)
LeBlanc, Stefan D Laval (AHL) Signed to AHL Contract
Liljegren, Timothy D Toronto (AHL) 17th overall (2017)
Lindgren, Jesper D Toronto (AHL) / HPK (Liiga) 95th overall (2015)
Nielsen, Andrew D Toronto (AHL) 65th overall (2015)
Rubins, Kristians D Medicine Hat (WHL) Free Agent Invite
Sandin, Rasmus D Rogle BK (SHL) / Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) 29th overall (2018)

Bouthillier, Zachary G Chicoutimi (QMJHL) 209th overall (2018)
Scott, Ian G Toronto (AHL) / Prince Albert (WHL) 110th overall (2017)

Deckie007 said:

Stupid Montreal getting the rookie tourney. I've gone to the last two and really enjoyed them.

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I wouldn't mind heading down to Niagara Falls for a day for training camp. Tickets are free. Might be hard for me to make it though, so it's unlikely.

Haven’t been this fired up for a season since 1994. Can’t wait to see the line combos and PP units etc. Have a feeling we add to the blue line before season starts

I think they're gonna "moneyball" the defense and spend all their cap space on F as a team philosophy. I'm interested to see how it works out.

Sens invites:

Drake Batherson (Cape Breton - QMJHL, Blainville-Boisbriand - QMJHL),
Logan Brown (Windsor - OHL, Kitchener - OHL, Ottawa - NHL),
Luka Burzan (Moose Jaw - WHL, Brandon - WHL),
Filip Chlapik (Belleville - AHL, Ottawa - NHL),
Alex Formenton (London - OHL, Belleville - AHL, Ottawa - NHL),
Parker Kelly (Prince Albert - WHL, Belleville - AHL),
Boston Leier (Acadia - AUS, Belleville - AHL),
Aaron Luchuk (Windsor - OHL, Barrie - OHL),
Robert Lynch (Drummondville - QMJHL),
Gregor MacLeod (Charlottetown - QMJHL, Quebec - QMJHL),
Ryan Scarfo (Union - ECAC, Belleville - AHL),
Jordan Stallard (Prince Albert - WHL),
Andrew Sturtz (Penn State - Big-10, Belleville - AHL),
Brady Tkachuk (Boston University - H-East),
Colin White (Belleville - AHL, Ottawa - NHL)

Jonathan Aspirot (Moncton - QMJHL),
Charles-Edouard D'Astous (Rimouski - QMJHL),
Macoy Erkamps (Brampton - ECHL, Belleville - AHL),
Christian Jaros (Belleville - AHL, Ottawa - NHL),
Maxime Lajoie (Brampton - ECHL, Belleville - AHL),
Brady Lyle (North Bay - OHL, Owen Sound - OHL),
Nicolas Mattinen (Flint - OHL, Hamilton - OHL),
Chase Stewart (Rimouski - QMJHL),
Christian Wolanin (North Dakota - NCHC, Ottawa - NHL)_

Goaltenders:
Filip Gustavsson (Luleå - SHL, Belleville - AHL),
Jordan Hollett (Medicine Hat - WHL),
Kevin Mandolese (Cape Breton - QMJHL).

Not 100% sure if training camp starts for us on the 13th or 14th. Nhl.com says 14th but I heard from a couple other sources the 13th.

Deckie007 said:

I think they're gonna "moneyball" the defense and spend all their cap space on F as a team philosophy. I'm interested to see how it works out.

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When you look at the draft history of top forwards vs top defenders, it's a lot easier to hit a homerun with an elite defender outside of the top 10 in the draft than it is with an elite forward. So it makes sense philosophically, especially given where the Leafs are roster balance wise, to spend money on the forward group and just churn defensive prospects through the system and see what sticks. Just look at what is widely considered to be the best defensive group in the league for a second:

Josi - 38th
Subban - 43rd
Ekholm - 102nd
Ellis - 11th

One first round pick, but 2 #1 defenders, and 2 other very, very good #2 or fringe #1 guys. If we can successfully draft and develop a top 4 that is even a reasonable hand drawn facsimile of that Nashville blueline, while we have the Wunderkids and Tavares in house, the Leafs would become the best team in the history of the salary cap era.

Canadiens invites:

PLAYER POS 2017-18 CLUB(S) ACQUIRED

Adams-Moisan, Morgan RW Drummondville (QMJHL) Signed to AHL contract
Addison, Jeremiah LW Laval (AHL) 207th overall (2015)
Alexandre, Alain C Blainville-Boisbrand (QMJHL) Signed to NHL contract
Bitten, William RW Hamilton (OHL) 70th overall (2016)
Evans, Jake C Notre Dame (NCAA) 207th overall (2014)
Fonstad, Cole C Prince Albert (WHL) 128th overall (2018)
Hagel, Brandon LW Red Deer (WHL) Free agent invite
Hillis, Cameron C Guelph (OHL) 66th overall (2018)
House, Samuel C Chicoutimi (QMJHL) 133rd overall (2018)
Katerinakis, Alexander RW Blainville-Boisbrand (QMJHL) Free agent invite
Kotkaniemi, Jesperi C Assat (Liiga) 3rd overall (2018)
Martineau, Phelix C Cape Breton (QMJHL) Signed to AHL contract
McShane, Allan C Oshawa (OHL) 97th overall (2018)
Pezzetta, Michael LW Sudbury (OHL) 160th overall (2016)
Teasdale, Joel LW Blainville-Boisbrand (QMJHL) Free agent invite
Vejdemo, Lukas C Djugardens (SWE) 87th overall (2015)
Verbeek, Hayden C Sault Ste. Marie (OHL) Signed to NHL contract
Waked, Antoine RW Laval (AHL) Signed to NHL contract

Anttalainen, Aleksi D Blainville-Boisbrand (QMJHL) Free agent invite
Brook, Josh D Moose Jaw (WHL) 56th overall (2017)
Fleury, Cale D Kootenay (WHL) 87th overall (2017)
Melancon, T.J. D Norfolk (ECHL) Signed to AHL contract
Moravcik, Michal D Pizen (Czech Rep) Signed to NHL contract
Plant, Adam D University of Denver (NCAA) Signed to AHL contract
Sklenicka, David D Pizen (Czech Rep) Signed to NHL contract
Tyszka, Jarret D Seattle (WHL) 149th overall (2017)
Walford, Scott D Victoria (WHL) 68th overall (2017)

Dhillon, Stephen G Niagara (OHL) Free agent invite
Harvey, Samuel G Rouyn-Noranda (QMJHL) Free agent invite
McNiven, Michael G Laval (AHL) Signed to NHL contract

Can't confirm if LeafsTV is broadcasting, but they have in the past. RDS looks to be broadcasting in french.

leafs TV has broadcasted in the past, but right now their schedule still doesn't show it

Well in the past wasnt thw tournament run by the leafs and played in London?

trujaysfan said:

Well in the past wasnt thw tournament run by the leafs and played in London?

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Or last year, at Ricoh coliseum so it's in our backyard.

I will assume that since RDS has a french feed, that LeafsTV will have a couple of guys in the booth for an english feed. Hendricks is already pumping training camp, so my guess is that he'll be in Laval.

Anyone watching the rookie game?

First 10 minutes, Leafs looked like they were on an extended powerplay against the Senators. Look well coached.

Trying to catch the 2nd and 3rd period. How does marchment look? IMO one of the more intriguing guys who could play a role this year

Killer93 said:

Haven’t been this fired up for a season since 1994. Can’t wait to see the line combos and PP units etc. Have a feeling we add to the blue line before season starts

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I started watching in '98 and yes this is the most excited I've been for a season. Bought a jersey for my 10 month old too. We are ready to go.

Durzi kid is intriguing.

Watching it on and off on RDS and thus far I think Liljegren and SDA have stood out the most to me