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Looking Ahead to the First Week of the Toronto Maple Leafs New Season

By Jeremy Ridgewell

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 13: Empty seats are seen prior to play between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 13: Empty seats are seen prior to play between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs during an NHL game at Scotiabank Arena on October 13, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The Toronto Maple Leafs will finish their preseason play on October 8th against the Detroit Red Wings.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will then make any final roster cuts needed to fit under the NHL salary cap limit of $82.5 million.

They will get some help by placing injured players on LTIR. (Salary cap information from capfriendly.com)

The team will have three days between the end of the preseason and the start of the regular season.

Game one of the 2022-23 regular season will see the  Leafs play against the Montreal Canadiens in Montreal on October 12th. It will mark the 762nd time these two teams face each other in a regular season game.

Toronto will return home on October 13th for their home opener against the Washington Capitals. Playing back-to-back games is not an ideal way to start the season, but it will be an early challenge.

Unfortunately for the Maple Leafs, it is a challenge they must face without their captain. Toronto announced on September 27th that John Tavares will miss a minimum of three weeks with an oblique strain.

Ilya Samsonov is expected to get the start against his former team. Samsonov signed with Toronto as a UFA in the off-season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs will finish off the first week of the season at home on October 15th against the Ottawa Senators. The battle of Ontario will renew with Matt Murray changing sides. Toronto traded for Murray in the off-season. He will be looking to beat his former club as he begins a fresh start in Toronto.

Other Toronto Maple Leafs Notes for Week One

As Murray and Samsonov look for fresh starts in Toronto, others are looking to capitalize on some team injuries.

With Tavares being out for at least the first week of the season, it opens up a roster spot. Players such as Nick Robertson or Alex Steeves are looking to take advantage of that open roster spot.

Pierre Engvall is another forward that might miss some time with an injury. He is dealing with an ankle/foot injury, and will be re-evaluated on October 3rd.

On the blueline, Toronto will be without Timothy Liljegren for six weeks as of September 21st. Fellow defenseman Jake Muzzin is also dealing with some back soreness.

If Muzzin is going to miss any time as well as Liljegren, that’s two open roster spots on the Maple Leafs’ defense. New additions Jordie Benn and Victor Mete will look to take advantage.

dark. Next. Evaluating Every Member of the Toronto Maple Leafs

It will be a bumpy road for the Toronto Maple Leafs in week one, but a test they are looking to overcome. Injuries are a reason why having depth is important. Toronto will be relying on that depth early this season.

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