1. Short memories
Forward Mitchell Marner said earlier this month the Maple Leafs can expect to be asked repeatedly about their shortcomings in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. "The past is the past," he said. "We can only change what's ahead." How is that different from the narrative of previous training camps for a team that has been eliminated in the opening round six consecutive times? By keeping the core of Marner, Auston Matthews, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly together, management has shown it believes these players finally can find success. In the meantime, the reminders of previous postseason failures will be omnipresent.
2. Goalie carousel
With Jack Campbell signing with the Edmonton Oilers, there are questions about Matt Murray and Ilya Samsonov. Murray, 30, battled various injuries the past two seasons with the Ottawa Senators, going 15-25-3 with a 3.23 goals-against average, .899 save percentage and three shutouts in 47 games (45 starts). Samsonov was 23-12-5 with a 3.02 GAA, .896 save percentage and three shutouts in 44 games (39 starts) for the Washington Capitals last season.
3. Rielly's supporting cast
Rielly signed an eight-year $60 million contract ($7.5 million average annual value) on Oct. 29, 2021. The 28-year-old led Toronto defensemen with 68 points (10 goals, 58 assists) in 82 games last season. Then there is a significant drop-off in production with TJ Brodie (28 points; four goals, 24 assists) the next highest scoring defenseman. Someone needs to step up, whether it's a veteran like Brodie or Mark Giordano or a young player like Timothy Liljegren, a 23-year-old out for at least six weeks after he had hernia surgery Sept. 16.
