Maple Leafs training camp preview

With training camps set to begin on July 13 as part of Phase 3 of the NHL Return to Play Plan, NHL.com is taking a closer look at each of the 24 teams in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers.

Today, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were 36-25-9 (.579 points percentage) in the regular season and will enter the Stanley Cup Qualifiers as the No. 8 seed in the Eastern Conference. They will play the No. 9 seed, the Columbus Blue Jackets (33-22-15, .579), in one of eight best-of-5 series, and the winner will advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Maple Leafs were able to find their identity this season under coach Sheldon Keefe, who placed an emphasis on speed and skill that they plan to utilize against the Blue Jackets.

Toronto went 27-15-5 under Keefe after he replaced Mike Babcock as coach on Nov. 20, quickly adapting to his up-tempo system that stresses the importance of puck control. As a result, the Maple Leafs led the League in goals per game after the coaching change (3.51) and scored at least four goals in 25 of their 47 games.

Maple Leafs captain John Tavares said he hopes the chemistry they were able to develop as the regular season wore on is something they can quickly regain during training camp.

"Trying to get off to a good start is paramount," he said. "We need to perform right off the bat and get results that we need to continue to move on for a chance to play for the Stanley Cup.

"I think there'll be really good progression for our group."

Player to watch

Frederik Andersen faced a few off-ice shots while in quarantine with Auston Matthews in Scottsdale, Arizona, but said nothing compares to time at the rink. That preparation will be key for the veteran goaltender, whose postseason numbers (8-11, 3.04 goals-against average, .911 save percentage) haven't mirrored his success during the regular season (136-66-33, 2.77 GAA, .916 save percentage) since being acquired by Toronto in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks on June 20, 2016. Although the qualifiers are not the playoffs, they will certainly feel like it, and Toronto will be hoping that Andersen's experience will give it the edge over Columbus' duo of Joonas Korpisalo and Elvis Merzlikins, neither of whom has ever played in a postseason game.

Biggest question

Can the Toronto offense continue to produce at the same rate against Columbus' smothering checking system? Blue Jackets captain Nick Foligno said they are confident their game plan can slow down the Maple Leafs, pointing to their sweep of the Tampa Bay Lightning, who had won the Presidents' Trophy, in last season's Eastern Conference First Round as proof. Columbus was tied for third in the NHL with the Arizona Coyotes in goals allowed per game (2.61) this season and will try to use its physicality and forechecking to slow down the Maple Leafs, who are led by Matthews (47 goals, third in NHL), William Nylander (31 goals), Tavares (26 goals), and Mitchell Marner (51 assists).

Injury update

Andreas Johnsson, F --Will not be ready for training camp after having knee surgery on Feb. 19 with an expected recovery time frame of six months.

Ilya Mikheyev, F -- Will be healthy for training camp after having surgery to repair an artery and tendons in his right wrist that were severed on Dec. 27. Mikheyev was preparing to return to the lineup when the NHL season was paused on March 12 due to concerns surrounding the coronavirus.

Jake Muzzin, D --Has been skating and will be ready for training camp after breaking his right hand on Feb. 25.

Fresh face

General manager Kyle Dubas said that Video: CAR@TOR: Andersen stretches out to rob Svechnikov, who was selected in the second round (No. 53) of the 2019 NHL Draft, will have every opportunity to make the roster in training camp. The 18-year-old left wing scored 86 points (55 goals, 31 assists) in 46 games for Peterborough of the Ontario Hockey League, and Dubas said he has never seen a player of Robertson's age "that has that level of focus and attention to detail."

Telling stat

Tyson Barrie played at least 25 minutes in 11 games under Keefe after doing so in two under Babcock. The spike in minutes shows the confidence Keefe has in the defenseman, who scored 32 points (five goals, 27 assists) and was plus-4 in 47 games after the coaching change.

They said it

"We're very motivated. … I think that as players we want to be as prepared as we possibly can be because we understand that there's a chance to come back and prove some people wrong." -- defenseman Morgan Rielly

Projected lineup

Zach Hyman -- Auston Matthews -- Mitchell Marner

Ilya Mikheyev -- John Tavares -- William Nylander

Pierre Engvall -- Alex Kerfoot -- Kasperi Kapanen

Kyle Clifford -- Frederik Gauthier -- Jason Spezza

Morgan Reilly -- Tyson Barrie

Jake Muzzin -- Justin Holl

Rasmus Sandin -- Travis Dermott

Frederik Andersen

Jack Campbell