The Toronto Maple Leafs held a skate and practice at Ford Performance Centre on Sunday, with the focus squarely on their power play. The Leafs got to work on the man advantage for the first time at training camp, and new assistant coach Marc Savard was overseeing the units.
Savard, who spent the previous season on Craig Berube's staff in St. Louis, is bringing a new dimension to the Leafs' power play.
"It's always different when there's new voices coming in, but it does bring an element of excitement," said defenceman Morgan Rielly, who is back as the quarterback of the top unit. "He's obviously very dialled in when it comes to the skill side, the offensive side of the game."
Berube, the Leafs' head coach, praised Savard's expertise in the power play. "He just has that mindset that, you know, skilled power-play guys understand," Berube said. "He always has some plays and different ideas, but he's got good structure on his power play."
Savard, known for his offensive prowess during his NHL career, racked up 292 power-play points in 807 games. His expertise is already making an impact on the Leafs.
"I played against him," said a smiling Max Pacioretty, who took reps with the second unit on Sunday. "It makes me feel old, but he was one of the best power-play players at that time and it's cool to see him come in and teach it the way he did it. Really savvy player, no pun intended (Savard's nickname is 'Savvy'). We had our first meeting and first day of power plays today and just really good stuff in terms of you know kind of thinking outside the box and some plays that I haven't seen before."
The Leafs' power play, which was among the league's best during the regular season, struggled mightily in the playoffs last year. They converted on only one of 21 chances in the seven-game series against the Boston Bruins.
Berube, however, is confident in his team's ability to bounce back. "This power play has been very successful over a number of years," he stressed. "I know you are going to bring up the playoffs last year. Well, you can go into dry spells. It happens to every team. It was just the wrong time for them, but that is a very good power-play unit."
From 2019 to 2023, only the Edmonton Oilers were more efficient on the man advantage than the Leafs during the regular season. However, Toronto's power play has a tendency to go quiet in the post-season. The Leafs rank 20th in power-play efficiency in the playoffs during the Matthews era.
Despite the struggles, the coaching staff is sticking with the same personnel on the top unit for now. Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Morgan Rielly will form the core of the power play.
Last year, the Leafs experimented with John Klingberg on the top unit, but he suffered a season-ending injury. Rielly returned to his usual spot, and the team's power play remained strong.
"You look at the power play here over the years and Rielly's been on it a lot, right," Berube noted. "That's been very good."
With Savard's guidance and the return of Rielly, the Leafs are confident in their power play's potential. But they also know that they must be prepared to adapt and adjust throughout the season.
Savvy Additions: Pacioretty and Grebenkin Aim to Make an Impact
Max Pacioretty is back in the NHL, joining the Toronto Maple Leafs on a professional tryout. He's looking to resurrect his career after a few injury-plagued seasons, and he's off to a strong start in training camp.
"I feel amazing," the 35-year-old winger said. "I knew I would feel good, but I didn't know I'd feel this good. I feel great."
Berube is impressed with Pacioretty's progress.
"He looks really good," Berube agreed. "He looks really strong for me and normal Patch that I've seen in the past. He's been physical in my opinion too, which is good to see. He's a big, strong guy, and he's got a very good shot. We all know that. But his skating looks really good to me, which is a good sign."
After tearing the same Achilles twice, Pacioretty is hoping to prove he can still be a valuable asset in the NHL. The former Montreal Canadiens captain will get his first big chance to make a statement when he plays on a line with John Tavares.
"I think that they can probably control a lot of the play in the offensive zone with their heaviness and good puck play," noted Berube. "They both can hang on to pucks in the offensive zone and I think create a lot of O-zone time. But also score some goals and some good opportunities. Like, it's a heavy line in my opinion. You know, I think for them they just got to make sure that they advance things throughout the other zones and play north and get it behind people and go to work. That's what I see in that line with those two guys together anyhow."
"It's going to be a lot of fun," Pacioretty said. "I've said it from day one, I have a lot to prove and I'm excited to get out there now and prove it in front of the fans."
Joining Pacioretty and Tavares on Toronto's third line is Nikita Grebenkin, a 21-year-old KHL product who has impressed early in camp.
"I didn't know about him before I came," said Pacioretty. "Obviously a Russian guy. Those guys always have a lot of skill. He knows I have a little bit of a Russian background with my wife's family so I've been trying to talk to him a bit. But, you know, surprised me a lot and in the scrimmage had two really good looks. Smart player offensively and hopefully we can score tonight."
Grebenkin, a fifth-round pick in 2022, signed an entry-level deal with the Leafs after helping Magnitogorsk Metallurg win a championship last season. He has been turning heads with his physicality and offensive instincts.
"He has been very noticeable to me," said Berube. "He is a big, strong kid, first and foremost. He is intelligent and has a good hockey IQ. He is not afraid to take the body. Good skill."
Cowan's Chance: A Fresh Face Aiming for NHL Opportunity
Easton Cowan, a first-round pick in 2023, is looking to make a strong impression in training camp. The 19-year-old forward, who was the reigning Ontario Hockey League most outstanding player, is trying to earn a spot on the Leafs' roster.
Cowan, who has been praised for his work ethic and playmaking ability, is eager to prove himself.
"He's just saying to play my game, play simple," Cowan revealed about Berube's advice. "Get pucks out, you know, play North and just play my game and good things will come."
Berube has high expectations for Cowan, who is known for his physicality and ability to generate offense.
"He's a no-nonsense player," Berube observed. "He's got great work habits. He's got a nose for the puck. The puck follows him. He can get gritty inside. He can score in different situations, but, you know, he's a worker. A worker that can produce is the way I would put it."
On the opening day of camp, Berube declared that Cowan must show he's shed junior habits in order to prove he's ready for a look in the NHL.
Cowan is aware of the challenges ahead, but he's confident he can overcome them.
"Just stops and starts," Cowan said of the key for him. "I got to be good on those tonight and little chip outs. Obviously not a lot of space out there so just simplifying my game a bit will help me a lot."
What's Next for the Leafs?
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a lot of questions to answer as they head into the new season. Can they finally overcome their playoff struggles? Can their power play be as dominant as it was in the regular season?
With a talented roster and a new coaching staff, the Leafs are ready to make a push for the Stanley Cup. The next few weeks will be crucial for the team as they work to build chemistry and fine-tune their game.
The Leafs have a lot of pieces in place to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup. But, it's going to take a lot of hard work and dedication to achieve that goal.
The Leafs will be looking to make a strong start to the season. They'll be looking to build on their success from last year, and they'll be looking to prove that they can be a contender in the Eastern Conference.
The Leafs' new coaching staff has been making a lot of changes, but they're committed to building a team that can win a championship. They're focused on creating a culture of winning and they're focused on building a team that can overcome any obstacle.
