TSN’s Hockey Insiders have shed light on the growing darkness surrounding the historic rivalry between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens. The Department of Player Safety, led by George Parros, has been kept busy due to the intense matchups between these two teams during the preseason. Gino Reda inquires if this rivalry is set to reignite, to which Darren Dreger responds by highlighting the raw emotions stemming from incidents such as Cedric Pare’s hit on Patrik Laine. Despite Laine’s understanding of the play, Pare faced backlash in the form of death threats and abusive comments on social media, leading to intervention from the Maple Leafs’ security team.
Meanwhile, Pierre LeBrun raises concerns about the excessive number of preseason games in the NHL, prompting discussions between the league and the NHLPA on potentially reducing the preseason schedule. The NHLPA plans to survey its players on this issue, with the possibility of adding two regular season games in exchange for a shorter preseason.
The status of first overall pick Macklin Celebrini’s NHL debut is uncertain following a lower body injury, leaving his availability for the upcoming season opener in question. Chris Johnston suggests that caution will dictate Celebrini’s return to the ice, considering his busy summer and previous ailments.
In Toronto, the focus remains on Mitch Marner’s contract negotiations, but Darren Dreger points out other pending free agents such as Matthew Knies and Jake McCabe. While discussions with Knies’ agent have been minimal, talks with McCabe have been ongoing, with a mutual interest in reaching an agreement before he hits unrestricted free agency.
As the Amazon All-Access Faceoff series premieres on Friday, speculation arises about the possibility of a second season. Johnston hints at positive feedback and potential player involvement for future episodes, indicating a decision on Season 2 may come sooner rather than later. The NHL and its partners await audience reception to determine the fate of this behind-the-scenes look at the league.
