Max Pacioretty among Maple Leafs who can't get enough of 'meaningless' pre-season games
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High-profile NHLers injured in pre-season games — names such as Drew Doughty and Patrik Laine — along with close calls to Artemi Panarin and Macklin Celebrini, have increased calls to cut the number of ‘meaningless’ games or at least keep star participation to a minimum.
But that’s a hard sell for those who crave exhibitions as a season primer. The Leafs are a case in point with two potential top-six forwards needing to get in game shape while others are fighting for spots as training camp approaches an end.
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Max Pacioretty among Maple Leafs who can't get enough of 'meaningless' pre-season games Back to video
Max Pacioretty, Toronto’s 35-year-old left winger, made the trip to Detroit on Thursday when most of the regulars stayed home, and he likely wouldn’t object to getting into Saturday’s home date versus Wings as well when close to the opening-night roster is expected to play.
This is the first summer in a while that Pacioretty could train normally versus rehabbing serious ankle issues and he’s also on a PTO contract, though expected to have a firm deal by next week.
“I know a few top-end guys have gotten injured,” Pacioretty said before the Leafs departed. “When that’s the case, (resting top players) is a little more under the microscope, big names in big markets. There’s a lot of buzz (about the future of pre-season games).
“I’ve always felt (that he should playing a lot in pre-season). In Carolina, I remember telling (coach) Rod Brind’Amour before I got injured that I wanted to get in as many as possible. He was like: ‘Really’? And I said yes, especially with coming to a new team, new atmosphere. It’s hard to switch teams (three times for Pacioretty the past three years).”
Max Domi, among those not going to Detroit, joked that he’d like to totally skip the exhibition exercise since most players now spend the better part of the summer gearing up for the season. But he understood the need for games as a scouting tool and for newcomers to get acclimatized to the league.
Also heading to Detroit was winger Calle Jarnkrok, limited to one exhibition game so far by a lower-body injury. His second-line right wing promotion will be realized if he inherits the spot created if William Nylander sticks at centre with Domi on the left.
Nylander and first-liners Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies also didn’t fly to Detroit.
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NO HARD FEELINGS
Laine will be out a couple of months with a sprained knee, but fared better than teammate David Reinbacher in last Saturday’s costly game against Toronto.
Before Laine had to be helped from the Bell Centre ice after a knee-on-knee collision with Toronto farmhand Cedric Pare, Reinbacher landed awkwardly on his knee following a clean hit by Toronto defenceman Marshall Rifai. Following surgery, he’ll be out five to six months.
Laine told Montreal media on Thursday he appreciated getting a text from Pare inquiring about his condition after the 2-1 Leafs win.
“Give him respect for that, but it was just an unfortunate play,” Laine said. “I don’t think anybody’s trying to hurt anybody. Hockey’s a fast game. I kind of put myself in that situation a little bit.”
Laine had tried to dart between two Leafs skaters at full throttle and Pare’s reflex action was to turn into him.
“(Pare) is trying to make a stop, but it’s just an unfortunate collision,” Laine said.
Pare had stated likewise, but expected to get confronted by Laine’s teammate, Arber Xhekaj, who went right after him as soon as they were on the ice together, pummeling Pare with a gloved fist.
MARLIES START CAMP
The first cuts weren’t the deepest as the old song goes, but there are now some unhappy campers at the Ford Centre.
In officially creating a farm team Marlies practice group on Thursday, general manager Brad Treliving and coach Craig Berube shaved 21 players from Leafs camp.
“You’ve got to get your team (numbers) down,” Berube said as the clock ticks towards Wednesday’s opener in Montreal. “It doesn’t mean they can’t get back up here at some point. They’ve had good camps, but you can’t keep everybody.”
Forward Nick Abruzzese, who has been trying to stick since he was a mid-round draft pick in 2019, was the only one of six NHL contracts placed on waivers. He’s been in 11 career Leafs games. If he clears waivers, he will be joined on the Marlies by forwards Braeden Kressler and Ty Voit, defenceman William Villeneuve and goalies Dennis Hildeby and Vyacheslav Peksa. Hildeby has three netminders ahead of him on the Leafs depth chart and will likely start as the Marlies’ No. 1 again after a fine rookie year.
AHLers sent down were Matt Barbolini, Jacob Frasca, Mathieu Gosselin, Robert Mastrosimone, Marko Sikic, Zach Solow, Sam Stevens and defencemen Matt Anderson, Jacob Bengtsson, Ryan McCleary, Tommy Miller and Chas Sharpe.
There was some good news for tryout defenceman Rhett Parsons, who signed a two-year AHL contract after getting cut, having done well in development and rookie camp.
Tryout forward Brandon Lisowsky is also now with the Marlies, as is goalie Jon Gillies, in camp on an NHL PTO.
DON’T RUSH HIM
Russian winger Nikita Grebenkin was deemed ready enough for his first English media interviews on Thursday.
While the 2022 mid-round selection from Magnitogorsk has impressed Berube on the ice, has neem well-received by teammates and loves the dressing room camaraderie, it has been a struggle to find his way around town not being able to speak much.
“I like Toronto, I enjoy the days,” the 21-year-old declared. “Every day, I practise from Russian to English. I’m a fun guy, I have some very (satisfying) moments (reaching language milestones). I work on English with a teacher many hours.
“Four months ago, my English was very, very bad. Zero. Now it’s better.”
CALLE GETS THE CALL
Jarnkrok termed his lower-body injury “nothing crazy” and said he’s otherwise enjoyed the buzz of camp under new coach Berube.“
“We have a great group,” he said. “It’s a new season, a deep group without too many spots open.”
He’s is also excited about Swedish countryman Oliver Ekman-Larsson being added as a free agent on defence.
“We’re the same age (33) and grew up playing together for the national team. He’s a great player, an even greater guy.”
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