The Maple Leafs wrapped up their team-bonding trip on Wednesday with a practice at the Muskoka Lumber Community Centre in Bracebridge, Ont.

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Max Domi is getting set for his first pre-season game on Toronto’s top line beside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, and coach Craig Berube made it crystal clear what he’s hoping to see.

“With Max, we have to let him play his game and what he’s good at, but at the same time, he has to change a little bit,” Berube said. “I need him to get inside more. I need him to shoot more. You know, it can’t be all about looking for Matthews or Knies with plays. We need him to make plays, but at the same time, he’s got to shoot pucks, he’s got to use his shot. We need him to be a bulldog out there. I need him to be responsible defensively, like I need every player to be responsible defensively.”

The plan was for Domi to start training camp on the top line in the spot vacated by Mitch Marner, but the 30-year-old tweaked a lower-body injury and missed the first pre-season opportunity against the Ottawa Senators. Matias Maccelli slotted in beside Knies and Matthews and assisted on a goal by the Leafs captain.

Domi returned to the lineup for Saturday’s pre-season game, but Matthews did not suit up against the Montreal Canadiens, because the team opted to rest the 28-year-old centre.

So, Thursday’s pre-season game against the Detroit Red Wings, expected to be the last one for the NHL regulars, will also be the only dress rehearsal for Domi on the top line before things start for real next week.

“I’ve got to see more in the games,” Berube said of the evaluation process. “They’ve been fine in practices.”

Domi has skated on the top line with Matthews and Knies at the past four practices.

“We’re building a lot of chemistry now and learning where each other are,” said Knies, who has yet to register a point through two pre-season games. “I think Dome’s has done a great job. Auston’s obviously fully healthy and playing hard. So, yeah, I’m excited to play with those guys.”

“It’s been good,” Matthews agreed. “I’ve played with Max a lot. I’m really comfortable with him and I know the spots that he likes to get into as well as Kniesy. I think each practice we’ve had, you know, the more reps we get together, the more comfortable we feel.”

Domi fired a team-high four shots on net while skating on a line with Knies and Nick Robertson in Saturday’s pre-season loss to the Canadiens.

This is not the first time Matthews and Domi have played together. The pair hit it off late in the 2023-24 season after Marner got hurt. Domi led the Leafs in 5-on-5 assists that year and finished tied for seventh in the NHL in that department.

“He’s really patient with the puck,” Matthews said. “He’s really good at drawing guys into him and finding lanes. He can pass on his forehand, he can pass on his backhand, and he’s really strong on the puck too. He wins battles and he’s able to find areas. So, you know, my experience playing with him, I just try to support him and get open and I know that I have to be ready at all times because the puck can come whenever. He’s a really easy player to play with. He’s got a great brain and super smart out there and, like I said, he’s a great, great passer.”

Just like Marner, Domi loves passing the puck.

“He’s able to make those passes that not a lot of guys are,” Knies said. “I think he finds those key areas to be in on the ice. I think he does a good job of playing physical, playing hard, playing around the net, playing a simple game, but then obviously he can make some really nice passes and can produce.”

Domi generated 47 points in 80 games in his first season with the Leafs. Last season, he was limited to 33 points in 74 games and finished the year on the fourth line.

‘We need him to be a bulldog’: Berube wants to see some adjustments from Domi Max Domi is getting a shot alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies as Maple Leafs camp continues. Head coach Craig Berube likes what he sees so far but acknowledges there are some changes Domi needs to make in his game.

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Domi is a lefty, which means the top line now features a trio of southpaws.

“It’s a little bit different faceoff wise, trying to make some set plays and stuff,” Knies acknowledged. “You kind of just run into each other’s position every now and then. And when it comes to the D-zone, you need to know what you’re doing when you play low as a centre, when you’re playing the opposite wing and stuff. We just have a lot of communication out there and we’re able to make it easier on ourselves.”

Matthews also highlighted faceoff plays as the biggest adjustment.

“But I think Max is super comfortable on either side,” Matthews added. “Like I said, he’s really good playmaking on his backhand, so I feel like he’s comfortable over there. But it definitely does kind of present a different situation I guess in certain plays, in certain situations on the ice. But you know I’ve played with three lefties before.”

When Matthews played with Domi in the 2023-24 season, Domi was on right wing with Tyler Bertuzzi on the left.

Leafs Ice Chips: Three lefts make a right With Max Domi skating alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies on the Maple Leafs top line, it brings together three lefthanded-shots. Mark Masters has more on how that affects the trio and what adjustments need to be made as they figure out their chemistry.

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The Leafs only have one right-shot winger (William Nylander) in the top 12 right now, which means three players will need to play on their off wing.

Lefty Easton Cowan, who played the right side in juniors, is once again on his off side at Leafs camp. The 20-year-old continues to skate on the fourth line beside Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton.

It was an eventful team-bonding trip for Cowan.

“We had some guys do some singing,” Berube revealed. “One of the trainers was actually a very good singer. I was pretty impressed. And then we had Cowan up there. He should just stick to hockey.”

The coach smiled. He said the song Cowan performed was by Lady Gaga from the movie A Star is Born.

“I got to give him credit for getting out there, because if they asked me to go up I would’ve said no,” Berube added. “I’m a bad singer. I like music a lot but, I mean, I can’t carry a note.”

Cowan is hitting the right notes on the ice at this camp.

“He’s come in as a worker and he’s worked,” Berube praised. “He’s done all the little things we’ve asked him to do. And I think he had a great summer. He looked different to me body-wise, weight-wise, looked stronger and way more confident coming in this year.”

‘He should just stick to hockey’: Cowan belts out Lady Gaga in Muskoka The Maple Leafs showed off some hidden talents while on their team bonding trip in Muskoka. Head coach Craig Berube revealed that rookie Easton Cowan showed some courage performing Lady Gaga.

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As part of the bonding trip, the Leafs held a golf tournament. Matthews’ foursome featured new wingers Maccelli and Dakota Joshua.

“I wasn’t expecting DJ to be such a good golfer,” Matthews said. “A little inconsistent, but he came up big for us. And Maccelli’s player comparable in golf is Patrick Cantlay. I’m just convinced that it’s Patrick Cantlay out there. He takes a little bit of time to hit his ball. But he’s good. He’s a good player.”

Team Matthews didn’t quite get it done, though.

“We fell one short,” Matthews said. “It was a lot of fun. We had two beautiful days here in Muskoka. The weather was great. Everything was awesome. We had a lot of fun.”

Knies played in a foursome that included goalie Anthony Stolarz.

“I figured out that Stollie has the best chipping ability I’ve ever seen,” Knies said before cracking a grin. “But can’t drive a ball to save his life.”

Knies believes all the laughs this week will lead to a lot of wins once the regular season starts.

“This is a huge building block to building a championship culture,” the 22-year-old forward said. “Getting to know each other really well off the ice, I think it’s very important. I think this is a building block to make it a culture that everyone wants to be a part of. I think we did a good job of getting to know each other and grow as a group.”

Matthews convinced Maccelli is Patrick Cantlay: ‘He takes a bit of time to hit the ball’ The Maple Leafs are wrapping up their team bonding trip in Muskoka which featured a round of golf on Tuesday. Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies recap the activities and who showed out on the links.

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After taking part in the previous three practices while wearing a red no-contact sweater, defenceman Simon Benoit was back in a regular sweater on Wednesday.

“He’s fine,” Berube said. “He had a good practice today. So, he’ll be a guy that I will discuss things with a little later, and [talk to] the trainers and see if he’s ready to get into a game.”

The Leafs wrap up their pre-season schedule on Saturday in Detroit. Benoit, a lefty who is skating on the right at camp, has yet to dress in an exhibition game.

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Lines at Wednesday’s practice:

Knies – Matthews – Domi

McMann – Tavares – Nylander

Maccelli – Roy – Joshua

Lorentz – Laughton – Cowan

Robertson – Kampf – Jarnkrok

Pezzetta

McCabe – Tanev

Rielly – Carlo

Ekman-Larsson – Benoit

Thrun – Myers

Mermis

Stolarz

Hildeby

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