Maple Leafs Player Expected to Make Playoff Debut in Game 3 vs Senators

Ahead of taking a 2-0 series lead to Ottawa in the hopes of closing out the series, the Leafs may have a sudden roster addition ready to insert himself into the team's roster.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are reportedly expected to add forward Max Pacioretty back into the team against Ottawa, with it appearing likely he will suit up for game three, according to Nick Alberga of 'The Leafs Nation'.

Pacioretty has not played since February due to an undisclosed injury in which he was placed on long-term injured reserve.

The 36-year-old Pacioretty has five goals and 13 points in 37 games in the regular season for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

It's not clear at this stage who would be the odd man out for the Toronto Maple Leafs in the event of Pacioretty returning, but a few likely options do exist for the team to swap place.

The most likely candidate to be benched for game three is Nicholas Robertson.

Robertson has struggled this playoffs despite the Leafs having dominated Ottawa. Robertson has found it difficult contributing at either end of the ice for Toronto, and it follows what has been multiple scratches that have followed the 23-year-old's career.

Another potential option is Steven Lorentz. Although Lorentz has the championship pedigree in having won the Stanley Cup last season with Florida, it isn't unreasonable to see him as a potential scratch for Toronto.

Lorentz is one of two forwards alongside Nick Robertson to not score a point so far in the series against Ottawa.

However, despite not providing offense, Lorentz has done well on the fourth line alongside Scott Laughton & Calle Jarnkrok, providing a defensively reliable unit.

One dark horse could be Bobby McMann. Although it'd be unlikely to see McMann out of the Leafs lineup, his struggles late in the season have made his place in the lineup less secure.

With just two points in his last 13 games, McMann could find himself eventually off the Leafs roster, or at best demoted down to the fourth line.

As Max Pacioretty brings a veteran leadership to the Leafs lineup, the team looks that in his place they may lose out on some youth intensity as a sacrifice.