First full week of NHL pre-season begins

Ready or not, NHL hockey is back. The Maple Leafs play their pre-season opener tonight as they face off with the Philadelphia Flyers in London. This after a weekend at the team’s practice facility in Etobicoke.

There will be plenty of unfamiliar faces on the ice tonight when the Leafs face the Flyers. Former Philadelphia goalie Cal Heeter will be suiting up for Toronto but in his Philly-orange pads.

One familiar face will be London, Ontario native Nazem Kadri: “I mean obviously there’s not going to be 24/25 NHL’ers out there, but it’s going to be a pretty intense pace. Fighting for spots. Should be a good tempo.”

“The Leafs reduced their training camp roster today, leaving at total of 54 players: 32 forwards, 16 defensemen and 6 goalies.”

Waterdown native Carter Verhaeghe was one of the casualties. He’ll return to the Niagara Ice Dogs where he was the team MVP last season with 28 goals and 54 assists.

Maple Leafs head coach Randy Carlyle: “There’s people competing to take the first step in their NHL careers, people trying to extend their NHL careers, and people trying to take the next step in our lineup, and that is really where we’re at.”

Injured Leafs Tyler Bozak and David Clarkson took part in their first on-ice exercises — of the two separate practices that took place. They skated with the largely-rookie contingent that will play in the first pre-season game. Both are recovering from unspecified lower-body injuries, but Clarkson is also trying to rebound from a brutal season that was fraught with injuries and suspensions.

David Clarkson: “There’s gonna’ be years that went well and years that didn’t, and last year was a tough year for me. I’ve got it behind me, I’m looking forward for what’s ahead and I’m excited for the season to start.”