Big Toronto Maple Leafs Changes Ahead of Game 1

It looks like the Toronto Maple Leafs roster is set ahead of Game 1 against the Tampa Bay Lightning, which may upset a ton of fans.

Once again, the Toronto Maple Leafs have home-ice advantage but their roster is drastically different. Their bottom-six has toughness and depth, while their defensive-group is arguably stronger than ever. However, despite the changes, fans could be upset with the potential Game 1 roster.

According to Jonas Siegel, the Toronto Maple Leafs roster looked like this during practice on Sunday, which would indicate how Game 1 will look:

Forwards

Bunting – Matthews – Marner

Tavares – O’Reilly – Nylander

Aston-Reese – Kampf – Lafferty

Kerfoot – Acciari – Jarnkrok

Defense:

McCabe – Brodie

Giordano – Holl

Rielly – Schenn

Toronto Maple Leafs Roster Could Upset a Lot of Fans

There are two names missing in that line-up that could upset fans. Matthew Knies and Timothy Liljegren are nowhere to be found right now.

After receiving a ton of hype and looking pretty decent in three games, it’s somewhat surprising that Knies won’t start in the playoffs. However, it’s not as surprising as Liljegren, who’s clearly a better player than Schenn.

Schenn has a lot of history with Tampa Bay, most recently winning a Stanley Cup with them and he’ll bring a lot of toughness to a Leafs defensive group that lacks that component. With more playoff experience and a bigger frame, Schenn can add an element that Liljegren can’t, so for that reason, I can respect Keefe’s decision.

If Schenn’s speed is exposed and Tampa Bay walks all over him, then Liljegren will come in for Game 2, but I think Schenn will look way better in the playoffs than he did during the regular season, as his style of plays fits the playoffs much better.

Although I’d love to see what the youngster Knies could do in the playoffs, he didn’t show enough in three NHL games to deserve a spot over Lafferty right now. Similar to Liljegren, I’m sure we’ll see him for a game or two in the series because his energy and offensive upside will be a huge addition to the line-up, but for Game 1, Lafferty makes more sense.

Knies would help offensively, but Toronto has enough of that in the top-six, while the Lafferty line, paired alongside Aston-Reese and Kampf, should be an opposition’s nightmare.

Kampf is great defensively, while Aston-Reese and Lafferty are very strong on the forecheck, so they should cause a ton of pressure while Tampa Bay is in their defensive zone. Lafferty and Aston-Reese will be wrecking balls hitting every player in sight, which should frustrate the Lightning all night.

As much as fans could be upset without having Knies or Liljegren in Game 1, I think this line-up will give the Leafs the best chance at defeating the Lightning in Round 1.