Leafs Notes: Dennis Hildeby high on his development at camp

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Dennis Hildeby assures us he has stopped growing, at least “in length”. 

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Which will make it far easier for media, especially cameramen trying to keep all 6-feet-7 of him in frame. With goalie skates on, the Swede looked almost as big as the Maple Leafs club backdrop on Thursday, after his second rookie camp session. But now that the 2022 draft pick has just turned 23, he wants to put on more bulk and show a keener mental awareness. 

“Off ice, I like where my physical abilities are, and I’ve been working a lot on pre-hab (versus re-hab), strengthening my joints to prevent future injuries.” 

Just because the ‘Hildebeast’ is big doesn’t mean he can rely on blocking the net without technical refinements. 

“On ice, I try to push my pace, doing everything quicker, but under control, a lot of focus on rotations. Maybe I can grow a little more (lower body). We’ll see how much. Maybe towards when I retire, I can (get some middle-aged flab), but that’s a long way off.”    

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He had a great year with the Marlies, a .913 save percentage and 21 wins in 39 decisions. But there is another new big man in town, veteran Anthony Stolarz, who is ready to push if not eclipse the stopper picked six years ahead of Hildeby, Joseph Woll.  Matt Murray is also looking for another chance to revive his NHL career. Woll has also had recent injury troubles. 

“Whatever happens is very hard to predict,” said Hildeby, who got a call-up last year but didn’t play. “Just stay balanced, try and enjoy myself, I think that’s best recipe for success. If I do all the things I should do as well as I can, it will turn out well. 

“It’s good to be back in action and I look forward to the games coming up (at least one of the starts this weekend against the Canadiens’ rookies in Montreal).”    

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PEKSA PERFECTING LANGUAGE  

Hildeby has a few inches on the two other keepers in this camp, Russians Vyacheslav Peksa, a ‘21 pick, and Artur Akhtyamov, a year older, but fresh off the boat. Peksa, after a year in Newfoundland with the ECHL Growlers, is a little ahead in the language and culture transition, comfortable enough on Thursday for an interview. 

“I have an apartment and hopefully I stay in Toronto,” he said of the Leafs having an option to keep him in the ECHL with their newly transferred Cincinnati team. “I have the most expectations for a long season.” 

Peksa, who had a .921 save percentage with the Growlers, has amazed himself in just one year with the way he’s picked up English.  

“I just knew ‘hi’ and ‘how are you’. But I just tried to speak to anyone around the rink, not be shy. and when outside, try to do things without any help because I want to learn by myself.” 

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Marlies coach John Gruden, who is running this camp, has credited all three Russians on the rookie roster, including winger Nikita Grebenkin, with approaching him and the staff to ask questions and get outside their comfort zone.  

“That’s one of the most important things when you go to another country,” Peksa said. “You have to have fire in your eyes and be yourself. Find everything that can help you. That helps you on the ice with so many Canadian and American guys. I want to know hockey questions about North America — and questions about life.” 

RONI UP AND RUNNING 

Finnish centre/forward Roni Hirvonen is hoping for a smoother start to this season. 

Early in his first North American year with the Marlies, he got a stick in the left eye, a long layoff and fears about his career. But he finished 2023-24 with 13 points in 37 games.  

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“The vision will not be perfect in the left, but I feel confident on the ice,” said the 5-foot-10 Hirvonen, who switched from the caution of a full bubble cage post-injury last year to a regular visor. 

He spent a couple of years at home in high-level Liiga play before coming to the AHL. Even the shortened season here helped. 

“Everything is familiar now, you know how things work at the rink and outside of it. We have coach Gruden (for this week) and it’s good to have a familiar face when you come back here.” 

The goal is to stay high on the Leafs radar this weekend and through main camp when it begins next week.  

‘I don’t think about the (NHL picture) too much, just live one day at a time and have a good practice today and tomorrow.” 

LOOSE LEAFS  

Grebenkin continues to play the right side on a line with 2023 and ‘22 top picks centre Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan … Boston University forward Sam Stevens had the only goal in a short scrimmage Thursday … Gruden will work in his 15 forwards, eight defencemen and the three goalies into the two games this weekend … The Marlies have re-signed forward Joseph Blandisi to a one-year contract. The 30-year-old had a career season with 25 goals and 59 points through 70 games, leading the farm team and placing 15th in the AHL.  

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X: @sunhornby

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