Maple Leafs start to trickle back to Toronto for conditioning
The weather outside is sweltering and it has been months since there was any hockey action, but the whisperings of the season to come are starting to come together as players begin to return to their NHL cities to prepare for the start of a new year.
For the Maple Leafs, that means a few familiar players have returned to the home of the Marlies as they gear up to attempt to make the NHL squad this season. One of those players, Matt Frattin, said that despite his age (27 years old), he is determined to break through with the Maple Leafs this time around.
"This will be a big camp," Frattin told the Toronto Sun. "You’re looking at a lot of young guys trying to make the team and a lot trying to keep jobs. With the Marlies last year it was a positive thing. But I have to transfer that to the Leafs at camp."
Frattin played nine games with the Leafs last season but failed to register a point. He was excellent with the Marlies, however, tallying 48 points in 59 regular season games while posting six points in five playoff games last season. But Frattin is in the final year of a two-year deal, and if he fails to make a dent with the Leafs this season, he could be seeing an end to his NHL dreams. So the winger was one of the players at a power skating session Monday, and he said he hopes to impress new coach Mike Babcock at camp enough to earn a chance at proving his physical worth at the NHL level.
"I like being physical and battling for pucks," Frattin said to the Toronto Sun. "When I’m physical, that’s a good sign I’m on my game. You can’t play scared and not make the team."
(h/t Toronto Sun)
