Maple Leafs' Projected Opening Night Lineup for Season Opener vs. Canadiens
Photo credit: Hockey Patrol
The Toronto Maple Leafs' projected opening night lineup has been revealed for October 8th's season opener against their biggest rivals, the Montreal Canadiens.
With the opener just days away, we finally have the clearest look yet at the Maple Leafs' lineup for their rivalry clash with Montreal.
The Toronto Maple Leafs are one team that is going to have a ton of focus and attention on them for a multitude of reasons, including the losses of Mitch Marner and Brendan Shanahan departing, though they've done well to move in a new direction.
Season Opener Lines Come Into Focus
However it still remains a question as to who is going to line up for Craig Berube come October 8th, and with the Montreal Canadiens in town, you can expect a whole lot of tension and intensity so toughness and grit is a must.
While it's not set in stone by any means, and we still have two preseason games to go, we are getting a much clearer idea of what the team will look like going into the regular season:
Forwards
Knies - Matthews - Domi
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Maccelli - Roy - Joshua
Lorentz - Laughton - Cowan
Robertson - Kampf - Jarnkrok/Pezzetta (Extra/5th Line)
McMann - Tavares - Nylander
Maccelli - Roy - Joshua
Lorentz - Laughton - Cowan
Robertson - Kampf - Jarnkrok/Pezzetta (Extra/5th Line)
Defense
Rielly - Carlo
McCabe - Tanev
OEL - Benoit
Thrun-Myers (Extra)
Mermis
McCabe - Tanev
OEL - Benoit
Thrun-Myers (Extra)
Mermis
Goalies
Stolarz
Hildeby
Hildeby
It's your usual company with the likes of Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies up front, and John Tavares and William Nylander patrolling the second line.
Newcomers Dakota Joshua, Nic Roy, and Matias Maccelli all line up together, and while it was thought perhaps Maccelli might get some top line time, Domi's inclusion was all but set.
It's Toronto's first year without Mitch Marner and while the team looks a lot different, so is their style of play and we are getting a much grittier team.
Key Lineup Battles Still Up for Grabs
Interesting to note is that Easton Cowan has seemingly made the team so far, and for the rookie it would be a huge stepping stone going from a Memorial Cup last year to an NHL debut this season.
Also to note, the team is still working on a trade for one of David Kampf, Calle Jarnkrok, and Nick Robertson, so the lineup could be thinned out even more in the coming days.
Otherwise, it seems that those battles in camp are pretty much over with a week to go, and Toronto's next two preseason games are more than likely going to feature the full NHL lineup or as at least as close to it as possible.
The 2025-26 NHL season is one week away, and everyone can't wait until the puck drops between the league's greatest rivalry.
If Toronto puts this lineup out, it should be smooth sailing on Oct. 8.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 1 | 1653 ANSWERS Maple Leafs' Projected Opening Night Lineup for Season Opener vs. Canadiens Do you think Toronto is going to win their first game of the season against Montreal? | ||
| Yes | 1178 | 71.3 % |
| No | 475 | 28.7 % |
| List of polls | ||
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