Editor In Leaf
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Maple Leafs Final Cuts: Editor in Leaf Roundtable

By James Tanner

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 23: (L-R) Lou Lamoriello and Brendan Shanahan of the Toronto Maple Leafs attend the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 23: (L-R) Lou Lamoriello and Brendan Shanahan of the Toronto Maple Leafs attend the 2017 NHL Draft at the United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Maple Leafs
TORONTO, ON- SEPTEMBER 25 – Toronto Maple Leafs center Miro Aaltonen (45) and Montreal Canadiens center Torrey Mitchell (17) collide along the boards as the Toronto Maple Leafs play the Montreal Canadiens in NHL pre-season action at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto. September 25, 2017. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images) /

The Toronto Maple Leafs are less than a week away from starting the 2017-18 season.

With training camp winding down and some more cuts sure to be on the way, what better time for one our favorite things: the Toronto Maple Leafs Roundtable.  As usual, we all gathered around a very big, very round table to discuss the state of the Maple Leafs.

This week, our topic is the final roster.  Specifically, we were asked to play GM and make the final cuts to the roster.  Who do you want to see? Who would you let go?

With the Leafs set to open the season using 20 goal rookie Connor Brown on the fourth line, competition for jobs could not be any hotter.  The team has clear openings on the fourth line and on the bottom defensive pairing, however, Mike Babcock always preaches that the best players will make the team, regardless of preconceived notions, so there is always the chance of a surprise or two.

With that in mind, let’s get down to business.

D.J Llewellyn

For the hot stove: My final roster would contain all the obvious players, but I’d bench Matt Martin in favour of Josh Leivo. Leivo is too talented not to use and can be moved up and down the lineup.

I’d also make sure Kapanen at least has a right wing spot on the 4th line. He was great in the AHL last year and after cutting his teeth in the playoffs with the Toronto Maple Leafs, it’s time for him to be a Leaf full time.

As for defence, I think a bottom pair with Calle Rosen and Connor Carrick looks good to start the year. Carrick isn’t half bad and a right shot. Rosen has looked good in camp, has lots of speed, and is a bit older than Dermott and Borgman. Allowing those two to rip up the AHL would hardly be a bad thing. Borgman looks promising and needs more time. Dermott could definitely challenge for that last spot, but right now it’s real close.

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