The day we've all wanted is here. The day we've been waiting with high anticipation since he came to Toronto last year is here. William Nylander will make his Toronto Maple Leafs debut TONIGHT!
Also Kasperi Kapanen, Nikita Soshnikov, Brooks Laich, Connor Carrick, Ben Smith, and Zach Hyman will debut for the Leafs as well. Lots going on today, let's get to the game.
Let's compare the two teams tonight before we keep on squee-ing over Nylander.
| Toronto | Tampa Bay | |
| Record | 21-29-10 | 36-22-4 |
| Division Rank | 8th Atlantic | 2nd Atlantic |
| Conference | 16th East | 4th East |
| League | 30th overall | 9th overall |
| Goals +/- | 146/180= -34 | 173/150= +23 |
| Top Scorer | Leo Komarov 18G | Steven Stamkos 28G |
| Top Points | Leo Komarov 35pts | Steven Stamkos 51pts |
| Top Goalie | Jonathan Bernier .898sv% | Ben Bishop .925sv% |
| Historical vs | 49-31-2 | 31-49-2 |
The Maple Leafs roster today is vastly different from the one that played the Lightning previously this season. We're getting pre-season game, though the Leafs just barely have enough NHL experience on the roster for this to qualify. They were busy leading up to the deadline, moving out Winnik, Reimer, Polak, and Spaling over the weekend.
The Lightning are holding their own and trying to push for first in the division in the Eastern Conference playoff race. They made no big deadline moves, and are happy with their roster as is for the spring.
Potential Line Ups
Toronto (Morning Skate)
Leo Komarov -Nazem Kadri - P.A. Parenteau
Michael Grabner - William Nylander - Zach Hyman
Colin Greening - Peter Holland - Kasperi Kapanen
Nikita Soshnikov - Ben Smith - Brad Boyes
Extras not skating: Brooks Laich
Matt Hunwick - Morgan Rielly
Jake Gardiner - Frank Corrado
Martin Marincin - Stuart Percy
Extras not skating: Connor Carrick
Garret Sparks
Jonathan Bernier
Injured: Nathan Horton, Stephane Robidas, Joffrey Lupul, Tyler Bozak, James van Riemsdyk, Milan Michalek
Tampa Bay (VIA DailyFaceoff.com)
Alex Killorn - Steven Stamkos - Ryan Callahan
Ondrej Palat - Tyler Johnson - Nikita Kucherov
Cedric Paquette - Valtteri Filppula - J.T. Brown
Brian Boyle - Vladislav Namestnikov - Jonathan Marchessault
Victor Hedman - Anton Stralman
Matt Carle - Andrej Sustr
Nikita Nesterov - Braydon Coburn
Ben Bishop
Andrei Vasilevskiy
Injured: Matthias Ohlund, Jason Garrison
Afternoon Links
Farewell, Brooks Laich - Japers' Rink
PPP Podcast: Trade Deadline Edition - Pension Plan Puppets
New Maple Leaf Brooks Laich: how will he fit in? - Pension Plan Puppets
Who is new Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Connor Carrick? - Pension Plan Puppets
Twitter chatter
New sweater numbers for the #leafs: Nylander (39), Kapanen (37), Soshnikov (41), Hyman (11) and Laich (23).
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) February 29, 2016
Zach Hyman and his dad Stuart back in Timmy tyke days. A dream come true for both with Zach now a Leaf. #TMLtalk pic.twitter.com/BNEwEB0tH8
— Paul Hendrick (@HennyTweets) February 29, 2016
Leafs PP units:
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) February 29, 2016
Nylander/Kapanen/Boyes/Holland/Gardiner.
Kadri/Komarov/Parenteau/Hyman/Rielly.
Kyle Dubas called both Nylander and Kapanen last night to let them know they were joining the Leafs.
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) February 29, 2016
Kapanen says he didn't actually know that Nylander had been recalled as well until he arrived at the rink and saw him in the dressing room.
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) February 29, 2016
Nylander says he struggled to sleep last night after he found out about his NHL recall. "You're just excited and getting ready for tonight."
— Jonas Siegel (@jonassiegel) February 29, 2016
Babcock asked if he's ever coached a team this young; "Yeah, in juniors"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 29, 2016
Babcock: "I never had a team this young in the AHL. They're all kids."
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) February 29, 2016
#Leafs Kasperi Kapanen on his NHL debut: "It's going to be one of the greatest nights of my life." (Says the World Jr. golden goal boy.)
— Rob Longley (@longleysunsport) February 29, 2016
Garret Sparks on Williams Nylander: "He dominated a very hard league at a very young age"
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 29, 2016
Zach Hyman: "Just really excited. I can't wait for tonight."
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 29, 2016
Here's William Nylander ahead of his NHL debut tonight. #TMLtalkhttps://t.co/uenU85LRrv
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 29, 2016
Kasperi Kapanen on his upcoming NHL debut with the Leafs. #TMLtalkhttps://t.co/jMBBlEdbIx
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 29, 2016
Toronto native Zach Hyman joins Leafs TV to talk about his NHL debut tonight. #TMLtalkhttps://t.co/plVIXoatGU
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 29, 2016
My Thoughts: NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER! KAPANEN! NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER! SOSHNIKOV! NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER! THE OTHERS! NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER!NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER!NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER!NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER!NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER!NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER!NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER!NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER!NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER!NYLANDER! NYLANDER! NYLANDER!
