TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS @ WINNIPEG JETS
October 4th, 2017
7:00 SN
You have all been waiting a long time for this. We have discussed lineups, possible trades, projected point totals and everything else in between.
Tonight, the Toronto Maple Leafs kick of the 2017-18 season as they head out on the road to take on the Winnipeg Jets.
People are starting to attach very lofty goals to the young Maple Leafs squad, led by Auston Matthews, William Nylanderand Mitchell Marner. Can our beloved Blue and White rise to the occasion and meet these goals? Or is there more experience to be gained during the season before they are ready to take that next step towards greatness?
While each person has an opinion on the Forwards group, Defencemen, and Coaching Staff it is my believe this team goes nowhere without the improved play of Frederik Andersen. Last season Andersen, 28 years old, posted a .918 save percentage and a 2.76 Goals Against Average.
In order for the Leafs to meet some of the prognosticated point totals, the starting goalie of the Toronto team will have to get that Save % up closer to .925-.930 and reduce the GAA. Can he do it? I believe he can.
According to reports, Andersen has arrive to Training Camp and the Season in above average conditioning. Will this help him? Or is it always better to just be a natural physique and never force a square peg into a round hole?
Newest additions to the Toronto blueline will also be interesting to watch this evening.
How will Ron Hainsey play while paired with Morgan Rielly? How will the newest addition Andreas ‘The Beast’ Borgmanplay along side Connor Carrick?
The only constant remaining on the back end for the Leafs is Jake Gardiner and Nikita Zaistev. Can those two be better than they were last season? We are about to find out in relatively short order.
What are the Keys to the Leafs season in your mind? Do you think new Leafer Patrick Marleau makes a huge splash on line #3 with Nazem Kadri and Leo Komarov?
How does the 4th line look with Eric Fehr in the middle? How long will remain on that line before he gets moved up?
So many questions and we are happy to have you all aboard as we move forward into the 2017-18 Season.
Time to talk is over. Drop the Freakin’ Puck !!!!
#Leafs
PROJECTED LINES
MAPLE LEAFS
Zach Hyman — Auston Matthews — William Nylander
James van Riemsdyk — Tyler Bozak — Mitchell Marner
Patrick Marleau — Nazem Kadri — Leo Komarov
Matt Martin — Eric Fehr — Connor Brown
Morgan Rielly — Ron Hainsey
Jake Gardiner — Nikita Zaitsev
Andreas Borgman — Connor Carrick
Frederik Andersen
Curtis McElhinney
Scratched: Dominic Moore, Josh Leivo, Martin Marincin
JETS
Mathieu Perreault — Mark Scheifele — Blake Wheeler
Nikolaj Ehlers — Bryan Little — Patrik Laine
Shawn Matthias — Adam Lowry — Joel Armia
Marko Dano — Andrew Copp — Brandon Tanev
Josh Morrissey — Jacob Trouba
Toby Enstrom — Dustin Byfuglien
Dmitry Kulikov — Tyler Myers
Steve Mason
Connor Hellebuyck
Scratched: Nic Petan, Ben Chiarot, Tucker Poolman
MORNING SKATE
