Sheldon Keefe spontaneously gives out line combos for training camp

no one even asked keefe what the lines would be.

he just volunteered at the end, like "hey, have fun with this one!"

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) January 3, 2021

Today in the media availability after the Maple Leafs announced their roster, Kyle Dubas spoke and then Sheldon Keefe took over. He talked about the team being ready to play, being harder to play against and how they’ve all been working hard early — the same things that were said before the last training camp.

And then, after explaining that the 40 players would be divided into two groups of 20 who would play together throughout the camp, he handed out some line combos.

Joe Thornton will start with Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 3, 2021

Sheldon Keefe reveals top three lines entering camp:

Thornton-Matthews-Marner
Vesey-Tavares-Nylander
Mikheyev-Kerfoot-Hyman

— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) January 3, 2021

Also:

Barabanov-Spezza-Simmonds

— Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) January 3, 2021

You might notice that both Nick Robertson and Pierre Engvall are not on that list. That puts them both on the prove-it lines that will make up the bottom sixes on the two opposing squads of 20.

And this is where they will show off:

A Blue and White game at SBA, likely on the weekend, in lieu on exhibitions.

— Lance Hornby (@sunhornby) January 3, 2021

There was some discussion of a focus on practices and conditioning and not scrimmages, so that game might prove very meaningful.

Are you freaking out now?

Update, the Monday groups: