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Get your relaxation and prepare to play some hockey.
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That was the message, briefly, from Maple Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe to his gamers on Tuesday.
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Not lengthy after touching down in Stockholm following an in a single day flight, the Leafs have been on the ice within the Swedish capital for observe.
“It’s actually about fire-the-engines a little bit bit simply to maintain them awake by way of the day,” Keefe informed reporters after the Leafs practised at Hovet Area. “We’re attempting to maintain them away from the lodge and maintain them away from with the ability to nap or having the physique shut down simply because (Tuesday night time’s) sleep actually is important to set us up for the week.
“To get to mattress at an honest time and be capable of sleep by way of the night time is the precedence for the day. The skate was nearly firing the engines and getting a sweat.”
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The NHL World Collection options video games involving the Leafs, Detroit Crimson Wings, Minnesota Wild and Ottawa Senators.
The Leafs play the Wings on Friday afternoon and can sq. off with the Wild on Sunday earlier than returning house.
Whereas the journey is a particular one for the Leafs’ Swedish gamers — William Nylander, Calle Jarnkrok, William Lagesson and the injured Timothy Liljegren — there’s a little bit extra one thing to it for Nylander.
He arrived within the nation the place he was raised enjoying the most effective hockey of his Nationwide Hockey League profession. Not solely was Nylander sixth in NHL scoring by way of video games on Monday, there’s that franchise-record 15-game level streak he’s driving to start out a season.
Offered he will get a degree in every of the Leafs’ two video games in Stockholm, Nylander will turn into simply the second energetic NHL participant to start out a season with a 17-game level streak. The Edmonton Oilers’ Connor McDavid achieved as a lot to start 2021-22.
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“The purpose streak is one factor,” Keefe mentioned. “Generally there may be some luck concerned in these level streaks and whether or not the streak continues, that’s not the purpose.
“He has simply performed terrific hockey. He has actually been a catalyst for us offensively, his effort away from the puck defensively has actually matched the hassle that he’s placing forth on offence. To me, he appears to be like like he’s actually targeted on having an important season, which is constructing upon final season. I assumed he took an enormous step in his general recreation final season and he has taken one other one right here this yr.”
With 22 factors (10 targets and 12 assists), Nylander is on tempo for 120 factors in 82 video games. That might smash his profession excessive, which got here in 2022-23 when he had 87 factors in 82 video games.
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Nylander started to place the offensive aspect of his recreation into overdrive two years in the past, when he had 80 factors in 81 video games.
There’s little doubt that, with every passing match, Nylander is growing his worth and due to this fact the wage he’ll command on his subsequent contract. The way it performs out for the Leafs, who could have a doubtlessly robust resolution to make when the NHL commerce deadline rolls round subsequent March, will maintain the intrigue and debate alive because the season progresses.
What issues most for the Leafs and Nylander is that the looming free company — if Leafs basic supervisor Brad Treliving and Nylander’s agent, Lewis Gross, can’t discover frequent floor — has had no unfavourable influence on how Nylander will get his work achieved. Not that one was anticipated, given Nylander’s outlook.
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In Sweden, Nylander mentioned his grandmother for the primary time will watch him play within the NHL. He needed to collect roughly 90-100 tickets for the video games (in whole, not for every recreation).
“It has been a dream to come back again right here and play,” Nylander mentioned. “I didn’t suppose that may occur in my profession, to play an NHL recreation in Sweden, in order that’s going to be very particular.”
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Whereas Nylander has excelled on the ice, as a tour information, effectively, maybe not a lot. It’s Keefe’s first time in Sweden and, he mentioned, his first time in Europe in 30 years.
“Will is the man I’ve talked to essentially the most about (issues to see and do in Stockholm) and, as you may think about, Will is fairly chill,” Keefe mentioned with a smile. “Simply stroll round and take within the sights. That was actually all he needed to supply, however seems like Willie himself has obtained a reasonably full plate whereas we’re right here.
“I’m certain he’s excited to be right here, however understanding Willie, he likes to maintain the concentrate on the hockey, so he’ll get his obligations out of the best way and all our Swedish guys, particularly, might be excited to play.”
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