Maple Leafs Quick Hits: Matthews, McKenna & Bobrovsky

The Toronto Maple Leafs are just about through the preseason, and after two games, there is at least a little something to chew on. Toronto has scored 10 goals and given up only three in its two split-squad games, and the coaching staff seems pretty happy with what it has seen.

Of course, nobody is handing out trophies for preseason results. But there are little things worth watching. Auston Matthews is setting a tone, Gavin McKenna is figuring out the NHL game remarkably quickly, and Sergei Bobrovsky is reminding everyone why the Leafs wanted him in the first place.

Quick Hit One: Auston Matthews Sets the Tone.

The Maple Leafs won 6-1 over an Ottawa lineup that was missing plenty of regulars, but Jim Hiller wasn't talking about the score afterward. He was talking about Auston Matthews. Hiller pointed to Matthews' first couple of shifts, particularly his willingness to track back and lift sticks. On the first goal, Matthews' work coming back through the neutral zone allowed Oliver Ekman-Larsson to stand up, and the Maple Leafs eventually turned the play into a goal.

That's the sort of thing Hiller has been talking about all camp. Build the foundation first. And if the best player on the team is willing to set that example, well, the rest of the room tends to notice.

Related: Did the Maple Leafs Give Up on Dennis Hildeby Too Soon?

Quick Hit Two: Gavin McKenna Is Figuring It Out.

Gavin McKenna looked considerably more comfortable in his second preseason game, and Hiller noticed it immediately. The interesting part wasn't simply that McKenna made plays. He seemed to understand where the extra time and space were coming from. Against Montreal, he occasionally lost the puck because an NHL player arrived much quicker than he expected. Against Ottawa, he appeared to make that adjustment almost naturally.

Hiller also said the biggest surprise so far has been McKenna's skating and straight-line speed. Add in his ability to draw penalties, and there's suddenly another intriguing part of his game. It is still preseason, of course. But this young player is making the coaches look pretty closely.

Quick Hit Three: Bobrovsky Looks Like Bobrovsky.

Sergei Bobrovsky couldn’t do much about the Leafs' 6-1 scoreline except enjoy the view from the other end. But when Ottawa did create a couple of dangerous chances, he was there. Hiller specifically mentioned a power-play one-timer from Shane Pinto that Bobrovsky stopped through a screen. Then came a late glove save that drew the sort of reaction great goaltending always gets.

That's what Toronto wanted when it brought Bobrovsky aboard. The Maple Leafs don't need him to make 40 spectacular saves every night. They need him to make the important ones when the game is on the line.

Now What for the Maple Leafs?

There are still questions. Matthew Knies hasn't exactly grabbed preseason by the throat, Nick Paul left the Ottawa game with what Hiller believes isn't a serious injury, and nobody knows yet how all these pieces will look when the games actually count.

But the foundation is starting to look interesting. The Maple Leafs are talking about defence, work without the puck, penalty killing and physical play. They're also getting some encouraging signs from the young players and a glimpse of what Bobrovsky can provide in net.

That's a pretty good place to be with the real season just around the corner.

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