Players to watch as Maple Leafs start 2025-26 season against Canadiens

The Toronto Maple Leafs season begins, as does the post-Marner era, as the Leafs look to rely on increased depth throughout their lineup.
Toronto Maple Leafs v Florida Panthers - Game Six
Toronto Maple Leafs v Florida Panthers - Game Six | Carmen Mandato/GettyImages

It's the beginning of a new season, and the beginning of the post-Shanahan era in Toronto. As the Leafs turn the page, they will look to start off the season strong against a young Canadiens team. This offseason saw some key departures in Shanahan and Marner, but also saw new depth enter the organization in Roy, Joshua, Maccelli, and others.

Toronto's new depth should make them a tough team to play against regardless of which line is on the ice. The team got heavier and bigger, which fits in line with Berube's vision. Toronto also still has a fair bit of internal competition, as they have a full 23-man roster to start this season, a luxury they have not had in years past. On top of the 23-man roster, they also have forwards and defenders with the Marlies who are all debatably ready for NHL action too. Forward Easton Cowan is beginning his rookie season and has impressed many, including head coach Craig Berube, and it’s only a matter of time before he makes his NHL debut.

When: 7:00 p.m. ET
Where: Scotiabank Arena
TV: Sportsnet One

Projected lineups

Toronto Maple Leafs

Matthew Knies -- Auston Matthews -- Matias Maccelli
Bobby McMann -- John Tavares -- William Nylander
Dakota Joshua -- Max Domi -- Nick Robertson
Steven Lorentz -- Nicolas Roy -- Calle Jarnkrok

Jake McCabe -- Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly -- Brandon Carlo
Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Simon Benoit

Anthony Stolarz
(Cayden Primeau)

Montreal Canadiens

Cole Caufield -- Nick Suzuki -- Juraj Slafkovsky
Alex Newhook -- Oliver Kapanen -- Ivan Demidov
Zachary Bolduc -- Kirby Dach -- Brendan Gallagher
Patrick Laine -- Jake Evans -- Josh Anderson

Mike Matheson -- Noah Dobson
Kaiden Guhle -- Lane Hutson
Arber Xhekaj -- Alexandre Carrier

Sam Montembeault
(Jakub Dobes)

Players to watch

Matias Maccelli

Matias Maccelli will make his regular-season debut for the Leafs and should make up for some of the playmaking skill the Leafs lost this past offseason. Maccelli is a skilled forward who ultimately struggled and wasn't given major opportunities higher up in Utah's lineup. That will change quickly in Toronto, as Maccelli starts on the top line for Toronto with star forward Auston Matthews. Matthews will be looking to have a bounce-back year after a year riddled with injuries, and a major part of that is finding chemistry with his linemates. Maccelli excels at finding open spots to send the puck through to teammates and is a creative forward.

Maccelli will get the first crack at the top line right-wing opening and will look to show he can keep up with the pace and build chemistry with Matthews and Knies.

Dakota Joshua

Another offseason acquisition, Dakota Joshua, is a physical third liner who should bring energy to the Leafs roster. Joshua has some familiarity with coach Berube, and that likely is part of the reason he was an offseason target. Joshua has some skill mixed in with his physicality and should bring added depth to a once stagnant third line.

Ivan Demidov

Many eyes in Montreal are on forward Ivan Demidov. Demidov is projected to become an offensive star for the Canadiens and has already shown some flashes of his skill. The Canadiens begin the season looking to prove that they are a playoff team, and Demidov will play a major part in that as he begins his first full season in the NHL.

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