The Toronto Maple Leafs have played more than half of their preseason games. While the majority of the roster is set in stone, several players are playing for a full-time NHL job, either with Toronto or with another team.
So, let’s take a look at some standouts from so far:
Nicholas Robertson
After a tumultuous offseason in which Nicholas Robertson requested a trade, the winger ultimately signed a one-year, $875k deal with the Maple Leafs. So far, Robertson is showing why he belongs in the top six with the big club permanently.
Robertson has scored three goals in three preseason games. This includes a two-goal performance in the last game against the Montreal Canadiens, including a power play goal. Robertson only played 45:11 on the power play in the 2023–24 season and is showing management why he belongs on at least the second power play unit full-time.
The problem with Robertson has not been the offensive game, rather his defensive tendencies. He tries to do too much and as a result, he loses his man or is caught out of position. Craig Berube has praised his work ethic and “motor” throughout training camp. Before the game against the Canadiens, Berube challenged Robertson to lead.
And after beating the Canadiens on Saturday, Berube praised his efforts.
“He did that. It’s not even the goals so much as his effort and the way he played. His work ethic was excellent and his competitiveness. He made good decisions with the puck. It was good he got a couple of goals for us,” Berube said.
You can see Robertson’s focus on defence in his first preseason goal against Montreal where he strips the defender of the puck:
Robertson has stood out the most out of all the players in preseason so far. Hopefully, Robertson can remain healthy, which has been an issue in the past, and can finally cement himself in a scoring role in the Maple Leafs top six (or even nine).
Steven Lorentz
Steven Lorentz signed a professional tryout contract (PTO) with the Maple Leafs in the hopes of impressing Craig Berube and management enough to earn an NHL contract. The 28-year-old, 6’4″ forward has played 230 NHL games, including 38 regular season games with the Stanley Cup-winning Florida Panthers as their 13th forward last season.
There’s a lot to like with Lorentz. He is known as a workhorse and role-player type who plays a strong two-way game and is a fast skater. He was also a Maple Leafs fan growing up and turned down offers and opted to sign a PTO with the Maple Leafs.
“Check hard. Play defence. Be good on the penalty kill. And just bring that energy. The simpler I play, the better. Just fly under the radar and do the right things on both sides of the puck,” Lorentz said in a recent interview with Sportsnet.
Over the two preseason games he has played, Lorentz has seven hits and a shot on net. So far, he has come as advertised with his intensity and solid play in both games. Despite playing higher in the lineup in the second game, centring Alex Nylander and Easton Cowan, if Lorentz makes the team, he will likely centre or play wing on the Maple Leafs fourth line.
Dennis Hildeby
Dennis Hildeby was selected 122nd overall by the Maple Leafs in the 2022 NHL Draft. He played his first full AHL season last year with the Toronto Marlies, posting a .913 SV% over 41 games. Despite being a big goalie, standing 6’7″, and weighing 222lbs, Hildeby is athletic for his size.
Hildeby has looked solid in the two preseason games he has appeared in so far, posting a .909 SV% in the 2–1 loss against the Ottawa Senators, demonstrating his athleticism in this highlight reel save:
He posted a .963 SV% playing the full 60 minutes in the 2–1 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday, helping the Maple Leafs win their second preseason game.
“He tracks the puck extremely well, takes up a lot of net,” said Berube in the post game press conference. “He played the puck well and he made some really good saves with no rebounds.”
With Joesph Woll being extended this offseason and the signing of free agent Anthony Stolarz, Hildeby is expected to be the starter for the Toronto Marlies this upcoming season. However, with his preseason performance thus far, he is showing that he is not far off from potentially competing with Joesph Woll as the Maple Leafs future starting goaltender.
Max Pacioretty
It feels a bit weird talking about a former Canadiens captain being a Maple Leafs fan. Max Pacioretty is another PTO signed by general manager Brad Treliving who is looking to force his way onto the roster.
Pacioretty is known as a goal scorer, having scored 30 or more goals six times in his 16-year NHL career. However, injuries have plagued him in recent years, having played 39 games with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2021–22, five games with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2022–23, and an improved 47 games with the Washington Capitals last season. The criticism against Pacioretty is that being 35 years old, he has noticeably lost a step in recent years.
However, in his first preseason game with the Maple Leafs against the Ottawa Senators, Pacioretty came out flying, registering two goals and one assist in the 6–5 loss. He was held off the score sheet in his second preseason game against his former team, the Montreal Canadiens, and was partially responsible for the giveaway to Christian Dvorak that led to the Canadiens’ lone goal and showed his age trying to catch Dvorak.
While some would argue that the Maple Leafs should play a younger player over Pacioretty, it’s the potential of what Pacioretty can bring, a low-cost, high-reward player. It also appears that it is a foregone conclusion that Pacioretty will be on the opening night roster, but we will see what happens over the coming weeks.
Marshall Rifai
Marshall Rifai, an undrafted signee by the Maple Leafs, has played two AHL seasons with Toronto Marlies. Rifai made his NHL debut last season playing two games with the Maple Leafs registering 0 points.
Rifai is not known for his offensive prowess. Standing at 6’2″ and weighing 205 lbs, Rifai is known to be a physical defensive defenceman who has decent skating for his size.
Rifai has played decent in his two preseason games, registering four shots and two hits. He has also shown the aggressive side of his game throughout camp, notably dropping the gloves with Juraj Slafkovský in the last preseason game. When asked about the impact Rifai has had on camp, Berube was enthusiastic.
“It’s what I expected. He is an aggressive defenseman. He plays physically and hard. He is involved. It’s just simple. He’ll move it. He does his job. So far, he has done what we expected and asked of him,” the coach said.
Rifai is likely not going to make the NHL roster out of camp. However, by signing a two-year $775k AAV extension in early September, he will likely be called up in the case of injuries, and battling for the sixth or seventh defenceman job next year.
Nikita Grebenkin
Nikita Grebenkin was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the fifth round of the 2022 NHL Draft. He has played in the KHL for the last two years. In his first season, he had nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points in 52 games. Last year, he improved to 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points in 67 games with the Magnitogorsk Metallurg, on route to winning the Gagarin Cup.
Grebenkin scored three goals, and three assists for six points in 23 playoff games.
Before the preseason games started, Berube was already impressed.
“He’s been very noticeable for me. Big, strong kid, first and foremost. Intelligent. Got a good hockey IQ. Not afraid to take the body. Got good skill.”
Grebenkin has had the advantage of playing against grown men in the KHL and it shows. He has been very physical and aggressive with his play throughout the preseason with six hits. In his first game, he got into a fight with Adam Gaudette and fired up the crowd afterward.
While he has yet to register a point in the three preseason games he has played, and his play has tapered off over the last couple of games, Berube thinks he is close.
”He’s got a real bright future in this league. He’s close. He’s impressed me just with his play and he’s a good player obviously and has some ability with his puck skills and strength and skating,” the coach said.
With the competition at wing between newcomers Pacioretty, and Lorentz, and existing journeymen, Calle Järnkrok and David Kämpf, Grebenkin will likely start with the Marlies. And this is not a bad thing. It allows Grebenkin to adapt to North American ice, and start to be indoctrinated into the Maple Leafs system.
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