The Leafs have taken the ice for practice after the first two preseason games. The very, very heavily NHL-laden roster for the first game was a clue that this training camp is going to get serious quickly, and the day has arrived where the split between serious contenders for the roster and the serious contenders for the Marlies is clear.

Group One

  • Chris Tanev
  • Simon Benoit
  • Jake McCabe
  • Conor Timmins
  • Timothy Liljegren
  • Morgan Rielly
  • Marshall Rifai
  • Oliver Ekman-Larsson
  • Max Domi
  • Mitch Marner
  • Steven Lorentz
  • Calle Järnkrok
  • Matthew Knies
  • Pontus Holmberg
  • Auston Matthews
  • David Kämpf
  • Max Pacioretty
  • Bobby McMann
  • Ryan Reaves
  • William Nylander
  • Nick Robertson
  • John Tavares
  • Anthony Stolarz
  • Joseph Woll

This gives a roster of eight defenders, 14 forwards and two goalies. That's an NHL team with one cut to be made.

Group Two

  • Logan Shaw
  • Nick Abruzzese
  • Matt Murray
  • Matteo Pietroniro
  • Roni Hirvonen
  • Dennis Hildeby
  • Dakota Mermis
  • Kyle Clifford
  • Alex Steeves
  • Topi Niemelä
  • Phil Myers
  • Cade Webber
  • Easton Cowan
  • Nicolas Mattinen
  • Cédric Paré
  • Jacob Quillan
  • Mathew Barbolini
  • Nikita Grebenkin
  • William Villeneuve
  • Ryan Tverberg
  • Mikko Kokkonen
  • Sam Stevens
  • Alex Nylander

With a similar mix of goalies, defenders and forwards, that's an AHL team of 23 players. Notable inclusions are Easton Cowan and Nikita Grebenkin, who have been exciting in flashes, but failed to step up in a noticeable way on the AHL-heavy roster on Tuesday night in Ottawa.

The third group of very AHL players still has the rehabbing Connor Dewar and Jani Hakanpää.

We are coming up on the opening of waivers again, which is tomorrow (I think, and I miss Cap Friendly). A Marlies camp should formally begin splitting off soon.

Training Camp