Matthews Seeing Red After First White and Blue Game
NIAGARA FALLS – Auston Matthews was seeing red after the White and Blue game on Friday marked his first competitive game as a Maple Leaf.
But after getting five stitches after a high stick on the chin, the No. 1 overall pick centre found out he’ll be starting autumn training camp alongside William Nylander on his right wing, with head coach Mike Babcock sharing his initial plan with the media. Nylander has been mostly a centre since bouncing between the Marlies and Leafs last season.
“I’m going to put him and Matthews together and they can work it out,” Babcock said. “Willy will work out on the right side quite a bit, but I’ll imagine he takes face-offs, too. As far as Marner goes (the CHL junior MVP has some ambitions at centre) we’ll play him on the wing, too.”
Sure it was just a developmental camp scrimmage in the first week of July, but the whole hockey office came out to see; general manager Lou Lamoriello, Babcock and an army of scouts.
