TORONTO – The Toronto Maple Leafs are opening what is expected to be their most competitive training camp in recent history as they hope to put last season’s late collapse behind them.
Beyond the core of Phil Kessel, James van Riemsdyk, Joffrey Lupul and captain Dion Phaneuf, the Leafs brought in a handful of players to challenge for roster spots.
In signing forwards David Booth, Daniel Winnik, Leo Komarov, Petri Kontiola and Mike Santorelli and trading for Matt Frattin, the bottom six should have an entirely different look.
Lupul acknowledged that being a three-line team last year contributed to it losing steam and then 12 of the final 14 games to miss the playoffs.
More depth could help coach Randy Carlyle better balance out ice time.
On defence, the additions of Stephane Robidas and Roman Polak could help, but it’s the presence of veterans Henrik Tallinder and Brendan Mikkelson at training camp that bear watching.
Tallinder and Mikkelson are on professional tryouts and could be battling each other for a roster spot.
The roster changes came amid a summer of change in Toronto as Brendan Shanahan took over as president and Kyle Dubas and Brandon Pridham joined the front office under general manager Dave Nonis.
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