Leafs get most out of Muskoka break

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GRAVENHURST — It wasn’t simply the autumn foliage that had the Maple Leafs breathless on Thursday.

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Coach Sheldon Keefe adopted the crew’s earlier spherical of golf at Muskoka Lakes with certainly one of his hardest practices of coaching camp, decided to squeeze each good thing about this swing by cottage nation. There have been two exercises, capped by a conditioning skate, lasting nearly two hours in whole.

“It’s not simply developing right here for a trip,” Keefe mentioned outdoors the city’s group rink. “It’s a good looking place, an ideal spot to be once we’re not (on ice), nevertheless it was vital for me to have a extremely good work day, each the aggressive aspect, the work aspect and the constructive and instructing sides.

“This was an extended session than regular, however as a result of we’ve had a niche in video games (one within the subsequent eight days earlier than this Wednesday’s season opener in opposition to Montreal) it’s allowed us to push them like this. I’m actually glad we made the choice to return right here.”

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Toronto hasn’t finished this pre-season jaunt north for the reason that Pat Quinn days, however with COVID-19 cancelling plans for one more go to to Japanese Canada, it was a welcome break.

“Simply trying on the timber change color made my day,” mentioned captain John Tavares of Wednesday’s golf outing. “It’s an opportunity to return collectively and have a bit of change of surroundings. We’re at Scotiabank Enviornment and the Ford Centre all day, day-after-day, through the season. That is an unbelievable a part of the province, nice climate, a good time of 12 months.

“Now we’re down to at least one group and fairly near what the roster’s going to appear to be.”

There are 26 gamers right here, 16 forwards minus William Nylander who stayed residence to be monitored after his second COVID shot final week, eight defencemen and two goalies. Ondrej Kase is enjoying in Nylander’s right-wing spot with Tavares, as Keefe eyes Saturday’s remaining exhibition in opposition to Ottawa.

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That could possibly be Auston Matthews’ return to sport motion after August wrist surgical procedure. Keefe may additionally wish to see what the remaining few gamers on the fringes can do. 4 forwards have been extras on Wednesday, Kurtis Gabriel, Adam Brooks, Michael Amadio and Kirill Semyonov.

“There might be a mixture,” Keefe mentioned of Saturday’s roster selections, “however it can strongly resemble what our (remaining) lineup will appear to be.”

That is the Arizona-raised Matthews’ first go to to Muskoka after introductions to such Canadian cities as Niagara Falls and St. John’s, Nfld.

“You (media) observe us round in all places, so I wouldn’t utterly name it a getaway,” he laughed. “Nevertheless it’s good to rise up right here. It’s a good looking time of 12 months and everybody’s loved it to this point.”

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Matthews was a member of Wednesday’s victorious foursome with group captain Jake Muzzin, Kase and Russian Ilya Mikheyev, a golf novice, although apparently a clutch putter.

Keefe noticed some private advantages from the journey for everybody.

“We’re shifting into full preparation mode for the common season at a time the place camp begins to put on and so they simply wish to get on with it. There’s just one group now and that in itself brings individuals collectively. You’re bumping into gamers in additional informal environments and having discussions that don’t have anything to do with hockey. And that’s a optimistic.
“A variety of gamers are new to us and I’m nonetheless attempting to get to know them. And simply to get away with our teaching employees (which additionally has new personnel) and having totally different discussions with them is a little more of a chance to have a singular objective.”

lhornby@postmedia.com