Maple Leafs Make New Changes to Their Groups as Preseason Competition Heats Up
Photo credit: Toronto Maple Leafs - X
The Toronto Maple Leafs are changing things up for their Wednesday practice as they try to see some new combinations as competition is expected to heat up even more.
Tuesday night didn't end exactly the way the Maple Leafs were hoping, relinquishing a 2-0 lead to see Ottawa crawl their way back to win 3-2 in overtime thanks to a Shane Pinto breakaway goal.
It's back to drawing board for Wednesday which means there's a new group of players skating together. A great way to try and get some new chemistry and looks together, it's certainly a mix of NHL and AHL talent as they try to weed out the diamonds in the rough.
How the Maple Leafs Split Their Practice Groups Today
So with the team back on the ice, they have released their official groupings for practice.
Here's how the Toronto Maple Leafs practice groups break down for Wednesday:
Group One
Forwards
Defense
Goalies
The first group has the usual suspects like Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly, and Matthew Knies but it's certainly interesting to see Easton Cowan again skating with the captain after his solid preseason outings.
What's also curious is that a lot of the first group is full of depth players and ones potentially on the outs, so putting them in a prime spot is a perfect way to gauge if they can earn their way into the lineup.
Group Two
Forwards
Defense
Goalies
What the Shifts Reveal About Early Roster Battles
This grouping certainly has a lot more of the NHL-ready lineup in it with the entire second and third lines playing together, meanwhile only Borya Valis comes in with no NHL experience up front; everyone else has been there before.
Also of note, Max Domi isn't part of Matthews' group after a lot of talk about his placement at the top of the lineup, however after Matias Maccelli's solid debut; it's going to be much harder.
With the majority of the second group locked down already, it's really the first group needing to make an impact, especially the likes of Robertson, Kampf, and even Cowan; as he has a very good shot at making the team this fall.
It should also be explained that Joseph Woll's absence is due to him taking an indefinite leave of absence to deal with some personal matters, and his return timetable is unknown.
Right now, it looks like Craig Berube is doing everything in his power to find who works best with each other before the team takes the ice on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens.
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