TORONTO – Brooks Laich has spent 13 years in the NHL; he’s well versed in the early optimism that floods into even the most dimly lit room at this time of year like sunshine when a curtain gets pulled back.
But Laich senses something a little different around Toronto and around the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he arrived at the tail end of last season after spending nearly the entirety of his career with the Washington Capitals.
And it’s not just the usual best-case scenario projections that make even a 30th-place team like the Leafs somehow seem like contenders in September, no matter how implausibly, though there is always some of that:
“It should be a very competitive team, that has a chance to win every night.” Laich said while the Leafs met the media at MasterCard Centre before leaving for Halifax to begin the first phase of their training camp. “And I’m not just making this up and blowing smoke at you. I think it’s very exciting time to be a player for the Maple Leafs and it’s a very exciting time to be a fan of the Maple Leafs.”
You can see where he’s coming from. Passing by him as he spoke were the likes of Mitch Marner and William Nylander, first-round picks with high-end offensive skill. Across from him was Zach Hyman, the kind of grinding forward that a coach like Mike Babcock can play anywhere in his lineup.
But the source for Laich’s optimism wasn’t the players that were on hand but the ones that weren’t; the same thing that’s given any Leafs fans who’ve been watching the World Cup of Hockey cause for optimism.
The Leafs may have headed to Halifax with 66 players on Thursday, but it’s the ones being left behind that are causing all the excitement, none more than Auston Matthews, whom Laich has never met but is already in love with.
Laich was at the Air Canada Centre to watch Team North America play Sweden on Wednesday afternoon. He saw what Matthews did against one of the best teams in the world and was as blown away as anyone else.
“He puts a big smile on your face,” Laich said of new teenaged teammate. “You watch him live and I see a lot of little things in his game, habits that you don’t normally see in young players.”
He then went on to list them; it took a while.
“He’s in tight around the net quite often,” he said. “Usually skilled players at a young age are maybe around the perimeter a little bit. He’s around the net; his size is a good advantage for him.
Laich continued:
“The way he competes for second pucks; his second effort is amazing. Did you see the goal he scored last game [the opening goal against Sweden, where Matthews won a puck battle on his knees, slid a pass cross-ice to fellow Leaf Morgan Rielly before one-timing the rebound]? He’s on his knees, he pulled it through a guy,” said Laich, wonder in his voice.
“His hands in tight are amazing. I think his release is underrated. People are going to talk about his playmaking but his release is underrated and also his positioning. He puts himself in great position to receive pucks, He’s a very cerebral player, from what I’ve observed. “
Typically with a young talent there are much-needed notes of caution. It’s one thing to dominate in your own age group but making the jump against the very best in the world is a chasm that few cross on their first try.
But with a season playing professionally in Europe under his belt, his near point-per-game performance at the world championships playing for Team USA in May and now his showing playing on the top line for Team North America alongside Connor McDavid, even the likes of Leafs general manager Lou Lamoriello seem to be a little less cautious.
That might be the norm in discussing the just-turned 19-year-old’s progress.
“Seeing him go out there in all situations and with the two players he’s playing with… there’s no question he has a bright future,” said Lamoriello, who also had high praise for Russian defenceman Nikita Zaitsev who will be joining the Leafs from the KHL. “It’s exciting to see him play and the most exciting thing is he’s ours.”
Laich was similarly enthused about watching Rielly man the back end for the U-24s.
“He’s such a great player and I still think he’s underrated,” said Laich. “He’s a one-man breakout machine, he can get the puck, evade a check, move his feet, drive the puck up the ice, [and] push the pace. He’s almost like a fourth forward but with the ability to recover and get back.
“I’m really impressed by Mo and he’s a great, great, kid. A really fun guy off the ice. Can’t wait to have him back.”
Some of the missing aren’t being waylaid by the World Cup, or course. Among them is 32-year-old Joffrey Lupul whose Leafs career – and possibly his NHL career – appear to be coming to a close.
After missing the second half of last season for surgery on a sports hernia, Lupul failed his team physical this past week and won’t be heading to Halifax, his future very much in doubt.
“Once he got back on the ice [this summer] and he had the same discomfort, we brought him back, he saw our doctors and when he went through the physical we both felt he wouldn’t be able to play,” said Lamoriello. “He’s very disappointed, he worked very hard at it this summer.”
It’s a difficult turn of events for Lupul, injury plagued throughout his career and now seemingly destined to finish the last two years of his five-year, $26.25-million contract on long-term injured reserve.
“Hockey is the only life I have known,” he said in a statement released by the Leafs. “This is an extremely emotional time for me.”
But the league keeps turning with new talent ready to replace those who can’t make the grade physically or otherwise. With Team North America being eliminated from the World Cup, Matthews (and Rielly) are available to return to the Leafs. Lamoriello said they will be given the weekend off and join the club when they return from Halifax.
However long it takes for Matthews to get back on the ice it’s already evident to Leafs teammates, fans and management: The wait will be worth it.
