First Maple Leafs camp under Craig Berube gets intense early

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Thunderclaps along the boards as bodies collided, enthusiastic shouts and lots of loud stick taps rang in Craig Berube’s first training camp practice with the Maple Leafs. 

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At one stage, Toronto’s former captain, John Tavares, and current ‘C’ holder Auston Matthews were locked in intense 1-on-1 puck battles.

But the real duel came with the nets placed only about 25 feet apart, much closer than Sheldon Keefe’s version of the hamburger drill, with blue and white foes in close quarters, right in the goalies’ faces.

“Today was Intense,” goaltender Joseph Woll agreed of watching forwards and defenceman bump in front of his crease. “That’s what’s going to be emphasized throughout the year, being hard on the puck and being one of the hardest teams to play against. This was a good start. 

“It’s contagious. And the way it’s contagious for goalies is not so much aggressive — I’m not going to turn into Ron Hextall — but it’s more the mindset of the compete, 100% of the time. There are no reps off and that’s something (Berube) is really going to emphasize. 

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“To be a hard team and physical team is not always to go running around smashing everyone. It’s how you compete and what you have going on up here (pointing to his head). That definitely moved throughout the team.” 

There was no need to sell winger Ryan Reaves on the new coach as he fills the role Berube once had as a scrapper and carried that energy into coaching. 

“Come out of the gates hot and see what this team is all about,” Reaves said approvingly. “He expects a lot of intensity and detail. After you saw that practice, it’s going to be a very direct, gritty team this year.

“It sends a message right away. In summer skates, you’re not leaning on anybody, you don’t really get those battle drills. But today was up and down the sheet battles, in the corners, 1-on-1’s, 2-on-2’s on full ice.”

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By the time Berube and his trusty stopwatch ran through both of his primary groups for the first time — a third is comprised of development players — he was quite satisfied he and his new charges understood each other.

“Just learning that you’re going to be uncomfortable a lot of times and work and compete under those circumstances. It’s the game isn’t it? Berube said. “Not every game is intense as others, but I want our team to have an identity. I was impressed that it was a tough practice, but that the pace never dropped off.”

Berube didn’t touch the reigning first line of Matthews between Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies, while Tavares centred an intriguing second group with Bobby McMann, who missed last year’s playoffs, and Nick Robertson, the latter moving to the right wing.

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Restricted free agent Robertson didn’t want to get into his summer long snit about wanting a trade before signing a one-year deal, insisting he’s happy to be here and fine with being on the right side if it helps him stay in the lineup.

William Nylander was indeed shifted to centre by Berube, joined by Max Domi and Calle Jarnkrok.

Max Pacioretty was elated to be healthy at camp after multiple ankle surgeries, making a late summer call to join the Leafs on a PTO.  

“I wanted to take my time this summer and see where my body was at and how (potential) teams shaped up,” the 35-year-old said. “Ultimately, we thought this was a good fit. My wife and family made sacrifices for me this summer, so I owe it to myself and them to see if I can get back where I was (a 30-goal scorer, who was once captain of the Canadiens).

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“The good news is I feel like I’m there (physically) and can’t wait to prove it.” 

He was on left wing with Pontus Holmberg and prospect Nikita Grebenkin. Fellow PTO forward Steven Lorentz is here from the defending champion Florida Panthers and was placed for now with fourth-line centre David Kampf and Reaves.

LOOSE LEAFS

Pacioretty is sticking with his familiar No. 67 sweater, despite its superstition as a ‘heavy’ number that calls attention to the Leafs most recent Cup year and ensuing record 57-season drought. Only two Leafs ever have worn it. “Hopefully it’s going to be good luck,” the Connecticut native said with a laugh. “I’ve heard fans say it could go both ways” … Defenceman Simon Benoit missed the first day of camp as he and his partner welcomed their first child on Wednesday, the day before Benoit’s 26th birthday … That meant Benoit’s regular defence pairing with Jake McCabe was replaced with Oliver Ekman-Larsson, while Chris Tanev joined Morgan Rielly as expected … Watching from the stands on Thursday was Jake Muzzin, who had to retire in 2023 with a spinal injury. He saw L.A. and Toronto teammate Kyle Clifford and new defenceman Tanev wearing his old No. 8 … Alex Nylander, here on an AHL contract with brother William, also is living with him and driving to practice, though he was very careful not to put the cart before the horse in convincing Berube and management he belongs in the NHL. He did say driving to practice with his brother again after so many years was a strange feeling. 

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