Some have been asking, so I thought I would provide answers. Following exodus of depth players after the Toronto Marlies announced their training camp roster, the Leafs are left with 31 healthy players that they'll have to whittle down to between 20 and 23.
Cathy Squires
Some of the cuts will be obvious, and facilitated through waivers in the coming days. I expect at least Clifford, McMann, and Lajoie to be on waivers on Wednesday in order to join Marlies camp. As well, it's almost certain Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan will make their way back to junior hockey.
Other cuts won't be so easy. Lagesson, Benoit, and the surprise Mikko Kokkonen are fighting for the extra defender spot on the roster, if the cap allows it to exist. Up front, there are jobs available if certain players force the opportunity. This will also come down to the cap.
Personally, the 18 skaters and starting goalie to open against the Canadiens in a week's time is certain to me, barring injuries. It's the first four rows of forwards and three rows of defenders below. There might be one extra job available, probably on defense, and the ever-risky backup goalie job.
We'll see how this all shakes out over the next week.
*Waivers exempt
**Junior bound
Forwards
Tyler Bertuzzi - Auston Matthews - William Nylander
*Matthew Knies - John Tavares - Mitch Marner
Max Domi - David Kämpf - Calle Järnkrok
Noah Gregor - Sam Lafferty - Ryan Reaves
*Nick Robertson - **Fraser Minten - *Pontus Holmberg
Kyle Clifford - **Easton Cowan - Bobby McMann
Defenders
Morgan Rielly - TJ Brodie
Jake McCabe - John Klingberg
Mark Giordano - Timothy Liljegren
William Lagesson - *Mikko Kokkonen
Simon Benoit - Max Lajoie
Goalies
Ilya Samsonov
Martin Jones
Joseph Woll
Injured - Possibly to start on IR/LTIR
Conor Timmins (knee, week-to-week)
Dylan Gambrell (concussion, indefinitely)
Jake Muzzin (spine, indefinitely)
Matt Murray (undisclosed, indefinitely)
