The Maple Leafs released their 2014-15 regular season schedule on Sunday, which opens with their traditional match with the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, October 8th.
VERSUS EACH OPPONENT BREAKDOWN(courtesy of Mapleleafs.com)
EASTERN CONFERENCE – Atlantic Division
Boston (H: 10/25, 11/12, A: 12/31, 4/4); Buffalo (H: 10/28, 3/11, A: 11/15, 4/1); Detroit (H: 10/17, 11/22, 12/13, A: 10/18, 12/10); Florida (H: 2/17, 3/26, A: 12/28, 3/3) ; Montreal (H: 10/8, 4/11, A: 2/14, 2/28); Ottawa (H: 3/28, 4/5, A: 10/22, 1/21, 3/21); Tampa Bay (H: 11/20, 3/31, A: 12/29, 3/5)
EASTERN CONFERENCE – Metropolitan Division
Carolina (H: 1/19, A: 12/18, 2/20); Columbus (H: 1/9, A: 10/31, 4/8); New Jersey (H: 12/4, A: 1/28, 2/6); NY Islanders (H: 3/9, A: 10/21, 2/12); NY Rangers (H: 11/8, 2/10, A: 10/12); Philadelphia (H: 12/20, 2/26, A: 1/31); Pittsburgh (H: 10/11, 11/14, A: 11/26); Washington (H: 11/29, 1/7, A: 3/1)
WESTERN CONFERENCE – Pacific Division
Anaheim (H: 12/16, A: 1/14); Arizona (H: 1/29, A: 11/4); Calgary (H: 12/9, A: 3/13); Edmonton (H: 2/7, A: 3/16); Los Angeles (H: 12/14, A: 1/12); San Jose (H: 3/19, A: 1/15); Vancouver (H: 12/6, A: 3/14)
WESTERN CONFERENCE – Central Division
Chicago (H: 11/1, A: 12/21); Colorado (H: 10/14, A: 11/6); Dallas (H: 12/2, A: 12/23); Minnesota (H: 3/23, A: 1/2); Nashville (H: 11/18, A: 2/3); St. Louis (H: 3/7, A: 1/17); Winnipeg (H: 2/21, A: 1/3)
BACK-TO-BACK GAMES
Overall: 18
Home game, followed by home game: 1 Home game, followed by road game: 6
Road game, followed by home game: 5 Road game, followed by road game: 6
Toronto opens the season with four of their first five games at Air Canada Center against the Habs, Pittsburgh, Colorado and Detroit and their longest road trip is a seven-game sojourn(due to the 2015 IIHF World Junior Championships being in Toronto) that begins December 21st and ends January 3rd with games in Chicago, Dallas, Florida, Tampa Bay, Boston(New Year's Eve), Minnesota and Winnipeg.
The club revealed their eight game preseason schedule earlier in the week, which consists of four pairs of games against Philadelphia, Ottawa, Buffalo and Detroit, beginning with a match with the Flyers in London, ON on September 22nd.
DATE………………………………………………………..GAME SITE…………………TIME
MON, SEPT 22………….PHILADELPHIA…….LONDON, ONT……………..7PM
TUES, SEPT 23…………PHILADELPHIA…….TORONTO/ACC…………….7:30PM
WED, SEPT 24………….OTTAWA………………TORONTO/ACC…………….7:30PM(SS)
WED, SEPT 24………….OTTAWA………………KANATA,ON/CTC………… 7:30PM(SS)
FRI, SEPT 26………….BUFFALO……………..BUFFALO/FNC……………..7PM
SUN, SEPT 28………… BUFFALO……………..TORONTO/ACC……………7PM
MON, SEPT 29………….DETROIT………………DETROIT/JLA………………7:30PM
FRI, OCT 3……………..DETROIT………………TORONTO/ACC…………..7:30PM
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The rumor of a potential deal bringing Vancouver’s Ryan Kesler to Toronto makes appears to be the best fit for the Leafs in their pursuit of a quality addition up the middle. The 29-year-old center has the most reasonable contract of the big name playmakers reportedly on the market, with two more seasons at $5 Million.
Carolina’s Eric Staal will make $8.25 Million for another two seasons, San Jose’s Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau were signed for three seasons at over $6 Million and Jason Spezza has a $7 Million cap hit in 2014 before becoming a UFA next summer.
Kesler played for Nonis and Carlyle during their days in the Canucks organization and his quality as a two-way player would go well with the Leafs focus on improving defensively.
Vancouver is looking to retool and wants a younger center in a deal and there continues to be speculation that the Leafs are open to moving Nazem Kadri, who has one more year at $2.9 Million and could use James Reimer with just youngsters Eddie Lack and Jacob Markstrom in the fold. Reimer has experience and the 26-year-old will be able to be re-signed for less than older free agents Ryan Miller or Jonas Hiller.
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A cautionary tale from Boston Globe columnist
Fluto Shinzawa about soon-to-be-free agent Shawn Thornton. The veteran fourth liner/enforcer ends his seven stint in Boston and still has the smarts and energy to be a useful addition for a club like Toronto, who needs veteran character and leadership, but the 36-year-old is losing a step and might not be a good fit for a team like the Leafs, who want to improve their puck possession.
Boston is opting to infiuse their fourth line unit with speedier youngsters like Ryan Spooner or Alexander Khokhlachev and the Leafs may opt to do the same with the likes of Jerry D’Amigo, Sam Carrick, Carter Ashton or Spencer Abbott. If the Leafs do pursue Thornton, it is likely be at the expense of enforcer Colton Orr, who has one more season at $925,000.
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