January 6, 2013

Leafs coach Randy Carlyle says he is glad to be finally back to work. (Dave Abel/QMI Agency/Files)

TORONTO - Brian Burke and the Euro Leafs were bugging out to fly west, Randy Carlyle was headed east and the early birds were gathering at the MasterCard Centre.

They’ll unite in a few days for what’s sure to be the most frenetic training camp in Leafs history. It’s true the 1994-95 lockout produced near-identical time constraints, but those Leafs were back-to-back conference finalists with lots of talent and fewer question marks.

As Carlyle jetted back from California, he was thinking about goaltending, first line centre, which Marlies merit a look from the AHL and at least one significant injury, to projected starting defenceman Jake Gardiner.