Toronto Maple Leafs: The Final Roster Spot

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Oct 17, 2014; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Stuart Percy (50) with the puck against the Detroit Red Wings at Air Canada Centre. The Red Wings beat the Maple Leafs 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports

Last week, I looked deep into the Leafs’ newfound organizational depth and the impending battle for jobs with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies next season. After Jonathan Bernier’s arbitration hearing on Friday, the Toronto Maple Leafs will have 22 NHL players signed leaving only one spot left on the 23-man roster.

Depending what way new coach Mike Babcock leans, at least one player on the Toronto Marlies roster will be skating in the NHL next season with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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With that being said, let’s look at the roster as it stands now.

Forwards(13)- Tyler Bozak, Nazem Kadri, Peter Holland, Nick Spaling, Shawn Matthias, James Van Riemsdyk, Joffrey Lupul, P.A Parenteau, Daniel Winnik, Marc Arcobello, Leo Komarov, Richard Panik, Taylor Beck

Defencemen (7)- Morgan Rielly, Jake Gardiner, Roman Polak, Stephane Robidas, Matt Hunwick, Dion Phaneuf, Martin Marincin

Goaltenders (2)- Jonathan Bernier, James Reimer

It’s important to remember that the player who normally occupies the final spot on an NHL roster will usually get to know the wait staff in the press box very well. When looking at the Marlies, the roster is filled with very young players, most of them under 25, and the Leafs have repeatedly said that they will not rush them.

The chances of seeing key prospects like William Nylander, Kaspari Kapanen, Connor Brown, and even Viktor Loov are slim to none. Instead we must look to the older, more developed players as the leading candidates to grab an NHL job. Here are the ten players to watch in the battle for “the final roster spot!”

Next: Final Spot Players 1-3

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