The 2013-14 TML Training Camp is Now Open

The training camp for the 2013-14 Toronto Maple Leafs hockey club is now open. For those of you who read closely, you read that correctly, the 2013-14 training camp is now open. For those curious as to why I say that, it will be clear as you read on.

When Brian Burke first came to Toronto, he took the reins of an organization that stood little chance of winning a Stanley Cup. As the new GM of the Leafs, he had two things to accomplish. Firstly, he had to piece together a Leafs roster that wasn’t permanent but got him through a few development years while he did the most important part of the plan. He needed to build a farm system.

The truth is that when Burke took over, he had a Marlies organization that was not developing players. Players weren’t making the step up from AHL to NHL play in the way that the Leafs needed and so the real priority of the Burke regime had to be build the farm system capable of feeding NHL calibre players to the Leafs. That is going to come to the forefront in this season of AHL play. How successful has Burke really been at building the farm system? Who will make that step up to move the Leafs forward in their quest back to becoming a winning team again?
The following is a list of players that are coming off contracts at the end of this season:

UFA:
Tim Connolly - $4.75 m
Joffrey Lupul – $4.25 m
Matthew Lombardi - $3.5 m
Clarke MacArthur – $3.25 m
Tyler Bozak - $1.5 m
David Steckel - $1.1 m


RFA:
Nazem Kadri - $1.72 m
Carl Gunnarsson - $1.325 m
Korbian Holzer - $575k

In 2012-13, Burke and his staff should be focused on a few key “assets” that will help move the Leafs forward in 2013-14 as some of the Leafs contracts come to an end.

Let’s start with Marlies Head Coach Dallas Eakins, who will be hard-pressed not to make a move to the NHL if he has another solid year of coaching behind him this year with the Marlies.

Although at first I was not a big fan of Eakins, he has earned my respect and is becoming a critical asset for the organization. A players coach, you either love Eakins or you hate him. Those that love him and follow his advice will be Leafs. Those that don’t will be in the ECHL next season (if not sooner). Plain and simple. 

Now, let’s look at some of the players who will be competing for spots on the Leafs roster.
Between the pipes, competition is going to be stiff for the back-up spot currently open.
Reimer definitely has the spot of starter at the resumption of NHL play. However, biting at his heals are going to be Ben Scrivens, who had the lowest GAA in the AHL last season, and not to far behind are Mark Owuya and Jussi Rynnas. This season, much attention needs to focus on evaluating the performance of Scrivens, Owuya, and Rynnas. For an organization that has struggled so much with goaltending, they built a reserve of goalies that most organizations would be jealous of. Don’t be surprised if Scrivens and Owuya are the ones who benefit most from the year of scrutiny.

On the defensemen side, Korbianian Holzer will be likely making the move to the ACC locker room. Touted as a possible player in a Leafs jersey this year, another year in the AHL for Holzer against stiffer competition from teams like the Amerks and the Barons could help that transition be much smoother and more successful.

Mark Fraser is another one of the players who could make the move. He is gritty, skilled, and if the Fraser/Holzer pairing works well in the AHL season at shutting down the NHL players who have been sent down by other teams, both could be poised to make the short drive to the Air Canada Centre to play for the Leafs.

As for the Forwards, Jerry D’Amigo has to be considered as one of the players that has most impressed and with one more year of AHL play under his belt, could be wearing a Leafs jersey soon. To think, 2 years ago he was sent down to the OHL and now he is a critical piece of the Marlies puzzle with 41 points and a +13 rating last season (not to mention his 13 points in 17 playoff games last year), D’Amigo wants to play in the NHL and this is his chance.

Next is Joe Colborne. After a season where he played injured, this is the season that the organization can accurately assess his play. Colborne needs a solid year with strong points (especially goals) to get the call-up and he realizes that this season is his chance to shine. Last year’s points don’t matter because they know he wasn’t healthy (for those interested, he had 39 points in 65 AHL games and 5 points in 10 Leafs games), but this year, they’ll be more closely examined.

Greg Scott also deserves the careful attention of the Leafs management. With 44 points in 75 games last season and a +11 rating, a good year from Scott will definitely put him on the fast track to getting a spot on the Leafs roster.

Finally, Keith Aucoin bears mentioning. Last year, in 43 games with the Hershey Bears, Aucoin notched 70 points, including 59 assists. As a veteran player in the AHL that has been unable to crack an NHL lineup on a permanent basis, Toronto is a logical place for him to try his luck as the big club retools. For Keith Aucoin, a year under Eakins who will help him with his strength and conditioning, one of his biggest weaknesses (speed) could be improved just enough that he’ll land a spot on the Leafs roster.

Now some (including Don Cherry) may argue that Mike Zigomanis should be on my list of next year’s Leafs. He’s not (and I’ll tell you why). Zigomanis is one of my favourite players and I would love to see him at the ACC but the truth is that he has found his role in the organization. He is a mentor to the young kids going through the organization.

The season starts in just a little over a week. All will then be revealed in front of 7000 fans at the Ricoh.

Let’s Go Marlies!