4 Things We Learned From Maple Leafs in Preseason

McKenna will most likely start on the second line to start the season, which is the best course of action. He’s already showing that he’s hungry for more of an important role and could elevate his place in the lineup sooner than later. He already saw some time with captain Auston Matthews and he was already impressed with the way the line possessed the puck and dominated the offensive zone. It’s not that if McKenna can be on the top line, but more so when. 

Not to dive into preseason stats too much, but when McKenna was on the ice at five-on-five, the Maple Leafs had a sizeable advantage in expected goals (76.03%), scoring chances (75%) and high danger chances (73.33%). He also wasn’t on for a goal against. He was dominating from the start and he was consistent in doing so, elevating and improving his game in a short time. He will be ready for a top line role because of his confidence, smarts and skill with the puck. 

More Dangerous on the Rush

Long gone are the days of the old dump and chase style that really was ineffective for the Maple Leafs. With a new head coach in Jim Hiller and a different philosophy to be more mobile and in sync with their breakouts, the Maple Leafs are starting to show that as a unit.  

While the clip above, mainly shows McKenna, it’s the mindset for the Maple Leafs to attack quickly and with possession rather than just get behind the defense and create a 50-50 puck battle. All four lines are rolling and are striking quickly in transition, something that the team struggled with last season. Even Matthews had a speed burst of 35 km/h in the first game as he rushes from one end to the other.

Adding players with more speed throughout the lineup that can play that style is certainly helping. Jack Roslovic, Nick Paul all have shown their ability to create rush opportunities and set up an attack in the offensive zone. Even someone like Zach MacEwen is showing he can do more than just drop gloves and jump into the attack. It’s been some time, but seeing a team that can skate as a unit and attack directly is a great sight to see. 

Knies’ Struggles Shouldn’t be a Concern

While there were a lot of positives to take for the Maple Leafs during their preseason, the one concern that was evident was the play of Matthew Knies. He just didn’t stand out as many had hoped for after he had another strong and impressive season with 66 points in 79 games.

Knies looked to be fighting with the puck a lot and struggled to make himself open and wasn’t as impactful as he normally is. Again, it’s preseason. It was probably Knies just getting up to game speed and will be ready for when the season and games start to matter. But he just wasn’t the Knies that many have seen previously in the two games that he played. 

Call it nerves or shaking everything off after an offseason of constant trade rumours, even before the trade deadline, Knies actually now has the time to focus on his game as he’s going to once again play a pivotal role for this team. It shouldn’t be a concern, but noticing that he wasn’t the dominating power forward he is, did show.

Bobrovsky Looks Sharp

Sergei Bobrovsky is showing why the Maple Leafs committed to him with a three-year contract. On the ice, he’s showing why management has faith in him as he has looked really sharp. He’s already making some big saves. Even though he’s 37 years old, he’s still showing why he can be one of the top goaltenders in the league. 

It’s not just with his on ice play, but his leadership and presence in the locker room alone is having a great impact. Hiller is already mentioning the respect he gets given his veteran status. If Bobrovsky can continue to provide the mindset on and off the ice, that’ll bode well for the Maple Leafs.