HORNBY PHOTOS: Maple Leafs Sends A Wave Of Support For Carey Price

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GRAVENHURST – Carey Price was a big reason for the Maple Leafs’ unexpected first-round loss in the playoffs, yet they all supported Montreal’s rival goalkeeper on Thursday.

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It was announced that Price has voluntarily entered the NHL / NHLPA assistance program, dealing with personal issues. The father of three is putting “mental health first,” his wife said in an Instagram post.

“We were talking about it to each other in the room,” said Leafs captain John Tavares, Price’s teammate on Team Canada. “We all feel sorry for him, his family, we wish him the best. As much as we compete, there are many ways we can relate to the struggles, the life in the game, the ups and downs that you face as a human being. Hopefully we’ll see him on the ice again. “

Many players have started talking about their personal challenges and believe that they are better for them.

“There is no doubt that there is more awareness, not feeling like you have to keep a lot of things bothering you inside,” Tavares said. “There are resources and as players (it helps) to listen to each other and just acknowledge those things. The more dedicated you are, the better you can see (symptoms) among your peers and help them.

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“It is not a sign of weakness, it is a sign of strength. As good as this (hockey professional life) is, we know how great family is and we keep those things in perspective. “

Auston Matthews added: “He’s an incredible goalkeeper, great for the game and whatever he’s going through, we wish him the best.”

WRIST, RISK AND REWARD

Less than a week before the season begins, the condition of Matthews’ surgically repaired wrist remains a concern.

He uncorked a single timer under the bar during Thursday’s power play drill that drew screams from the bench and had new goalkeeper Petr Mrazek shaking his head.

“Good days and bad days and today I felt good, so I hope they are positive steps,” said Matthews. “Saturday (the club’s last exhibition game) could be getting us a little closer at the moment. We’ll see.”

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Coach Sheldon Keefe, who doesn’t play when no injured Leafs aren’t 100%, remains optimistic.

“He has not had any setbacks, he continues to press. Today would be by far the longest session you have ever had. He was there until the end of practice and spent time taking extra shots. “

RANDOM ALIGNMENT

The Leafs thought it best that William Nylander had no exposure to the north.

Receiving his second COVID-19 vaccination last week, a little later than others, the winger was still not cleared for all the activities the Leafs planned for their two-day stay here and stayed home.

It is scheduled to be ready by Wednesday, a club official said.

In addition to Ondrej Kase taking over from Nylander’s right with center Tavares and Ilya Mikheyev, there was a balanced defense that saw Rasmus Sandin and Timothy Liljegren alternate as the third pair with Travis Dermott and former Detroit Red Wing Alex Biega. .

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Keefe indicated that it was just a chance to see Dermott in a role he envisioned for the exhibition game that was canceled due to his calf injury. The coach is still talking about Dermott, the two Swedes and Biega, although there is no room for everyone next week.

LOOSE LEAVES

With Brady Tkachuk still unsigned and Colin White out after a major shoulder injury suffered Monday against the Leafs, the Senators added veteran forward Tyler Ennis on Thursday to a one-year, $ 900,000 contract. Much loved by the Leafs during his tenure in Toronto, the 5-foot-9 Ennis has also been a thorn in his side for years, first with Buffalo, once before with Ottawa, and most recently in Edmonton. New Coyotes coach Andre Tourigny is impressed with Alex Galchenyuk. The winger, in whom the Leafs made a huge investment, will sadly be remembered for his mistake in the Game 5 playoffs, has a cheap one-year deal with Arizona, among his seven different teams. “He was as advertised, he worked really hard, he smiled every day, the first guy in the gym,” Tourigny told AZ Central … Former Leafs winger Phil Kessel is back practicing with the Coyotes, abandoned in the camp with a foot injury, but was expected to start the season. Pittsburgh’s Kasperi Kapanen, part of the Kessel trade and later moved by the Leafs, was among the NHL’s preseason leaders before Thursday with four points from four games … Jared McCann, who was never physically in a Los Angeles jersey. Leafs, could end up centering Seattle’s Frontline and playing a prominent role in the power play … Max Keys, the seven-year-old mini-Mozart who often accompanies Jimmy Holmstrom in the SBA organ loft, will perform. and will sing on Breakfast Television on Thursday, promoting children. art auction for the Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada.