Toronto Maple Leafs: Breaking down the training camp roster

Let’s take a look at the roster the Toronto Maple Leafs will be using during the 2020 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be heading to the Stanley Cup Playoffs. They’ll square off against the Columbus Blue Jackets in the play-in round when things get back underway on Aug. 1. Because these times are unprecedented, the roster is, naturally, a little bit weird.

Teams are allowed to have 31 skaters. Additionally, they’re allowed to have as many goaltenders as they want. The Leafs elected to go with four goalies and, so far, they’ve announced 30 skaters. That extra skater spot will either be named later or will be given to someone like Andreas Johnson.

Let’s take a look at the roster, which has a few surprises.

Forwards

Kenny Agostino
Adam Brooks
Kyle Clifford
Pierre Engvall
Tyler Gaudet
Frederik Gauthier
Zach Hyman
Kasperi Kapanen
Alexander Kerfoot
Egor Korshkov
Denis Malgin
Mitch Marner
John Tavares
Jason Spezza
Auston Matthews
Ilya Mikheyev
William Nylander
Nicholas Robertson

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Here are some of the biggest takeaways from that forward group. First of all, Matthews is back on the ice after reportedly testing positive for the novel coronavirus. That’s good to see. Secondly, fan-favorite Ilya Mikheyv will be returning after a huge injury scare. His return gives the Leafs even more scoring depth.

Thirdly, Nicholas Robertson has impressed the team enough to be on the roster. He likely won’t be playing, but this bodes well for his chances of making the Opening Night roster whenever the 2020-21 regular season starts.

Fourthly, let’s take a look at the likely black aces, or extra forwards. Denis Malgin was acquired from the Florida Panthers at the trade deadline. He’s put up very solid numbers in the AHL and could be a bottom-six forward option should the need arise.

Kenny Agostino is a veteran forward who put up 49 points in 53 games with the Toronto Marlies. He’s played in 85 NHL games and has put up 30 points in those games. Agostino was most recently seen in the NHL playing for the Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils last season. Adam Brooks performed admirably in a cup of coffee with the Leafs this season, posting three assists in seven games.

Tyler Gaudet spent the season with the Toronto Marlies. He had 21 points in 58 games. Gaudet has played in 20 NHL games during his career. He was last season in the NHL with the Arizona Coyotes during the 2016-17 season. Egor Korshkov scored his first NHL goal in his only game with the Leafs this season. In 44 AHL games, he had 16 goals and 25 points.

Defenseman

Cody Ceci
Tyson Barrie
Justin Holl
Travis Dermott
Mac Hollowell
Teemu Kivihalme
Timothy Liljegren
Martin Marincin
Jake Muzzin
Morgan Rielly
Calle Rosen
Rasmus Sandin

The Toronto Maple Leafs blueline is finally healthy. It will be interesting to see how head coach Sheldon Keefe utilizes his defense now that nobody’s injured. Will Rasmus Sandin play over Cody Ceci? The answer to that question could be key for the Maple Leafs.

Now, let’s take a look at the black aces. Mac Hollowell has had a heck of a year. Should he play in a postseason game, he’ll have played a game in the ECHL, AHL, and NHL in the same season. Not too often you see that. Teemu Kivihalme had a solid season for the Toronto Marlies with 18 points in 55 games after being signed as a European free agent.

Timothy Liljegren played in 11 games for the Leafs this season. With everyone healthy, he’s likely going to be one of the odd men out. The same goes for Martin Marincin and Calle Rosen.

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Goaltenders

Frederik Andersen
Jack Campbell
Kasmir Kaskisuo
Justin Woll

No huge surprises here. Kaskisuo and Woll will likely serve as practice goaltenders to make sure Andersen and Campbell don’t get injured. Overall, this is a pretty strong roster for the Maple Leafs. But it means nothing if they don’t lift the Stanley Cup.

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