Players to Watch: Maple Leafs vs Senators (9/24/22)
Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrating a goal (Photo via Getty Images)
What is this? A GAME DAY PREVIEW?! That's right.
Hockey is back! Today marks the first day of the preseason, and I could not be more excited. Seeing the players all return to their home markets and skate around in their jerseys after the offseason always provokes such wonderful feelings.
But, the preseason isn't just for the players to get back into game shape and management to evaluate their teams. It's also for us writers to knock out the cobwebs and get back into the game day flow.
There are no stats or season storylines to mention here in the preview as I normally would. So, let's just get to the three players to watch tonight as the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Ottawa Senators in their second split-squad game of the day!
Ilya Samsonov
The Matt Murray/Ilya Samsonov era is officially here. We have to wait a few more days to see Murray in action in a Leafs sweater, but I can't be the only one excited to see what Samsonov can bring to the team. He was an exciting prospect in Washington at one time, but that opinion slowly started to dwindle. Now with a change of scenery, there's nothing but opportunity ahead of the young goaltender. At only 25, he has plenty of time to find his groove and get back to playing at a consistent high level. We get our first taste of that tonight. I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do.
Nick Robertson
Nick Robertson is only 21, but it's time to see what he can actually do at the NHL level. Obviously, we won't get that full picture tonight. Preseason games can sometimes feel like glorified scrimmages. But, with a very young career that's already been riddled with injury troubles, it would be great to see Robertson come out and have a nice showing.
Auston Matthews
This one doesn't need much of an explanation. The off-season is over. Hockey is back. TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS hockey is back. And who is more exciting to watch than the reigning Rocket Richard winning goalscorer in Auston Matthews? He scored 60 last year. He scored 41 in 52 games the year before. He's only 25 and getting better. The game and the points tonight do not matter. But, man, I'm excited to see him get out there and do his thing.
Puck drops tonight at 7:00pm EST