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Maple Leafs appear to have quite the training camp drama brewing

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Dean Chaudhry
September 4, 2024 (9:43)

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Toronto Maple Leafs' prospect Easton Cowan skating with the big club during a pre-season game in 2023.

Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski - USA Today Sports

Training camps are fast approaching and the Toronto Maple Leafs have some potential drama building ahead of what will be a very important pre-season.

The Maple Leafs are about to embark on a new campaign in just over a month. With training camp being only a few weeks away and the organization having barely addressed their offensive depth over the summer, there might be a few open roster spots up for grabs and it sounds like a battle is brewing with some of the team's top prospects and a wily veteran still on the open market.

Rumours have been abound regarding Max Pacioretty and it sounds like the Maple Leafs are one of the teams interested in bringing him into the fold. With Nick Robertson holding out for a trade, there's a pressing need to find a left-winger for the top-9 and Pacioretty fits the bill for a variety of reasons, but none more important than cost.

TSN's Chris Johnston joined First Up yesterday to discuss a myriad of topics, including what the Maple Leafs are planning on doing with Robertson holding out and Pacioretty fielding offers:

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"[Pacioretty] is pretty well-known around the league, someone that can play a role perhaps on the power play, and Toronto is certainly not his only option. It's not like he's got a ton of [offers], but the summer is winding down to a close here and he's in a position here where he's going to be able to sign a contract rather than a try-out and the Leafs are among the teams with some interest there."

Johnston then added that if the Leafs do end up signing Pacioretty to a standard contract rather than a professional tryout and he doesn't perform up to task or if Robertson is ready to make a return, it's not the end of the world because there are ways to get out of the deal, especially at such a low dollar.

"If things don't work, there's usually ways you can take care of that. I don't know what he wants to do with his career but he could go through waivers and be sent to the AHL and it doesn't preclude someone else from winning a job at camp but it obviously makes it a little more difficult for those guys."

When asked about Robertson's situation and whether or not that would force the Leafs' hand in signing a player like Pacioretty, Johnston notes that adding Pacioretty - or any other veteran - would have more to do with depth and having an extra body in camp and during a gruelling season than anything.

"It's all under the same umbrella and no one can say with certainty how that one's going to play out. The Leafs have a fair bit of leverage in the Robertson situation, they're really under no pressure to do anything beyond just trying to get him signed. It's become less and less likely that he'll get an offer sheet from somewhere else and so if he wants to play this year, I do think the Leafs have a lot of power there, but with it being uncertain and not knowing how it goes, I don't think it hurts to add another body there plus let's face it, there's injuries during training camp and it is a long year, so even if it doesn't end up being Pacioretty, the Leafs will consider some other veteran option for left-wing just to have another body around in camp and another player that can play that position if they need for all kinds of different reason."

Throughout the summer, we've heard rumblings about whether or not Fraser Minten or Easton Cowan could make the big club outright from training camp and while it's always a possibility, keeping them either in the minors or in the junior circuit - in Cowan's case - wouldn't be the worst thing in the world for their development.

"In Minten's case, he can play for the Marlies this year, I don't think there's any harm in spending time unless something happens in training camp that surprises and Cowan, it's a little bit more of a tricky road to walk because the only other place he can play is London in the Ontario Hockey League if he isn't a member of the Leafs, so there's different dynamics to be weighed there but I don't think we can sit here at this stage and expect that either of those guys to be full-time Leafs, it doesn't mean they can't but starting with the rookie camp here and the main camp, they're going to have to prove something to have a chance to play with the big club in October."

Between Robertson's trade request and hold-out, the possible emergence of rookies like Cowan and Minten, as well as the looming possibility of Pacioretty being brought into the fold, there are a lot of things to keep an eye out for ahead of training camp. With the Maple Leafs' roster not set in stone right now, there are a few moving pieces that will be settled in training camp with a lot on the line for several members.

Source for the interview: TSN 1050Johnston on the Leafs interest in Max Pacioretty, why Robertson remains a RFA & Cowan and Minten's chances of making the team

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POLL
4 SEPTEMBRE \| 229 ANSWERS Maple Leafs appear to have quite the training camp drama brewing If there's only one spot to be won in training camp, who comes out with a roster spot on Opening Night?
Easton Cowan	119	52 %
Fraser Minten	23	10 %
Nick Robertson after ending his holdout	42	18.3 %
A veteran signed to either a PTO or SPC	45	19.7 %
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