The Toronto Maple Leafs are working their manner by means of the preseason as they attempt to finalize their opening-night roster for the 2024-25 season, and followers proceed to look at the potential way forward for their group with prospects showcasing themselves in an enormous manner. Whereas the preseason is commonly an opportunity to see how some kids fare in opposition to better competitors, it additionally offers the veterans an opportunity to get their ft moist and contact up some small components of their sport earlier than the common season.
Nonetheless, there was an incident in a current preseason sport that led to William Nylander taking place with a minor damage after Nicholas Robertson pushed him together with his stick to offer him a lift for a puck battle. Since Nylander wasn’t prepared for it, he fell and collided with a Montreal Canadiens participant. He gave the impression to be okay, and the damage wasn’t one thing he wanted to take care of long-term, but it surely nonetheless fearful Maple Leafs followers. He talked about the incident by no means led to any points within the room or between himself and Robertson, however he made it identified he didn’t consider the push was wanted.
Associated: Maple Leafs’ Alex Nylander Rejected NHL Presents Earlier than Signing AHL Deal With Marlies
Maple Leafs followers went by means of a serious damage scare a few seasons in the past when John Tavares had a freak accident and ended up unconscious on the ice in one of the crucial awkward damage conditions ever seen within the NHL. As he gave the impression to be making an attempt to rise up on his personal after colliding with two gamers, he misplaced consciousness because the medical employees tried to deliver him to his ft, freaking out commentators, former normal supervisor Kyle Dubas, and followers as Tavares started to fall backward together with his physique seemingly limp.
Tavares ended up being okay, however seeing Nylander go down and get hit within the head by one other participant in what was one other freak accident needed to remind some followers of the Tavares incident. Fortunately, each Nylander and Tavares ended up being okay in every of their respective accidents.
Nylander & Robertson Anticipated to Have Large 2024-25 Campaigns
Commerce rumours surrounding Robertson have died down now after he was re-signed by the Maple Leafs on a brand new one-year contract, and lots of followers expect him to lastly escape offensively if he can keep wholesome. The brand new deal he signed may very well be seen as a “show it” deal as he has but to seek out himself a full-time spot on the NHL degree, and nonetheless hasn’t spent a complete season with out beginning in or being despatched right down to the American Hockey League (AHL). Final season, he had 11 factors in 9 video games within the AHL with the Toronto Marlies, and 27 factors in 56 video games with the Maple Leafs.
Nylander had a robust 2023-24 marketing campaign scoring 40 objectives and including 58 assists for 98 factors by means of 82 video games, and goes to be leaned on to supply the identical quantity of manufacturing offensively, if no more. The Maple Leafs went out and bolstered their depth with Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson to strengthen their blue line, in addition to signing Stanley Cup-winning goaltender Anthony Stolarz who ought to stabilize their depth between the pipes.
Both manner, each Robertson and Nylander are going to have a ton of strain on themselves to assist lead the Maple Leafs to their first Stanley Cup since 1967. With their present core possible having another probability at profitable a championship earlier than administration decides to make a serious change, these two forwards will likely be key elements to their success this season. Hopefully, Robertson can keep wholesome and escape offensively, and Nylander can elevate his two-way sport to a degree we haven’t seen from him but.
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