In this edition of Toronto Maple Leafs’ Quick Hits, I’ll look at some of the young prospects who will be headed to the upcoming prospects tournament. Second, I’ll look at what I think Jordie Benn’s role will be on the team’s defense this season.
Quick Hit One: The Maple Leafs Prospect Tournament Schedule
The Maple Leafs will play four games in Traverse City, Michigan. Game one will be with the Dallas Stars on Thursday, September 15th. On Friday, the team plays the St. Louis Blues. They end the tournament against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Sunday. The team’s final game will be against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday, September 19th.
Quick Hit Two: Maple Leafs’ Prospects Tournament Should Be Great Fun
The upcoming Prospects Tournament should be great fun to watch. Yesterday, the Maple Leafs announced that they would send a 27-man roster to participate in the 2022 Traverse City Prospect Tournament. Some great young talent showing up for the team include Nick Robertson, Alex Steeves, and Nick Abruzzese.
Last season, the 21-year-old Robertson played 10 games with the Maple Leafs and picked up his first NHL regular-season goal. It will be his third prospects tournament showing.
The 22-year-old Steeves got into three games with the Maple Leafs and registered an assist. Although he was on the Maple Leafs’ roster last season, he was injured in the first game of the tournament so it was pretty much a wash for him.
This will be Abruzzese’s first prospects tournament. Last March, as soon as the NCAA season had concluded, the 23-year-old left Harvard University to sign with the Maple Leafs. He played in nine games with the Maple Leafs and scored a single goal in those games.
Quick Hit Three: Don’t Count Out Jordie Benn this Season
Because I had watched Jordie Benn play with the Vancouver Canucks, I wasn’t surprised with the Maple Leafs signed him during the offseason. When he was with the Canucks for parts of two seasons, I thought he played reasonably well. He certainly isn’t an exciting puck carrier, but then the Canucks have one of the best in Quinn Hughes so Benn wasn’t needed.
What Benn did do well was to play second fiddle and ride shotgun for Hughes (and others) when he was there. Benn’s signing early in the offseason looked like a wise depth addition just in case there was an injury. I sensed that he probably wouldn’t be an everyday player unless, of course, an injury occured.
I’m sure that, at the age of 35, Benn doesn’t have huge expectations for playing every day. However, for Maple Leafs’ fans who don’t know his game, it’s simple, straightforward, and safe – but, not that exciting. But, he’s not the kind of a player who’ll make a ton of mistakes. And, that’s a good thing when the team needs someone to come in and provide some extra minutes.
My sense is that, when hockey fans and pundits suggest that he’s competing against other young defensemen like Topi Niemala, or Mikko Kokkonen, or Victor Mete for an opening-game spot, that’s not exactly right. There really won’t be much competition.
I guess that Benn knows his role on the team. He’s a safe landing space in case there’s an injury on the defensive corps. He’s the step-in guy. And, I believe the team will be – unfortunately – happy they have him around. Injuries do happen.
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