Toronto Maple Leafs: Preseason opener brings a lot of intrigue

The Toronto Maple Leafs kick off their preseason schedule with some big names getting on the ice while others will look to make a good first impression.

After months of patiently waiting, the Toronto Maple Leafs will take the ice for the first preseason game of the season and it comes with a different environment than past years.

The small town of Lucan, Ont., has been buzzing since the announcement was made that they were the winner of the Kraft Hockeyville. As Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun writes, 1,600 people won tickets through a lottery and another 1,000 will watch outside the arena.

Give the Leafs credit to give up a home at the Scotiabank Arena (they’ve been requested to play in past seasons) as they continue to show why they’re one of the more popular teams in the league. The demand to see the Blue and White has been evident with the fans lining up to watch training camp scrimmages in Niagara Falls.

A 25-minute drive from London, Ont., this game features many players who played junior hockey with the London Knights so those players will get a big reception.

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Make no mistake, no player will receive as much attention from the crowd and the broadcast than John Tavares. After months of talking about his addition, he finally gets to show why he was a big-time signing for this team.

Another player that should get a big ovation is Mitch Marner who was a star for the Knights and understandably so, he is a fan favourite for Leafs Nation. It will also be the first time Marner and Tavares play together and don’t be surprised to see them try to feel each other out and attempt to make some dazzling plays.

Here is the full roster making the trip to Lucan to play against the Ottawa Senators.

What people should be watching is the players who are in a battle to make the team and it starts with the goaltenders. Both Garret Sparks and Curtis McElhinney are expected to share the net in this game and you know if either one struggle, it will be a talking point.

On defence, Travis Dermott has been challenged by Mike Babcock to show more urgency so hopefully getting into game action will do that for him. Igor Ozhiganov will play his first game on North American ice so he’s a player worth keeping an eye on. Then there are other players looking to make the decision on the blueline tougher like Justin Holl, Andreas Borgman, and Jordan Subban.

Upfront other than Tavares and Marner, a lot of eyes will be on younger players like Trevor Moore and Carl Grundstrom who have received high praise from Babcock. Then there’s Semyon Der-Arguchintsev (SDA) who will be the youngest player on the ice in this game but many are excited about his talent level.

This game should be an intriguing one give all the players involved and the many storylines that could come from it as well and will take place at 7:30p.m. on Sportsnet (T.V.) or TSN 1050 (Radio).

Which players are you looking forward to watching in the preseason opener? Let us know in the comments below.