Mark your calendar, Leafs fan
From Laine to Kessel and outdoor game at BMO, schedule highlights abound
The100th season for the Maple Leafs features a training camp in Halifax, an outdoor game at BMO Field, a road opener in Ottawa and a home opener against Boston.
There’s a five-game homestand, a six-game road trip, 36 games (18 series) are back-to-back and 22 games are on a Saturday night. Here are some home and away games to look forward to: Wed., Oct. 19 Maple Leafs at Jets
Bragging rights start early, just three games in. It’s the first meeting between the Leafs’ No. 1 overall pick, likely Auston Matthews, against the No. 2 overall pick. The Jets are expected to take Patrik Laine, who believes he should go first overall. Sat., Oct. 29 Maple Leafs at Canadiens
The historic rivalry is renewed.
The Leafs have tended to play Montreal in one or the other opener’s the past few years. That honour goes to Ottawa this year, but Montreal on a Saturday night is special. Tues., Nov. 1 Oilers at Maple Leafs
It’s Connor McDavid’s first visit to the Air Canada Centre, and this time he’ll hopefully actually play. He was hurt in the Oilers’ only visit to the ACC last year. A battle of last year’s No. 1 overall vs. this year’s. Wed., Nov. 3. Maple Leafs at Sabres Auston Matthews vs. Jack Eichel. Two rivals hoping to emerge from their downtrodden eras, each featuring franchise-worthy American centres, meet for the first time.
Can the Battle of the QEW rise again? Sat., Dec. 17. Penguins at Maple Leafs
Phil Kesseland the reigning Stanley Cup champions visit the ACC for the first time. The Leafs will have visited Pittsburgh in November, but will Kessel bring his Cup ring to Toronto? Mon., Dec. 19 Ducks at Maple Leafs
Frederik Andersen gets to show his old team what a mistake they made in giving him up, while Randy Carlyle might be thinking the same thing. It’s the last of a season-long five-game home stand for the Leafs. Sun., Jan. 1 Red Wings at Maple Leafs
Toronto’s BMO Field, home of the Argos and TFC, welcomes the hockey world with the Centennial Classic, the NHL’s first outdoor game in Toronto. The Leafs beat the Wings in the Winter Classic in 2014. Wed., Jan. 25 Maple Leafs at Red Wings
More than the return engagement of the Centennial Classic, the Leafs embark on a season-long six-game road trip, by the end of which (Feb. 6) could determine whether the team will buy or sell at the trade deadline. Tues., Feb. 28 Maple Leafs at Sharks
Trade deadline day will be celebrated in sunny San Jose, the first of a three-game Western trip through California. Thurs., March 16 Maple Leafs at Lightning
Maybe a certain somebody will be making his second homecoming visit — the Leafs visit here Dec. 29 — but, more importantly, this marks the last of six road games over eight games, with venues on both the Pac- ific and Atlantic. Sun., Apr. 9 Blue Jackets at Maple Leafs
Given the recent history of both teams, this could have draft-lottery implications. But the Leafs, who will be concluding their centennial season, hope it doesn’t.