Toronto Maple Leafs

Is Denis Malgin Bound for the Maple Leafs Top Six?

When the Toronto Maple Leafs brought Denis Malgin back, most people paid little attention. Surprise. How’s he doing so far in training camp?

by
Old Prof
September 27, 2022

We know from experience that Denis Malgin is a skilled hockey player – at least in Europe. But can he make it in the NHL, which as he noted is the best league in the world? Or will he fail to make the Toronto Maple Leafs’ roster yet again and slide back home to Switzerland to star there?

The 25-year-old Malgin wants to play in the NHL and he’s determined to give it his best shot. As he noted, “The NHL is the best league in the world, so you always have that mind to come back.” He added clearly, “That was my goal.”

Malgin Had a Great 2021-22 Season in Zurich

Last season Malgin went home to Switzerland to hone his hockey craft. And he was successful. He was the leading scorer on last year’s Zurich Lions, playing center and scoring 21 goals and adding 31 assists (for 52 points) in 48 games. He played in every situation. During the World Championships in May, he scored 12 points.

During the Maple Leafs’ first preseason game, Malgin played on a line with William Nylander and Pontus Holmberg. He looked good. Yesterday at practice, with Adam Gaudette out with a sore shoulder, Malgin got bumped into the second line role with center John Tavares and (once again) William Nylander.

Head Coach Sheldon Keefe Liked What He’s Seen from Malgin

When Maple Leafs’ head coach Sheldon Keefe was asked how he thought Malgin fared with Tavares and Nylander, the word was that he “looked really good again today.”

Then Keefe was more specific, noting that Malgin “made a ton of plays. He is a confident guy at protecting the puck and getting it to others. What we have seen from him in this camp early on is an extra hunger and competitiveness to get the puck back. If you are going to be an undersized, skilled player who is going to have any success in the NHL, you have to have that intangible or it is very difficult.”

After Saturday’s game, Keefe leveled similar praise. Keefe reported that, “It seemed like every time he touched the puck, something happened.”

Keefe Recognizes that Malgin Wants to Make the Team Badly

Keefe recognizes (and appreciates) the desire and drive that Malgin has shown as he competes to win a roster spot on this Maple Leafs’ team. Specifically, Keefe suggested that (this time with Malgin, as compared to the 2019-20 season), “If there is anything about him that is different, it is that little bit of extra hunger without the puck. If you do that, you are going to get the puck on your stick a lot more. When he has the puck, he is very good.”

Where Will Malgin Land?

Coach Keefe noted in his interview after practice that, while it’s too bad that injuries happen in training camp, it’s part of the game. He noted that, prior to his injury, Gaudette was gettng the look on the second line as a winger. However, with Gaudette being out, he’s watchng “how it goes there with Malgy.”

As Keefe noted pragmatically, the “opportunity has presented itself. Malgin gets in there today, and I thought he did a good job of it.”

Now, what happens tomorrow?

11 Comments

gcmgome

September 27, 2022 at 8:46 am

Denis Malgin has been a pleasant surprise in camp. His name did not come up much in articles or comments during the off season simply because no one really knew what to expect from him. Now we can see that he is a mature and skilled player albeit undersized.
However, he happens to be pound for pound and inch for inch almost exactly the same size as Nick Robertson. Some differences between the two players are that waiver exempt Robertson shoots left while waiver eligible Malgin shoots right. So if both players are in fact vying for the same 2nd line left wing position who gets the nod?
It seems like a no brainer to me, why would the Leafs expose Malgin to waivers over another player who has not so far shown nearly as well in camp?
Even before the possibility of Malgin making the team materialized, I had stated that Robertson will not claim a roster spot out of camp and would only see time with the Leafs this season as an injury call up.
It looks like this prediction is unfolding before our very eyes.

Reply
- Old Prof
  
  September 27, 2022 at 8:29 pm
  
  Thanks for your addition – I appreciate the note about the comparisons between the two – I have not put them side-by-side in my mind’s eye, even though – as you say – they are vying for the same position – your logic makes perfect sense to me.
  
  Reply
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