Toronto Maple Leafs Top Training Camp Position Battles 2023-24

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Now that he signed a two-year extension, Toronto Maple Leafs Head Coach Sheldon Keefe has one less thing to worry about going into the 2023-24 season. That’s not to say that he will now get a solid eight hours of sleep a night. He still has plenty on his head.

The Toronto Maple Leafs bench boss still needs to figure out how to go deeper in the playoffs and he has some interesting position battles come training camp, which starts on September 22nd.

As it stands right now, the Leafs top two lines should be a combination of these six names: Auston Matthews, Mitchell Marner, captain John Tavares, Matthew Knies, William Nylander and Tyler Bertuzzi.

Knies is not a sure thing, but he should be.

Toronto Maple Leafs Top Position Battles 2023-24

Although General Manager Brad Treliving might not be done with transactions before everyone convenes at the Ford Performance Centre in Etobicoke, the bottom-six should be a revolving variation that includes: Max Domi, David Kämpf, Calle Järnkrok and Ryan Reaves.

After that it is anyone’s guess. Keefe has some much-needed in-house competition at the forward slots. On defense, the Leafs have seven somewhat capable NHL defensemen, so there is a question mark with regards to the defense pairings and how much playing time Connor Timmins gets over Mark Giordano.

Here are a few of the decisions Keefe will need to make before he sets his opening night roster:

TORONTO, ONTARIO – NOVEMBER 12: Joseph Woll #60 of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Maple Leafs Goaltending Situation

It is not a given that incumbent starter Iyla Samsonov will be handed No. 1 status, again. Second-year back-stop Joseph Woll could really push Samsonov and might even be in the net when the Leafs open the season on October 11th against the Montreal Canadiens.

The Leafs did not commit long-term to Samsonov. Instead, they took him to arbitration and got a number that was more palatable for the team.

It also means that the Leafs are leaving the possibility open to Woll. If they locked up Samsonov to a term longer than one year and then Woll came in and outplayed him, then they would be left in a pickle.

Woll was impressive last season when called upon by Keefe. He only lost one regular season game and filled in admirably during the second-round loss to the Florida Panthers when Samsonov got injured.

Woll, who has much more upside than Samsonov, is a big, positional goalie who always seems to look calm. If Woll does not claim the role over Samsonov out of training camp, then he will at some point during the season.

The Leafs also signed veteran Martin Jones to a one-year deal, which doesn’t entirely make much sense, since Woll will need to clear waivers if he is sent down to the American Hockey League. There is zero chance that Woll would make it back down to the Toronto Marlies if that happened.

TORONTO, ON – APRIL 13: Nick Robertson #89 of the Toronto Maple Leafs (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Third-Line Winger

Keefe has the flexibility to move Domi up as the second-line right winger, which would move Knies down to the third-line. But, NHL games (including the goaltender) are won down the middle, so Domi should be the third-line center and Järnkrok should be on one of his flanks.

Kämpf could also center the third-line between Domi and Järnkrok.

If Keefe makes that move, then his fourth-line will be extremely weak. We have all seen what a weak fourth-line can mean come playoff time.

Also, when Kämpf is on the ice, advanced stats show that neither team really scores much, and the Leafs need secondary production from this troika.

So, who is left to play with Domi and Järnkrok? Sam Lafferty could be a possibility. He has speed and doesn’t mind getting physical.

On the other hand, Nicholas Robertson, who could also push for playing time here if he has a good camp.

There is a possibility that Nick Robertson wins a job anywhere in the lineup. The Leafs need players who can provide value on cheap deals, and Robertson is one of their best shots at getting that.

The dark horse here is Bobby McMann. He can play either wing, like Järnkrok, and given expanded responsibilities, can score much-needed greasy goals around the net.

(Photo by Lawrence Scott/Getty Images) /

Fourth-Line Left Wing

It all depends on how the other combos shake out, but there will be a WWE-style steel cage match rumble for the fourth line, and, in particular for who plays on the left-wing.

If Keefe installs Kämpf as the center for the fourth-line to play alongside Reaves (two players whose games could not be more opposing), then one player – out of McMann, Robertson and Lafferty – could round out the Leafs lineup.

If Lafferty is not traded, he should play on one of the two bottom lines, which really means there is one vacancy. Other possibilities for Keefe are Dylan Gambrell and Pontus Holmberg.

Both Gambrell and Holmberg are natural pivot-men. Holmberg, who can be sent down without being on the waiver wire, will probably spend another year on the Marlies – no matter how much he impresses during camp.

Treliving made a smart gamble with Gambrell. His presence should ignite something inside of Robertson, McMann and Holmberg. Keefe needs to see one of those younger players prove that they belong. And if Gambrell fails, then odds are that he will make a nice addition to the Marlies or another team’s farm club.

Hey, wouldn’t it be something if Roni Hirvonen, Alex Steeves or Nick Abruzzese emerged victorious from the battle royale?

Next. Reviewing the Leafs First Kyle Dubas Draft. dark

Sweet dreams, Keefe. Well, for better or worse, at least he has options.

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