Leaf Takeaways: Kirill thrills, Gavin’s gaffes, extra on loss

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Via a brief coaching camp, the Maple Leafs embraced the concept change was an excellent factor.

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On opening night time, all of the strikes may need been a disadvantage in a 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Enviornment.

“We had quite a lot of new guys and regarded slightly bit like a brand new staff,” coach Jim Hiller mentioned. “We simply weren’t connecting with our passes. I don’t know if that was nerves or (some guys) being within the constructing for the primary time. We weren’t clear as a staff.”

Toronto introduced a part of that on itself with a last-minute commerce for Kirill Marchenko, although he did effectively for a man who slept simply 4 hours Monday night time after flying in from Columbus within the Matthew Knies commerce.

Our takeaways, because the Leafs went 0-1 to begin an 84-game season:

Kirill turns a brand new Leaf

It was determined to play Marchenko after his immigration points have been fastened, however to not transfer Jack Roslovic off the proper aspect with Auston Matthews. With no apply, Marchenko had no issues switching to the left as the road generated eight of Toronto’s 27 pictures.

Matthews did his homework on the Russian.

“I keep in mind telling folks about three years in the past, I assumed he was the perfect unknown participant within the league,” Matthews mentioned.

He additionally was impressed to listen to Marchenko had worn 34 in Russia in homage.

Exiting the ice on his first shift, Marchenko took his man out to permit William Nylander room to arrange the sport’s opening purpose and received his first Leaf help.

“Joyful to be right here,” Marchenko mentioned of donning No. 86 and settling a $75 million US, six-year contract extension earlier within the day. “Now I can concentrate on myself, my sport.”

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College simply received harder for McKenna

The primary general choose within the NHL draft, Gavin McKenna had not regarded misplaced all camp, however his first live-fire sport was a problem.

The possession and creativity he was allowed in two exhibitions in opposition to cut up Montreal and Ottawa squads was denied by the tight checking Canadiens’ regulars. A few his passes have been picked off, one which resulted in Alexandre Service’s game-winner.

“Not nice,” he assessed. “It was slightly little bit of an adjustment, possibly nerves or one thing. It’s quick on the market and you must make do with what you’ve received. I’m glad we’re enjoying once more (on Wednesday, a house in opposition to the Islanders), so I can bounce again.”

Centre John Tavares was fast to have his younger tenant’s again.

“It wasn’t my finest both and never the cleanest of video games. Typically should you’re Gavin or myself (1,300-plus NHL appearances) you study to adapt to the circulate of the sport.”

McKenna did hear an enormous ovation throughout his intro and the night was little question memorable for about 14 individuals who got here from Whitehorse, Yukon for him.

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There can be higher nights forward for McKenna, who Hiller famous made greats strides in his second exhibition after being too tentative in his first and expects the identical in opposition to the Isles.

What about different new children on the block?

Sergei Bobrovsky needed to be alert on a couple of repercussions of Toronto’s 22 giveaways, 5 chalked as much as defenceman Darren Raddysh in his first night time as a Leaf and partnering Morgan Rielly. The perfect of Raddysh’s large pictures pinballed off a few sticks earlier than certainly one of many good stops by Jakub Dobes.

Raddysh, certainly one of two GTA natives with Nick Paul, made no excuses for himself or teammates in regards to the brief September runway.

“Coaching camp is over and also you simply must be prepared. Common season is lots completely different than pre-season, quite a lot of greater boys. It was good to lastly play an actual sport with Morgan and construct off the chemistry we’ve had.”

The Leafs, whose faceoff numbers remained sturdy regardless of final 12 months’s struggles, received simply 40 per cent on Tuesday. Fourth-liner Teddy Blueger misplaced seven of eight, although the rebuilt third and fourth models introduced the specified power.

Lhornby@postmedia.com 

X: @sunhornby

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