Smell that? That's some clean air. Well, enjoy it while you can because that is the last you'll smell of it. From here on out it's the pleasant musk of sweat, mold, and bacteria flourishing because...
TRAINING CAMP OPENS TODAY!
Nothing on ice, but some medicals, and giving standard quotes to the media (these will be the same quotes the rookies gave at the tournament but they're just as relevant now as they were 10 years ago). This will take place at the Leafs practice facility, the MasterCard Centre for Hockey Excellence in Etobicoke. New Headcoach Mike Babcock will be holding a press conference at 10AM. Not sure if there's anything to see but here's a map if you want to head down:
After this morning it's off to the east coast where they'll be training in the lovely BMO Centre in Bedford, Nova Scotia. Anyone can come to watch, however there are only 400 tickets per day, tickets are bought 2 per person cash only at the BMO centre, the tickets are a $5 donation to KidSport Nova Scotia.
Here is the roster for training camp this year:
(N-NHL, A-AHL, E-ECHL)
| Player | 14/15 Team | 14/15 Stats | Age |
| Mark Arcobello | ARZ, NSH, PIT, EDM (N) | 17G, 14A, 31P | 27 |
| Casey Bailey | Toronto (N), Penn State (NCAA) | 23G, 18A, 41P | 24 |
| Taylor Beck | Nashville (N) | 8G, 8A, 16P | 24 |
| Brad Boyes | Florida (N) | 14G, 24A, 38P | 33 |
| Tyler Bozak | Toronto (N) | 23G, 26A, 49P | 29 |
| Connor Brown | Toronto (A) | 21G, 40A, 61P | 21 |
| Sam Carrick | Toronto (A+N) | 10G, 19A, 29P | 23 |
| Richard Clune | Nashville, Milwaukee (A) | 6G, 11A, 17P | 28 |
| Martins Dzierkals | HK Riga (Russia Jr) | 15G, 23A, 38P | 18 |
| Eric Faille | Texas (A), Ft. Wayne (E) | 29G, 31A, 60P | 26 |
| TJ Foster | U. of Alberta (CIS) | 18G, 24P, 42P | 23 |
| Matt Frattin | Toronto (A+N) | 26G, 22A, 48P | 27 |
| Byron Froese | Toronto (A), San Antonio (A), Cincinnati (E) | 26G, 40A, 66P | 24 |
| Frederik Gauthier | Rimouski (QMJHL) | 16G, 16A, 32P | 20 |
| Curtis Glencross | Washington, Calgary (N) | 13G, 22A, 35P | 33 |
| Peter Holland | Toronto (N) | 11G, 14A, 25P | 24 |
| Zach Hyman | U. Michigan (NCAA) | 22G, 32A, 54P | 23 |
| Justin Johnson | Alaska (E) | 3G, 2A, 5P | 34 |
| Michael Joly | Rimouski (QMJHL) | 26G, 19A, 45P | 20 |
| Nazem Kadri | Toronto (N) | 18G, 21A, 39P | 25 |
| Kasperi Kapanen | Wilkes-Barre (A), KalPa (SM-Liiga) | 12G, 11A, 23P | 19 |
| Leo Komarov | Toronto (N) | 8G, 18A, 26P | 28 |
| Josh Leivo | Toronto (A+N) | 12G, 21A, 33P | 22 |
| Brendan Leipsic | Toronto (A), Milwaukee (A) | 14G, 40A, 54P | 21 |
| Joffrey Lupul | Toronto (N) | 10G, 11A, 21P | 32 |
| Mitchell Marner | London (OHL) | 44G, 82A, 126P | 18 |
| Shawn Mattias | Vancouver (N) | 18G, 9A, 27P | 27 |
| William Nylander | Toronto (A), MODO (SHL) | 22G, 30A, 52P | 19 |
| Richard Panik | Toronto (N) | 11G, 6A, 17P | 24 |
| PA Parenteau | Montreal (N) | 8G, 14A, 22P | 32 |
| Jack Rodewald | Toronto (A), Moose Jaw (WHL) | 35G, 51A, 86P | 21 |
| Matt Rupert | Toronto (A), London (OHL) | 30A, 45A, 75P | 21 |
| Ryan Rupert | Toronto (A), Orlando (E) | 20G, 21A, 41P | 21 |
| Nikolai Skladnichenko | Metallurg (KHL), Zauralie (VHL) | 5G, 4A, 9P | 21 |
| Nikita Soshnikov | Atlant Moscow (KHL) | 14G, 18A, 32P | 22 |
| Nick Spaling | Pittsburgh (N) | 9G, 18A, 27P | 27 |
| Dmytro Timashov | Quebec (QMJHL) | 19G, 71A, 90P | 19 |
| Brady Vail | Toronto (A), Orlando (E) | 15G, 14A, 29P | 21 |
| James Van Riemsdyk | Toronto (A) | 27G, 29A, 56P | 26 |
| Carter Verheaghe | Niagara (OHL) | 33G, 49A, 82P | 20 |
| Daniel Winnik | Toronto, Pittsburgh (N) | 9G, 25A, 34P | 30 |
| TJ Brennan | Rockford, Toronto (A), Toronto (N) | 12G, 41A, 53P | 26 |
| Andrew Campbell | Portland (A), Arizona (N) | 3G, 9A, 12P | 27 |
| Travis Dermott | Erie (OHL) | 8G, 37A, 45P | 19 |
| Stephen Desroscher | Oshawa (OHL) | 10G, 13A, 26P | 19 |
| Cody Donaghey | Quebec (QMJHL) | 4G, 11A, 15P | 19 |
| Matt Finn | Toronto (A), Orlando (E) | 2G, 3A, 5P | 21 |
| Mark Fraser | Albany (A), New Jersey (N) | 1G, 6A, 7P | 29 |
| Jake Gardiner | Toronto (N) | 4G, 20A, 24P | 25 |
| Petter Granberg | Toronto (A+N) | 1G, 14A, 15P | 23 |
| Scott Harrington | Wilkes-Barre (A), Pittsburgh (N) | 2G, 10A, 12P | 22 |
| Justin Holl | Rockford (A), Indy (E) | 7G, 27A, 34P | 23 |
| Matt Hunwick | NY Rangers (N) | 2G, 9A, 11P | 30 |
| Aiden Jamieson | London (OHL) | 0G, 30A, 30P | 19 |
| Viktor Loov | Toronto (A) | 6G, 15A, 21P | 23 |
| Martin Marincin | Edmonton (N), Oklahoma City (A) | 1G, 11A, 12P | 23 |
| Max Nicastro | Banksa Bystrica (Slovakia), Orlando (E) | 9G, 14A, 23P | 25 |
| Andrew Nielson | Lethbridge (WHL) | 7G, 17A, 24P | 19 |
| Tm Nilsson | Toronto (A) | 1G, 5A, 6P | 22 |
| Stuart Percy | Toronto (A+N) | 1G, 13A, 14P | 22 |
| Dion Phaneuf | Toronto (N) | 3G, 23A, 29P | 30 |
| Roman Polak | Toronto (N) | 5G, 4A, 9P | 29 |
| Morgan Rielly | Toronto (N) | 8G, 21A, 29P | 21 |
| Stephane Robidas | Toronto (N) | 1G, 6A, 7P | 38 |
| Rinat Valiev | Toronto (A), Kootenay (WHL) | 9G, 37A, 46P | 20 |
| Jonathan Bernier | Toronto (N) | 2.87 GA / 2SO | 27 |
| Antoine Bibeau | Toronto (A) | 2.69 GA / 4SO | 21 |
| Christopher Gibson | Toronto (A) | 2.42 GA / 2SO | 23 |
| Rob Madore | Cincinnati (E) | 2.64 GA / 4SO | 27 |
| Lucas Peressini | Kingston (OHL) | 2.32 GA / 5SO | 20 |
| James Reimer | Toronto (N) | 3.16 GA / 0SO | 27 |
| Garrett Sparks | Toronto (A), Orlando (E) | 2.34GA / 5SO | 22 |
| This | Space is Reserved For Another | PTO | ? |
After three days out east it's on to exhibition games starting with a split squad game against Ottawa on the 21st.
| Date | Opponent | Location | Time |
| Mon. Sept 21st | Ottawa (split squad) | Canadian Tire Centre | 7:30PM |
| Mon. Sept 21st | Ottawa (Split Squad) | Air Canada Centre | 7:30PM |
| Tues. Sept 22nd | Montreal | Bell Centre | 7:30PM |
| Fri. Sept 25th | Buffalo | Air Canada Centre | 7:30PM |
| Sat. Sept 26th | Montreal | Air Canada Centre | 7:30PM |
| Tues. Sept 29th | Buffalo | First Niagara Centre | 7:00PM |
| Fri. Oct 2nd | Detroit | Joe Louis Arena | 7:30PM |
| Sat. Oct 3rd | Detroit | Air Canada Centre | 7:00PM |
Cuts will come and go in camp, and we'll keep you updated throughout it.
What are we looking for in this year's camp? I have a few thoughts and I'm sure you do too, so post yours in the comments below (but don't skip mine to do it! Occasionally I say good things, you don't want to miss out).
Did the Leafs bring enough people to camp?
No, that's why I had room at the bottom of my list.
Can the kids wow management enough to stick?
Maybe. I mean, Nylander can, I'm confident enough in our next Swedish Captain (oh yes, I'm getting wayyyy ahead of myself) that he could make the pro team out of camp. Hell, I'd say he could play on the third line right now. He won't make it though. Unless the Leafs go on a tear and end up in a playoff spot by the All-Star break (That's going on this year? Who knows anymore you inconsistent league) he'll stay down and lead the Marlies to a Calder Cup... Or just be really good on a mediocre team, preparing him for years as a Leaf.
Can the PTOs become full-time Leafs?
I think atleast one of them will. Mark Fraser won't, Lou is just being nice to him is all. I think it will be Glencross and Setoguchi. What do I base this on? Nothing. I'm guessing. I wouldn't lie to you, dear reader, with made up stats or stories of grart.
What about those undrafted rookies?
Joly was Gauthier's teammate, so he's got that going for him. Peressini had decent numbers for a Junior goalie, but all three levels are basically filled, so maybe Orlando back up? This is some kind of pressure I certainly wouldn't want hanging over my head. And bringing in a CIS player? Interesting move and the CIS doesn't get enough love really. Those are fun games. Go see your local school play (Go Badgers!)
Will we get a clear picture of this season?
Once the exhibition schedule is over and the Leafs have gone 3-3-2 in the preseason, yes we will, because that's the kind of record this team will have after 82 games. Middle of the losers. Prove me wrong though. Prove me wrong.
How long until some reporters turn on Babcock?
Yesterday. "When he took over the Red Wings in 2005, after Brian Burke didn’t want him in Anaheim..."
Good job.