Maple Leafs Announce Official Roster for 2025-26 Season with One Surprise Selection

The Leafs released their roster for the season, the team that will play Wednesday's opening game against the Montreal Canadiens.

Coming off a season of massive change, Toronto has kept most of it's roster largely intact as it looks to build a new culture in the city, and a new play style, one more aggressive and physically engaging than in past years.

Much that was expected of the Leafs roster is intact, but one move has come as a shock to some fans, a move many didn't seem to see coming.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have finalized their opening night roster, with 14 forwards, seven defensemen, and two goaltenders.

At forward, the Leafs to no surprise include their star forwards in Auston Matthews and William Nylander, along with borderline options in Calle Jarnkrok and Nick Robertson among the players on the roster with injuries helping their cause.

One surprise omission, Easton Cowan. The Leafs 2023 first rounder did not make the team and is now poised to start the season in the American Hockey League.

Forwards
- Sammy Blais
- Max Domi
- Calle Järnkrok
- Dakota Joshua
- Matthew Knies
- Steven Lorentz
- Matias Maccelli
- Auston Matthews
- Bobby McMann
- William Nylander
- Jacob Quillan
- Nicholas Robertson
- Nicolas Roy
- John Tavares

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

Goalies
- Cayden Primeau
- Anthony Stolarz

Unavailable
- Scott Laughton
- Joseph Woll

The move was one that was building up the steam for the Leafs to make a hard decision on as Cowan had shown himself as capable to play in an NHL lineup, showcasing good chemistry on the Leafs projected fourth line with Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz.

But an injury to Laughton has likely caused Toronto to change course.

Cowan's status on the roster largely stemmed from his play alongside the fourth line, but with Laughton out, the decision was made to put Cowan in the minors as intended and focus on the veterans who have an established chemistry instead.

One rookie did make the roster in Jacob Quillan, with the 23-year-old having not been a player in talks for a spot, but according to Chris Johnston, the move is cap related.

In net, Anthony Stolarz is backed up by Cayden Primeau, recently acquired off waivers by the Montreal Canadiens in Joseph Woll's absence. James Reimer was released from his PTO prior to the roster being announced.

The decision to not include Easton Cowan on the Leafs roster after a solid preseason has drawn some surprise from fans.

Some fans expressed confusion over the decision to put Quillan over Cowan in the Leafs roster, especially if for a paper move the two are in similar contract range.

One answer may be to test Quillan more with the veterans as Cowan got more treatment in terms of play time alongside the Leafs forwards, affording him some time with the team even if playing is unlikely.

The likeliest scenario is that Quillan is sent down eventually and both he and Cowan begin the season in the AHL.

Quillan has a more NHL ready pathway having been in the Marlies organization and having the physicality and defensive IQ to play in a bottom-six, but Cowan has shown he can play against NHL caliber opponents.

The Leafs roster isn't entirely done, even at their roster deadline, but the futures of Easton Cowan and Jacob Quillan, and their roster chances this season, will be one thing to watch as the year progresses.