After two preseason games and a week and a half of training camp, the roster for the 2024-25 Toronto Maple Leafs is becoming more and more clear. The available spots were limited to begin with, and there is some competition remaining as the Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens for their third preseason game on Thursday night. Auston Matthews is the only player of note not in the lineup as the Leafs’ ice an NHL-caliber roster, for the most part. The puck drops at 7:00 pm EST at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto.
Leafs’ Roster Already Taking Shape
On Wednesday, Head Coach Craig Berube separated his club into two groups, showing his hand on who he believes will be suiting up on opening night. “It’s about time we get our team together, do things together,” Berube said of this decision. “Chemistry is important, combinations are important. It’s just trying to get the structure down in our game.” Nick Robertson and Steve Lorentz were included in “Group 1,” as players like Cowan and Grebenkin were in “Group 2” which consisted of mostly AHL players.
When the Leafs brought Max Pacioretty in on a PTO, there was speculation that this was just a formality and he was pretty much a Maple Leaf. After one game, Pacioretty proved he can still skate and score enough to keep up with the league. He had two goals on six shots, as well as the helper on Nylander’s game-tying goal in the opening game of the preseason. Berube will get another look at the former Canadiens captain on Thursday, projected to be on Tavares’ wing on the third line.
Auston Matthews will not dress on Thursday, as the new captain, and team, avoided an injury scare Wednesday. Matthews left the ice halfway through Tuesday’s practice with what Berube called an “upper-body thing” and later said was not serious.
Cowan Fighting To Make The Team
At the beginning of training camp, it seemed that Easton Cowan had a real shot to make the team. After two underwhelming preseason games, it seems like that is becoming less of a possibility. After finding himself in the “non-NHL group” on Wednesday, Cowan is remaining optimistic. “I’m still here having fun” Cowan said after practice. “It’s a day-by-day thing. You’ve just got to keep battling. — I felt like today was one of my better days. I still haven’t really found my groove yet. Eventually, I’m going to find it.”
Cowan has had his moments through two games, but he hasn’t stood out the same way he did last year. Standing out is something he has to do on a Leafs team that has Stanley Cup aspirations. “He’s done some real good things,” said Berube of the young prospect. “But there’s things he can improve upon.”
Cowan is projected to be on the “All Knights” line with Domi and Marner on Thursday, as his chances to prove himself are becoming less and less. Cowan scored 34 goals and 96 points for the London Knights last season on his way to an OHL Championship. At 19 years old, he will either stay in the NHL or go back to London for one more season.
Final Thoughts
Lorentz will play his first preseason game tonight since joining the Leafs on a PTO before training camp. Nylander will get another game at center with McMann and Robertson on his wings. Rielly, Tanev, Ekman-Larsson, McCabe, Benoit, and Liljegren will all play on defense tonight, all of which will most likely be the Leafs’ D-core in a couple of weeks. Murray and Stolarz will split time between the pipes as competition for the backup spot continues.
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