Toronto Maple Leafs: Tuesday Moves Ahead of Season Opener

The Toronto Maple Leafs are just over 24 hours from the start of the 2023-24 National Hockey League season and the roster is starting to look more clear.

Monday it was announced that prospect Fraser Minten would remain with the Toronto Maple Leafs, at least for the start of the season.

Throughout Tuesday afternoon, several tweets were sent out giving indication of the final moves by the club heading into the season opener roster submissions due later in the day.

NHL Network reporter David Alter tweeted out that Brad Treliving had indicated that Noah Gregor was going to be signed to a contract and that “He did everything to earn a spot.”  The Gregor signing does not come as a surprise as he had been practicing on the fourth line playing left wing beside center David Kämpf and right winger Ryan Reaves.

Update: In the early afternoon, Chris Johnston reported that the Maple Leafs and Gregor had agreed on a one-year $775,000 contract.

Gregor was impressive in the preseason as he dressed in six of the seven games collecting three points and used his speed to create multiple scoring chances.

Alter also reported that 2023 first round pick Easton Cowan would be returned to the London Knights.  The 18-year old prospect turned heads early in training camp and the first few games of the preseason.  Cowan played in four pre-season games collecting a goal and assist, while also drawing a penalty shot he was ultimately unable to score on.

The Knights will look forward to getting their star forward back as the team is already five games into their season and hold a record of 3-1-1.

The final move that Alter reported comes as a bit of a surprise and that is that 27-year old forward Bobby McMann would be placed on waivers later in the day.

The Wainwright, Alberta native dressed in ten games for the Toronto Maple Leafs last year and did not look out of place, however registered just one assist.  He has shown a scoring ability through the minors with 21 goals in 30 AHL games with the Marlies last year and has 45 goals over his last 91 AHL games.

The  Leafs placed several players on waivers on Sunday, however McMann was not one of them.  There could have been the fear that he would get claimed and by placing him on waivers today, most teams may have their rosters set; and as such he may slip through.

McMann is on the final year of a $762,500 contract and becomes an unrestricted free agent