William Nylander to start training camp at center, while The first day of an NHL training camp can often feel like the first day of school. There's a lot to take in on the first day. And for the Leafs, there was no shortage of news and notes. Here are 10 things we learned from Maple Leafs media day. 1. WILLIAM NYLANDER WILL START TRAINING CAMP AT CENTER Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwOTMzMjYyMzg0NzAyNjY4/usatsi_20654767.jpg] William Nylander has been deployed infrequently at the center position at various points throughout his career. Every time it was tried, he found himself right back on the wing. It's also been at a point in the season when the games have had little significance, given their playoff spot had long been secured. But now Nylander, who was drafted as a center by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the first round of the 2014 NHL Draft, will open training camp on Thursday skating at the position. "I think Willy can do whatever he puts his mind to, he's that good," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said of his forward. New GM Brad Treliving was the one who presented the idea to Keefe of having Nylander start up the middle. "I do believe he'll still move around," Keefe cautioned." He's mentioned to me that playing center and then moving to the wing, whether it's in a game or for a shift is very easy and very comfortable for him. Going the opposite way is much more difficult." The Leafs will use this time at camp as a time for Nylander to get accustomed to the middle. 2. JOHN TAVARES WILL REMAIN AT CENTER TO START, GIVING TORONTO STRONG DEPTH, DESPITE THE CAPTAIN'S DEPLOYMENT THERE LATE SEASON Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTkzNzc2OTU4NjE2NjQzMDEx/tavares.jpg] When the Maple Leafs acquired Ryan O'Reilly in a trade with the St. Louis Blues back in February, Tavares was moved over to the wing for some games, a position he said at the time he hadn't played since representing Team Canada on the international stage. Although Keefe is comfortable with Tavares going to the wing, the plan is to have Auston Matthews, Tavares and Nylander all start up the middle at camp. "It's something we haven't given a whole lot of time to," Keefe said of the center plan. "Usually when Willy has played center it's when one of Auston or John have been hurt." If the experiment succeeds, David Kampf would round out the center positions on the fourth line. 3. MATT MURRAY REQUIRES SURGERY FOR AN UNDISCLOSED INJURY DATING BACK TO LAST SEASON. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTkzNDY3MzQ3MDQwNzQxMDUz/murrays.jpg] The Maple Leafs announced in August that they intended to place goaltender Matt Murray on long-term injured reserve. When addressing the media on Wednesday, general manager Brad Treliving disclosed that Murray will have "significant" surgery in the next week to deal with an undisclosed injury. The specifics were kept quiet out of privacy for Murray, according to Treliving. "This is months, not days or weeks," Treliving said regarding Murray's recovery. "There is certainly, potentially a chance (he returns this season). Murray was cleared to return after sustaining a concussion toward the end of the regular season, but the Leafs elected to go with Joseph Woll in net for Games 4 and 5 when Ilya Samsonov went down with a neck injury in the second round of the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs. Considered a potential buyout candidate, the Leafs were instead able to utilize his entire $4.6875 million cap hit in long-term injured reserve. In his first season with the Leafs, Murray sustained an adductor injury and a concussion among other ailments. 4. JAKE MUZZIN WILL MISS THE ENTIRE SEASON WITH A NECK INJURY THAT KEPT HIM MOST OF LAST SEASON Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwOTQ1NTk1MTE0ODU3ODU4/img_1951.jpg] Jake Muzzin missed all but four games last season with a neck injury and the Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman will miss all of this season with the same ailment. This likely means the of Muzzin's NHL career. Toronto has never quite been able to replace him, although they've tried with a bunch of players, including Jake McCabe, who was acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in February. Muzzin's $5.625 million cap hit was already in long-term injured reserve in the offseason cap and that will carry over into this season. We certainly wish the very best to Muzzin as he deals with the lingering ailment. 5. AUSTON MATTHEWS MAY GET SOME PENALTY KILL TIME AGAIN Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTkzMjE1Mzg3MDc5Mjg4Mzg3/matthews.jpg] Two seasons ago, the Maple Leafs began experimenting with Auston Matthews on the penalty kill. The experiment didn't last much longer than the 2021 pre-season as different personnel took most of those duties. While Mitch Marner and David Kampf are back as penalty-killing forwards, the second PK unit could use some clarity with the turnover in players. But Keefe cautions why in Matthews case it may not have worked the first time. "For me when it comes to a player of Auston's caliber and killing penalties, it’s not necessarily that he can’t do it, it's about how it affects the rest of the team," Keefe said. "If he plays on the penalty kill, he's like to miss a shift at 5-on-5 play." Regardless, Matthews will get that chance, but so will many other players. 6. BOBBY MCMANN'S INJURY FROM LAST SEASON COULD HELP LEAFS IN CAP CRUNCH Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwOTQ1ODMwODAxMTg4MjI2/img_1952.jpg] Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving disclosed on Wednesday that Bobby McMann is still dealing with a knee injury he sustained while with the club last season and will miss the start of camp. The 27-year-old twice injured the knee last season and the Leafs placed the Alberta native on long-term injured reserve to end the season. Should McMann not be cleared before the regular season begins, there is a scenario where Toronto could use a prorated amount of McMann's $762,500 salary cap hit on season-opening injured reserve. According to PuckPedia.com, the amount the space the Leafs would get is $190,000. While that amount of money may seem insignificant, that small amount of money could make the difference between the cap-stretched Leafs carrying 20 or 21 players to start the season. 7. TRELIVING REVEALS WHY HE ONLY SIGNED ONE PTO Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk4OTkwMjcwMTgyNzk1MjIw/treliving.jpg] Apart from forward Noah Gregor, Treliving elected not to go ham on professional tryouts like other clubs have elected to do. And there's a good reason for that: He's new. "I really think there are some younger players in this organization that I'd like to get to know a little bit," he said. "I've got an outside view of them, I need an inside view. You want to give them a path. They've got to go and get it and earn it. 8. NICK ROBERTSON HAS TO TRY AND WIN A SPOT WHILE STAYING INJURY-FREE Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTkzMDYxMTE0ODA2ODA1NzI1/robertson.jpg] Nick Robertson is entering a make-or-break season with the Maple Leafs. After it looked like he was finally breaking through, an innocent-looking hit along the boards in a game against the Los Angeles Kings ended the 22-year-old's season. Depending on the injuries and another tight cap situation, Robertson could wind up again with the Toronto Marlies, even if he shouldn't, merely because he doesn't require waivers to be sent down. It happened last season and it could happen again. He'll need some luck and skill to grab a spot out of camp. Robertson certainly has the latter. He just needs to flip the former. THE LEAFS EXPECT BIG THINGS FROM JOSEPH WOLL Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk4MDExOTkyMDU5OTQ2MTQ1/woll.jpg] Joseph Woll broke out in a big way last season and ultimately usurped Murray as the No. 2 goaltender behind starter Ilya Samsonov. Although the club did sign goalie Martin Jones this summer, it's clear Toronto wants Woll to prove his 6-1-0 record with a .932 save percentage last season was not a fluke. 10. DON'T EXPECT RADICAL CHANGES TO LEAFS POWER PLAY WITH NEW PERSONNEL Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwMjkyMjU0MzUzNDY2NzQ0/cd54c02e-9244-48b5-b553-7b896bdd961c.jpg] The Maple Leafs had a shuffle of assistant coaches last season. Spencer Carbery, who ran Toronto's power play for the last two seasons, signed on to become the head coach of the Washington Capitals. During Carbery's tenure, the Leafs finished first in power-play percentage in 2021-22 and were second in 2022-23. "I think for us we don't want to change too much," Mitch Marner said. Guy Boucher will run the power play this season. Any changes that come are expected to be subtle. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related Maple Leafs React to Mike Babcock’s Departure from the Columbus Blue Jackets [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/news/maple-leafs-react-to-mike-babcocks-departure-from-the-columbus-blue-jackets] Why William Nylander Will Start Training Camp at Center For the Maple Leafs [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/news/why-william-nylander-will-start-training-camp-at-center-for-the-maple-leafs] Maple Leafs Defenseman Jake Muzzin Ruled Out for Entire 2023-24 Season With Injury [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/news/maple-leafs-defenseman-jake-muzzin-ruled-out-for-entire-2023-24-season-with-injury] News from THN.com Why There's No Cookie-Cutter Way of Naming an NHL Captain [https://thehockeynews.com/news/why-theres-no-cookie-cutter-way-of-naming-an-nhl-captain] Five NHL Players to Bring Back in a Wrestling-Style Return [https://thehockeynews.com/news/five-nhl-players-to-bring-back-in-a-wrestling-style-return] The Hockey News Podcast: Babcock, NHL Prospect Showcases and Mailbag [https://thehockeynews.com/podcast/the-hockey-news-podcast-babcock-nhl-prospect-showcases-and-mailbag]
