Latest news with #Leafs
Vancouver Sun
19 minutes ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Michael Pezzetta knows the road to a job with Leafs will be hard
Before Michael Pezzetta gets in one regular-season fight on behalf of his Maple Leaf teammates, he'll have to battle his way onto the team. That's not news to the 6-foot-1 left winger, whose playing time with the Montreal Canadiens was limited last year, getting no points in 25 games with 24 penalty minutes. But sitting around his old room while contract details were being ironed out this week, he paused to look at his Mats Sundin and Curtis Joseph Toronto-era posters. 'I'm thinking 'how crazy is this?,' Pezzetta said Wednesday on a Zoom call with Toronto media. 'It's a life-long dream of mine. First-time free agency and I had the option to go elsewhere, but couldn't pass this up. 'They have a great team and I want to earn my roster spot. I know that come camp time, it's not just a given that I have a spot. The style of game I play is different than a lot of the guys and hopefully that can be an 'X' factor.' Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. A couple of years ago, Pezzetta led the Canadiens in hits and was 10th in the NHL as well as chipping in points. But while Montreal made strides as a team in 2024-25, and Pezzetta did well defensively, he found it hard to get noticed. 'Kind of a weird year, being in and out of the lineup with nothing really going my way,' he said. 'In years prior, I was pretty steady getting my 10 to 15 points and I'm confident I can do that again. 'Part of my game is being someone who is hard to play against, defensively responsible, whom the coach can trust. But then you're going out there and try to change the game with a big hit or a good forecheck, change the energy, on the bench and in the room.' The sixth-round pick in 2016 says he's always been a big off-season worker in terms of conditioning and improving any weak parts of his game. 'It wasn't easy, it took five or six years to get in my first exhibition game with Montreal. But when I did, I was ready for it because I put in all the work.' A couple of his 14 NHL fights came against warhorse Ryan Reaves, now a potential teammate whom he'll likely have to contend with for a bottom six role. 'No hard feelings,' Pezzetta assured. 'A few guys have to do their job and any time you meet guys like that off the ice, they tend to be the nicest. I look forward to meeting him and all the rest of the guys.' After the two-year deal at an $810,500 AAV, the GTHL grad Pezzetta posted an Instagram picture of he and his brother as kids, decked out in Toronto togs. 'We were a Leafs household. That was our first Christmas getting our Leafs' jerseys. It's hard not to get stoked about playing for the Leafs when you're from Toronto. My mom is super-stoked that I get to stay home. It has been a while.' Lhornby@ X: @sunhornby
Ottawa Citizen
23 minutes ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Michael Pezzetta knows the road to a job with Leafs will be hard
Article content Before Michael Pezzetta gets in one regular-season fight on behalf of his Maple Leaf teammates, he'll have to battle his way onto the team. Article content That's not news to the 6-foot-1 left winger, whose playing time with the Montreal Canadiens was limited last year, getting no points in 25 games with 24 penalty minutes. But sitting around his old room while contract details were being ironed out this week, he paused to look at his Mats Sundin and Curtis Joseph Toronto-era posters. Article content 'I'm thinking 'how crazy is this?,' Pezzetta said Wednesday on a Zoom call with Toronto media. 'It's a life-long dream of mine. First-time free agency and I had the option to go elsewhere, but couldn't pass this up. Article content Article content 'They have a great team and I want to earn my roster spot. I know that come camp time, it's not just a given that I have a spot. The style of game I play is different than a lot of the guys and hopefully that can be an 'X' factor.' Article content A couple of years ago, Pezzetta led the Canadiens in hits and was 10th in the NHL as well as chipping in points. But while Montreal made strides as a team in 2024-25, and Pezzetta did well defensively, he found it hard to get noticed. Article content 'Kind of a weird year, being in and out of the lineup with nothing really going my way,' he said. 'In years prior, I was pretty steady getting my 10 to 15 points and I'm confident I can do that again. Article content Article content 'Part of my game is being someone who is hard to play against, defensively responsible, whom the coach can trust. But then you're going out there and try to change the game with a big hit or a good forecheck, change the energy, on the bench and in the room.' Article content The sixth-round pick in 2016 says he's always been a big off-season worker in terms of conditioning and improving any weak parts of his game. Article content Article content 'It wasn't easy, it took five or six years to get in my first exhibition game with Montreal. But when I did, I was ready for it because I put in all the work.' Article content A couple of his 14 NHL fights came against warhorse Ryan Reaves, now a potential teammate whom he'll likely have to contend with for a bottom six role. Article content 'No hard feelings,' Pezzetta assured. 'A few guys have to do their job and any time you meet guys like that off the ice, they tend to be the nicest. I look forward to meeting him and all the rest of the guys.' Article content After the two-year deal at an $810,500 AAV, the GTHL grad Pezzetta posted an Instagram picture of he and his brother as kids, decked out in Toronto togs. Article content 'We were a Leafs household. That was our first Christmas getting our Leafs' jerseys. It's hard not to get stoked about playing for the Leafs when you're from Toronto. My mom is super-stoked that I get to stay home. It has been a while.' Article content
Edmonton Journal
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Tyler Hopkins heads to Maple Leafs' camp, feels selection by Toronto 'a big advantage'
Article content KINGSTON — On Monday, Tyler Hopkins packed his bags, pulled out of the driveway in Campbellville and started the one-hour drive to west-end Toronto to embark on the next leg of his hockey journey. Article content When next the Kingston Frontenacs' 18-year-old centre steps on the ice, he'll be skating for the first time as a professional. Article content True, Hopkins hasn't yet signed a NHL contract yet, but he is the property of the Toronto Maple Leafs, his favourite team growing up, and this week he'll be on the ice with the team's prospects at development camp. Article content Article content The Leafs selected Hopkins in the third round, 86th overall, of the NHL entry draft last Saturday. NHL Central Scouting had slotted him No. 52 among its North American skaters in its final set of rankings this spring, so his availability in the third round wasn't expected. Article content Article content 'I had my eye on where Toronto's pick was while I was waiting with my family,' he said. 'It still felt like an eternity waiting, but it was a dream come true when they called my name.' While Hopkins described Toronto's selection as a pinch-me moment, it didn't come as a major surprise. Article content 'The interview I had with the Leafs at the combine was one of my better ones, I thought,' he said. 'I had a good feeling come out of there. I thought they were interested.' How the scouts slotted Hopkins in his draft class matters not at all anymore — the key going forward will be Hopkins wedging himself into the Leafs organization chart and playing well enough this season with the Frontenacs to make Toronto's signing him to an entry-level contract a priority for Leafs general manager Brad Treliving. Article content Article content That said, Hopkins has no illusions of cracking the big club's roster as an 18-year-old or even at 19. He's joining a queue of prospects at centre headed by Easton Cowan, the Leafs first-round draft pick in 2023, who's coming off a lead role on a Memorial Cup winner with the London Knights, two lights-out Ontario Hockey League seasons and a couple of turns with the Canadian team at the world juniors. Article content Other Toronto prospects down the middle competing for attention include Tinus-Luc Koblar, Toronto's selection with the last pick in the second round of the draft on the weekend, and Miroslav Holinka, a rangy 2024 fifth-rounder who played last season for the Edmonton Oil Kings. Article content Nonetheless, Hopkins believes this selection by Toronto couldn't better set him up for development and success in the pros. Article content 'Kingston is only two hours away and where I live I'm only an hour away, so it's 100 percent a big advantage when it comes to being in contact with the Leafs' development staff,' Hopkins said. 'I'll have a chance to be around (the players on the NHL roster) more than I would if I had been drafted elsewhere. And that's up to me to take advantage of that.'
Vancouver Sun
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Vancouver Sun
Tyler Hopkins heads to Maple Leafs' camp, feels selection by Toronto 'a big advantage'
On Monday, Tyler Hopkins packed his bags, pulled out of the driveway in Campbellville and started the one-hour drive to west-end Toronto to embark on the next leg of his hockey journey. When next the Kingston Frontenacs' 18-year-old centre steps on the ice, he'll be skating for the first time as a professional. True, Hopkins hasn't yet signed a NHL contract yet, but he is the property of the Toronto Maple Leafs, his favourite team growing up, and this week he'll be on the ice with the team's prospects at development camp. The Leafs selected Hopkins in the third round, 86th overall, of the NHL entry draft last Saturday. NHL Central Scouting had slotted him No. 52 among its North American skaters in its final set of rankings this spring, so his availability in the third round wasn't expected. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'I had my eye on where Toronto's pick was while I was waiting with my family,' he said. 'It still felt like an eternity waiting, but it was a dream come true when they called my name.' While Hopkins described Toronto's selection as a pinch-me moment, it didn't come as a major surprise. 'The interview I had with the Leafs at the combine was one of my better ones, I thought,' he said. 'I had a good feeling come out of there. I thought they were interested.' How the scouts slotted Hopkins in his draft class matters not at all anymore — the key going forward will be Hopkins wedging himself into the Leafs organization chart and playing well enough this season with the Frontenacs to make Toronto's signing him to an entry-level contract a priority for Leafs general manager Brad Treliving. That said, Hopkins has no illusions of cracking the big club's roster as an 18-year-old or even at 19. He's joining a queue of prospects at centre headed by Easton Cowan, the Leafs first-round draft pick in 2023, who's coming off a lead role on a Memorial Cup winner with the London Knights, two lights-out Ontario Hockey League seasons and a couple of turns with the Canadian team at the world juniors. Other Toronto prospects down the middle competing for attention include Tinus-Luc Koblar, Toronto's selection with the last pick in the second round of the draft on the weekend, and Miroslav Holinka, a rangy 2024 fifth-rounder who played last season for the Edmonton Oil Kings. Nonetheless, Hopkins believes this selection by Toronto couldn't better set him up for development and success in the pros. 'Kingston is only two hours away and where I live I'm only an hour away, so it's 100 percent a big advantage when it comes to being in contact with the Leafs' development staff,' Hopkins said. 'I'll have a chance to be around (the players on the NHL roster) more than I would if I had been drafted elsewhere. And that's up to me to take advantage of that.' The advantages of Toronto's proximity also come with the burden of pressures of the hockey-obsessed market and Hopkins, a lifelong Leafs fan and an owner of three Auston Matthews sweaters, is acutely aware of them going in. No doubt he like every Leafs fan knows the city and the media can even sour the mood of an all-star, enough to alienate a hometown hero like Mitch Marner, who was signed and traded to the Vegas Golden Knights after nine seasons in Toronto. With a Stanley Cup drought coming up on six full decades, Toronto divides NHL fans — for Leafs-philes they are a passion, for the rest a punchline. On his drive on Monday, Hopkins was trying to look past the troubles and emphasizing the positive. 'I've been to a bunch of Leafs games over the years, the last being Game 7 against Florida (in May), which was obviously not the outcome that any fan was looking for,' Hopkins said. 'I've been around for good times too, like when they beat Tampa a while back and move on to the second round. To have a chance to be part of something like that is pretty cool.' gjoyce@
Ottawa Citizen
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Tyler Hopkins heads to Maple Leafs' camp, feels selection by Toronto 'a big advantage'
Article content On Monday, Tyler Hopkins packed his bags, pulled out of the driveway in Campbellville and started the one-hour drive to west-end Toronto to embark on the next leg of his hockey journey. Article content When next the Kingston Frontenacs' 18-year-old centre steps on the ice, he'll be skating for the first time as a professional. Article content True, Hopkins hasn't yet signed a NHL contract yet, but he is the property of the Toronto Maple Leafs, his favourite team growing up, and this week he'll be on the ice with the team's prospects at development camp. Article content Article content The Leafs selected Hopkins in the third round, 86th overall, of the NHL entry draft last Saturday. NHL Central Scouting had slotted him No. 52 among its North American skaters in its final set of rankings this spring, so his availability in the third round wasn't expected. Article content Article content 'I had my eye on where Toronto's pick was while I was waiting with my family,' he said. 'It still felt like an eternity waiting, but it was a dream come true when they called my name.' Article content While Hopkins described Toronto's selection as a pinch-me moment, it didn't come as a major surprise. Article content 'The interview I had with the Leafs at the combine was one of my better ones, I thought,' he said. 'I had a good feeling come out of there. I thought they were interested.' How the scouts slotted Hopkins in his draft class matters not at all anymore — the key going forward will be Hopkins wedging himself into the Leafs organization chart and playing well enough this season with the Frontenacs to make Toronto's signing him to an entry-level contract a priority for Leafs general manager Brad Treliving. Article content Article content That said, Hopkins has no illusions of cracking the big club's roster as an 18-year-old or even at 19. He's joining a queue of prospects at centre headed by Easton Cowan, the Leafs first-round draft pick in 2023, who's coming off a lead role on a Memorial Cup winner with the London Knights, two lights-out Ontario Hockey League seasons and a couple of turns with the Canadian team at the world juniors. Article content Other Toronto prospects down the middle competing for attention include Tinus-Luc Koblar, Toronto's selection with the last pick in the second round of the draft on the weekend, and Miroslav Holinka, a rangy 2024 fifth-rounder who played last season for the Edmonton Oil Kings. Article content Nonetheless, Hopkins believes this selection by Toronto couldn't better set him up for development and success in the pros. Article content 'Kingston is only two hours away and where I live I'm only an hour away, so it's 100 percent a big advantage when it comes to being in contact with the Leafs' development staff,' Hopkins said. 'I'll have a chance to be around (the players on the NHL roster) more than I would if I had been drafted elsewhere. And that's up to me to take advantage of that.'
