The Toronto Maple Leafs released their schedule for the 2016-17 season on Tuesday, and there are already some intriguing games and stretches to circle on the calendar.

Auston Matthews’ homecoming in Arizona

The top prospect in this year’s NHL Entry Draft is presumed to be going off the board at No. 1 overall to the Maple Leafs on June 24. That sets the stage for the Scottsdale native to make his NHL debut in front of the hometown crowd on December 23 when Toronto migrates south to take on the Arizona Coyotes. Will Matthews put on a show for the multitude of friends and family in attendance (just in time for the holidays)? Stay tuned.

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The presumptive top two picks in the 2016 draft go head-to-head – fast.

With Matthews likely to go first to the Leafs, winger Patrik Laine is set to go second overall to the Winnipeg Jets. The two teams will collide in the fourth game of Toronto’s season, on October 19, at Winnipeg. The blossoming superstars will unquestionably be at the center of this one. 

Brace yourselves – November is coming.

With the season starting a week later than usual because of the World Cup of Hockey, the Leafs will be facing a busy November right off the bat. The Buds play 14 games in the second month of the hockey year, including four contests in seven nights from November 11-17 against teams that made playoffs last season. And that includes taking on the reigning champion Pittsburgh Penguins on November 12. It will be a good early test for the young Leafs.

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Centennial Classic will be a day to remember

A franchise with one of the most storied histories in all of hockey, the Leafs one-hundredth birthday will be a year-long celebration that swells mid-season at the Centennial Classic. Facing the Detroit Red Wings at BMO Field on January 1, the contest will be a fitting rematch to one of the most memorable Winter Classic games ever, that thrilling, snowy affair on New Year’s Day back in 2014 which ended in a 3-2 shootout victory for Toronto.

The bye week experiment starts off well

The Leafs, like every NHL team, get their first official bye week this season with five days between games, from January 8-12. It’s a good place in the calendar for a break, with the hectic holiday season behind them and a tough slate of opponents to finish the month waiting in the wings. That includes two games against the New York Rangers (13th and 19th), two against the Senators (14th and 21st) and meetings with the Detroit Red Wings (25th) and Dallas Stars (31st).

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Frederik Andersen returns to The Pond

Traded to the Leafs days before the draft and subsequently signed to a five-year, $25 million extension, Andersen will presumably be the Leafs No. 1 netminder when they roll into Anaheim on March 3 to take on the Ducks. Coming off a back-to-back with the Los Angeles Kings the day before, expect extra motivated play from Andersen to try and shut down his former teammates at Honda Center.

Kristen Shilton is the Toronto Maple Leafs reporter for TSN.ca and TSN Radio 1050 Toronto