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Toronto Maple Leafs Potential Opening Night Roster

By Jeremiah Lee

Mar 13, 2022; Hamilton, Ontario, CAN; The Toronto Maple Leafs bench celebrates a goal against Buffalo Sabres goaltender Craig Anderson (41) (not pictured) during the second period in the 2022 Heritage Classic ice hockey game at Tim Hortons Field. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 13, 2022; Hamilton, Ontario, CAN; The Toronto Maple Leafs bench celebrates a goal against Buffalo Sabres goaltender Craig Anderson (41) (not pictured) during the second period in the 2022 Heritage Classic ice hockey game at Tim Hortons Field. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 9, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) . Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 9, 2022; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews (34) . Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /

Forwards

The forward group really didn’t change too much, and although there are going to be about 12 players fighting for the last three spots + the 13the forward, this should be similar to what we see in October:

Mitch Marner – Auston Matthews – Michael Bunting

Alex Kerfoot – John Tavares – William Nylander

Pierre Engvall – David Kampf – Calle Jarnkrok

Nicolas Aube-Kubel – Adam Gaudette – Wayne Simmonds

The bottom of the lineup changes significantly with the losses of Ilya Mikheyev and Jason Spezza.

Nicolas Aube-Kubel is known for denting the Stanley Cup, but I wouldn’t mind if he did so this season. He provides speed and a nasty side to his game, getting to the dirty areas whenever he can. Adam Gaudette is still trying to find his place in the NHL, and he may likely find himself scratched, but I placed him on the fourth line to start the season on a try-out basis.

The addition of Calle Jarnkrok was a smart signing as he could provide depth scoring in the absence of Ilya Mikheyev. He also possesses the tools needed for the Maple Leafs to assemble a shutdown line of Jarnkrok, Kampf, and Engvall.

The top six remains unchanged.  Though there is a chance that Kerfoot gets moved for contract reasons, he was the most used LW on the second line last season and will likely remain there going forward.

The duo will look to improve their production from last season while the first line of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and Michael Bunting will remain together to terrorize the league for one more season.

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