Unlike previous seasons, the Maple Leafs training camp is going to be a fight. With several players fighting for the same spot, it means things won't be easy as Toronto gets a new edge during their evaluation period.
With how much John Chayka changed the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason, there is a hope that the moves made are enough to make the team not only competitive now, but set themselves up nicely for the future.
However with those additions came a bit of an issue. A lot of the players added like Nick Paul, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger and Brandon Duhaime are all bottom-six defensive/energetic players meant to help alleviate some of the tougher minutes that would otherwise be dished out to the stars.
John Chayka and Mats Sundin are changing how the Maple Leafs evaluate their own roster
Which means that the way Toronto is evaluating players goes beyond simply having a strong camp statistically. With so many players vying for the same spot, it's going to take winning puck battles, showing grit and unwavering determination, and finding chemistry with new faces quickly for them to earn their spot.
Unlike previous seasons where we had a general idea of what the bottom-six would look like, or have specific players who fit a niche role - Toronto now has four role players and the Maple Leafs enter camp with more legitimate competition for bottom-six and depth roles than they had a year ago.
It's not as easy to just throw Blueger on the fourth line a la David Kampf because he can offer more overall while still being a specialist.
Plus, they have a much different coaching staff with a different vision than years past, so what may not have been valuable prior could be a key asset this year. Hiller also has a very different staff evaluating camp.
John Gruden arrives after helping lead the Marlies to a Calder Cup, while Brad Werenka brings experience in player development and performance analytics, plus added Daniel Alfredsson which brings another veteran NHL perspective after three seasons behind Ottawa's bench.
Gruden has experience working with prospects in the Marlies system, and has an extensive AHL career and comes with a winning pedigree. Werenka hasn't been in the NHL system but is a very well-regarded analytical coach who specialized in video analysis during his time at the University of Calgary.
Alfredsson being a former NHL captain, star, and legend for Toronto's provincial rivals also adds a new mindset that Toronto hasn't really had behind the bench, and his offensively gifted mind will be able to evaluate who best fits together since he has that prior experience of knowing what works.
A new set of eyes could make several Maple Leafs jobs genuinely up for grabs
For those players who are fighting for a spot in the top-nine, it's going to be important for them to have an idea of what each coach is looking for and focus on that aspect. If Paul is expected to be a defensive anchor up the middle but also a 20-goal threat, then he needs to prove that he can be the two-way player Toronto paid so much for this summer.
You've also got some of the Marlies hopefuls like Luke Haymes, Jacob Quillan, and Bo Groulx who are also going to be heading into camp with something to prove. Knowing that Gruden was their coach and had great success leading them - his input could sway things on top of a strong showing.
The top-six is pretty much settled in terms of name value as Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Gavin McKenna so it's less of a fight, though there's also a question as to where you put Easton Cowan and Jack Roslovic.
Gruden knows what Cowan can do, but Roslovic is the more seasoned and secure option - so there could still be some competition.
The real difference this year is not that Toronto lacks answers. It's that several players can fill the same jobs in different ways. Paul, Sissons, Blueger, Duhaime, Cowan and Roslovic all bring different combinations of offence, defence, physicality and specific role-playing needs that give Hiller more legitimate choices than simple placeholders.
Though it's always better to have a surplus in case of injuries or struggles, it's going to make the Maple Leafs training camp a competitive environment that we haven't seen in quite some time.
Do you think the Maple Leafs are going to have a hard time constructing their lineup this season?
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