Toronto Maple Leafs: The Potential Last 3 Forward Cuts of Training Camp

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The Toronto Maple Leafs have a lot to think about as they get ready for the 2023-24 season.

Training camp has taught us a lot about the current state of the Toronto Maple Leafs and there is a lot to be proud of.

For example, the team’s prospect pool is much better than we all expected and the team’s top-nine seems stacked.

However, there are still questions on the team’s blue-line and that will continue to be the achilles heel throughout the regular season, unless something drastic changes.

Will the team dare trade William Nylander, or could they package some of their young players for a top-pairing defenseman?

That seems unlikely based on the salary-cap, but GM Brad Treliving has done a good job throughout his previous tenure emphasizing defense.

He’s continued to acquire top-pairing defenseman like Noah Hanifin, Dougie Hamilton and Chris Tanev, showing that as a priority.

The Leafs defensive-group is pretty weak right now and unless Jake McCabe, TJ Brodie and Morgan Rielly make a big step forward, we could be looking at a lot of 5-4 games, similar to what we saw during the team’s preseason game on Monday night against Montreal.

High-scoring games are fun during the regular season but it’s a recipe for a first-round exit. I’m not going to judge Treliving or this squad until after the NHL Trade Deadline this year, but before we even get that far, let’s take a closer look at the three players who will most likely be the team’s last cuts.

They had a good run during the preseason, but unfortunately these three players look like the odd-men out.

MONTREAL, QUEBEC – JULY 08: Fraser Minten, #38 pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning, poses for a portrait during the 2022 Upper Deck NHL Draft at Bell Centre on July 08, 2022 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

The Toronto Maple Leafs Potential Last 3 Forward Cuts of Training Camp

No. 1: Fraser Minten

After a successful few games, the Leafs are giving 19-year-old Fraser Minten every opportunity to crack the line-up, but I think he’s going to be on the chopping block.

After-all, the NHL always favours experience over youth, and the Leafs have several veterans who they’ll likely give ice time to rather than burn a year of an entry-level deal.

If he for some reason makes the team out of camp, my guess is that he’ll only play nine games before being sent back to junior.

Minten’s an interesting player to make the Leafs roster because he’s came out of nowhere.

Drafted 38th overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, he’s been listed as a top-five prospect for the team, but hasn’t been someone who’s looked prime to make the NHL.

With 31 goals and 67 points in the WHL last year, Minten had a breakout season and will more than likely surpass those numbers by a lot if he’s sent back to junior.

Not only does he have a strong shot, but he’s been a physical forward who isn’t afraid to use his body.

Mix that with some playmaking skills and it’s not as surprising as you think that he’s one of the final cuts at training camp this year, but he’s bound to spend the next eight months with the Kamloops Blazers before having a chance at being a full-time NHLer in 2024.

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

No. 2: Nick Robertson

The Toronto Maple Leafs forward group is fairly strong, and the last forward spots will come down to Sam Lafferty, Noah Gregor and Ryan Reaves, so since Robertson is waivers exempt, he’s likely going to be the guy who gets sent down.

This doesn’t necessarily mean that Robertson isn’t going to play a lot of games this year, but it does mean that he’s not going to start the season as a Maple Leaf.

Would you rather have Robertson play nine minutes per night on the fourth line, or 20-plus minutes on the first line with the Toronto Marlies?

The 22-year-old should continue to build confidence with the Marlies and be a point-per-game player in the AHL for the next few weeks before the team can figure out their salary-cap and if they can trade a body, or potentially get away with sending a player through waivers who isn’t exempt.

Although Robertson is set to be one of the last cuts, he shouldn’t be mad because by all accounts, he’s going to get a look with the Leafs.

If that doesn’t happen, it’s going to happen somewhere else because he’s still one of the team’s best trade-chips and will be traded if he’s not given an opportunity with the big-club this year.

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE – JUNE 28: Easton Cowan . (Photo by Jason Kempin/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Easton Cowan

Despite having one of the best names in hockey and being invited to the Gravenhurst trip this week, Cowan is likely going to be sent back to junior to try to win a Memorial Cup with the London Knights.

Cowan, who was the Toronto Maple Leafs first-round pick during the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, has continued to be a workhouse every time he steps on the ice. He’s clearly playing like a 18-year-old, in a good way, because his energy levels are through the roof and he goes after every loose puck there is.

With three points, including one goal, Toronto’s first-round selection (28th overall) in the 2023 NHL Draft, Cowan has impressed the Leafs with his ability to hound pucks and high-energy style of play.

Despite that, he still isn’t likely to make a team that considers itself a Cup Contender as an 18 year old.

So, with all that being said, look for these to potentially be the lines when the 2023-24 season opens next week (if healthy).

Forwards:

Tyler Bertuzzi – Auston Matthews – Mitch Marner

Max Domi – John Tavares – Calle Jarnkrok

Matthew Knies – William Nylander – Sam Lafferty

Noah Gregor – David Kampf – Ryan Reaves

Defenseman:

Morgan Rielly – TJ Brodie

Jake McCabe – John Klingberg

Mark Giordano – Timothy Liljegren

Goalies:

Ilya Samsonov

Joseph Woll

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