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“There were some ups and downs last year; playing and then not playing,” Bracco said at the Leafs summer skate. “Any time you win a championship (Calder Cup) and you’re remembered as a winner, it’s a good thing. I think I learned a lot from our older group.

“I don’t think there’s extra pressure on me now. You put the Leafs logo on and you want to do well and showcase the best you can, whether it’s the rookie tournament or training camp (the main show starts Sept. 13). Our staff will be coaching in the tournament (Marlies’ Sheldon Keefe and assistants A.J. MacLean and Rob Davison) and they know what to expect out of me and I know what I can bring to the games.”

Bracco, a Long Islander with the world junior champion Team USA and a Memorial Cup with Windsor, has toiled to get the most out of his 5-foot-10, 171-pound frame.

“I spent my whole summer here, skating and working out and you hope the whole thing translates to on-ice performance.”

The Leafs will also be taking a new player quite familiar with the layout at Laval. Stefan Leblanc, a big offensive defenceman, played there in 2017-18 for Montreal’s AHL team, the Rocket, as a free agent before accepting a similar AHL deal with the Leafs this summer.

“I’m from Oakville, my brothers are big Leafs fans and as soon as I got the (contract) offer, I was ready to go,” Leblanc said. “I’m still young (the year in Laval followed four seasons with the OHL Mississauga Steelheads). The step from junior to pro last year was a big one for me. Everything is a half-second faster, but once I got that down, I felt more comfortable in the second half of the season.

“I’m still soaking things in. I’ll see some familiar faces in Laval, but I’m excited to make a first impression with my new club.”