Sharing the ice on the same line in training camp, just like their junior days, Toronto Maple Leafs forwards Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic tell a story about their "Superman Line" with the U.S. NTDP.
Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic have finally been able to reunite officially on the ice with Toronto Maple Leafs training camp underway. On Thursday, the first day of camp, the two were put together on the top line, with Matthew Knies on the left wing.
Matthews and Roslovic's history goes back to 2013-14, when the two forwards played together with USA Hockey’s NTDP at the junior level in the USHL. They also featured for the U-17 and U-18 NTDP, lasting for two years.
With Roslovic signing a two-year contract with the Maple Leafs this off-season, at a $4-million salary cap hit, the two are together again and finding their chemistry on Toronto's top projected line. Matthews believes there's some energy with that.
"It definitely feels that way," he said of the chemistry with Roslovic coming back. "He's a guy that talks a lot out there between me, him, and Kniesy. I think we all skate and move on and just try to move pucks and get into open areas. So I think it's definitely coming along."
"We're getting there," Roslovic said of finding that chemistry again with the Leafs' captain."I think the biggest thing is just the communication aspect. When you know somebody, you have that comfortability of talking to them. That's the biggest thing. As the ice sessions keep on going and games start happening, it'll build."
Even Knies can sense the relationship that Matthews and Roslovic have on and off the ice.
"Yeah, they were close with each other right away," Knies said. "You could tell just the way they kind of joke with each other and have conversations together. You could tell right away that they know each other really well. So, yeah, that's a good thing. Having chemistry off the ice, it helps definitely."
Florida Panthers left winger Matthew Tkachuk was also on those teams with Matthews and Roslovic, on the same line. Matthews revealed that the trio used to call themselves the "Superman Line."
"We used to call ourselves the Superman Line in junior," Matthews said. "And (Tkachuk) told us if we played against them, scored, and did the Superman celly, he was going to kill one of us."
Roslovic chimed in about the Superman celebration and if that could happen against the Panthers. "I don't know… maybe," he said.
"We had a lot of fun, and like I said, it's a lot of fun having, you know, playing with him again and spending time being around him, living pretty close to each other, so it's pretty cool," Matthews added.
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