While the Toronto Maple Leafs were busy this offseason bringing in new faces to address weaknesses, general manager Kyle Dubas believes it'll take growth from the players already in the dressing room for the club to reach its maximum potential.

"There's so much focus sometimes placed on bringing in one or two players and the impact that they can make, but the reality is if that level of competitiveness, and grit, and toughness, as we term it, is going to permeate through the locker room, it's going to be through the maturity of the group that's already there," Dubas told TSN.

"Our core group is really embracing the fact that this is a wonderful opportunity. If they're willing to sacrifice a little bit in each of their own individual realms, as all young teams do, then we'll really reach our full potential."

Dubas made a point of acquiring grittier players over the fall, landing veterans Wayne Simmonds and Zach Bogosian in free agency while also adding Joe Thornton, who adds 22 seasons of experience to a young lineup.

Although the Leafs roster looks significantly different from their qualifying-round outfit this past summer, Dubas ensured he's not looking for his club to drastically alter the way they play.

"When we talk about toughness with our group, it's very simple the way we define it," Dubas said. "If there's a 50-50 puck, do you desperately want to win that puck every single time? And are you willing to be the first one on the puck? Are you willing to go to the difficult areas of the ice with and without the puck and be successful?"

Toronto lost in the qualifying round to the Columbus Blue Jackets in August. The club has reached the postseason in each of the past four campaigns but hasn't won a series since 2004.

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Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe expects high intensity on a nightly basis if the NHL proceeds with an all-Canadian division for the 2020-21 season.

Keefe believes pre-existing rivalries between Canadian squads and a shortened campaign in which every game will be crucial to the playoff race should create an atmosphere similar to the postseason.

"Sure, you get to know your opponents better. But as you know your opponents better, they also know you better," Keefe told the Toronto Star's Kevin McGran. "So it has a very playoff type of feel to it in that sense."

Keefe said he's prepared to embrace the unique opportunity.

"I think it's really exciting," he said. "I think it presents its own challenges, given that when I look at the Canadian teams, virtually every one made positive changes. ... It's something that's very exciting for the fans. I'm sure that Canadian sports fans would embrace it."

Six Canadian teams qualified for the expanded postseason this past summer. The Vancouver Canucks enjoyed the deepest run, losing in seven games to the Vegas Golden Knights in the second round. The Columbus Blue Jackets eliminated Keefe's Maple Leafs in the qualifying round.

The NHL hasn't finalized its plans for the coming campaign, but all signs point to an all-Canada division as Canada-U.S. border restrictions continue amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The league is hoping to begin a regular season of 48-60 games in January.

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Montreal Canadiens forward Phillip Danault is entering the final year of his contract, and the pivot says he hasn't started to seriously discuss an extension with the club.

"Right now there’s no negotiations," Danault said Tuesday, according to The Athletic's Arpon Basu. "So we’re at square one."

Danault, who's set to make $3.1 million next season, registered 13 goals and 47 points in 71 games during the shortened 2019-20 campaign. He was on pace to set career highs in both of those departments over 82 contests, and the 27-year-old finished sixth in Selke Trophy voting.

The Quebec native tallied just one goal in 10 playoff games while being asked to play a larger defensive role. Danault voiced his frustration with the change following the team's elimination, but he clarified those comments on Tuesday.

"I never said I want to be the first-line center and be, like, the man every game," he said, according to Basu. "The way I view things is the day I will be set on a defensive role, full time, that day will be like I want to stop getting better every year.

"... I want to get better offensively, defensively, I want to do both. I don’t want to be sitting in one chair."

With youngsters Nick Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi slowly moving toward full-time roles at center, Danault understands he may slip down the depth chart. He hopes to offer guidance through his experience.

"I’ll kind of be a mentor for the kids, I’ll show them some tricks, I want us to help each other a lot," he said.

Danault has spent the past five seasons with Montreal. He ranks third on the club in scoring over that span after recording 170 points through 307 regular-season outings.

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What was once deemed off the table now appears to be a possibility.

Scott Salmond, Hockey Canada's senior vice president of national teams, said Thursday it's "not out of the question" Alexis Lafreniere joins the nation's world junior squad for the upcoming tournament, adding the phenom's status is still being discussed, according to TSN's Mark Masters.

In August, Lafreniere - who the New York Rangers selected first overall in October's draft - reportedly planned to play the 2020-21 season in the NHL rather than report to camp with the QMJHL's Rimouski Oceanic or play overseas. However, it was also noted at the time he'd reconsider his options if the NHL season didn't start in December or January.

Salmond said Thursday that conversation about the promising forward's availability is continuing despite the ongoing quarantine at Team Canada's camp in Red Deer, Alberta.

Hockey Canada paused its selection camp and entered a 14-day quarantine period Wednesday night after learning Tuesday that two players tested positive for COVID-19; a positive test from a non-core staff member also forced two coaches to self-isolate as a precaution Saturday.

The NHL has long targeted Jan. 1 as the start date for its 2020-21 campaign. However, talks between the league and the NHLPA have reportedly stalled since the NHL proposed a plan that forced the players to defer twice the amount of salary they agreed to in July's updated CBA.

Lafreniere starred for Canada en route to a gold medal at the previous World Junior Championship. He was named tournament MVP and best forward, ranking fourth among all skaters in both goals (four) and points (10) in five games despite suffering an injury. He was also part of the 2019 squad that finished sixth.

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