Strong List of Regulars Join Optional Practice as Leafs Prepare for Round 2 vs. Panthers

It's going to be a tough series for the Maple Leafs as they take on the Panthers in Game One of the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but with a motivated and wildly different team from a couple of seasons ago, things might be different this time around.

Everyone is going to need to be at their best, and while it doesn't look like Craig Berube is going to make any drastic changes, there are still some questions regarding who should start, and perhaps there's a player or two who could use a mental reset.

It seems though that a lot of guys on the team are trying to get as prepared as possible, and as the team held an optional skate on Saturday, they saw not only the usual grouping, but a ton of regulars who needed to get some more reps ahead of Monday's clash.

It was a great sign that even though they just finished the series against Ottawa, there's no rest for the wicked.

Toronto had four of their six defenders on the ice, and it was a positive to see Bobby McMann taking reps too, given he needs as much help as possible to get kickstarted in this postseason.

It's also great to see auxiliary players like Pontus Holmberg, Calle Jarnkrok and Steven Lorentz taking part too, as though they aren't the flashiest players on the ice, are a massive part of the team's identity.

Holmberg has quietly been one of Toronto's best players against Ottawa, at least defensively; and both Lorentz and Jarnkrok have firmly solidified themselves as respectable and consistent fourth liners.

The team would love to get some offense out of them for sure, but if they can shut down the Panthers, then that matters just as much.

It's unknown if the team is going to hit the ice again on Sunday, but Craig Berube may give his other players a chance to skate after taking today's optional off, and it wouldn't be surprising to see names like Auston Matthews, John Tavares, Mitch Marner etc. take part in a short little skate around.

All we do know is that the Maple Leafs will kick things off Monday night against Florida at home, as they try to exorcise their demons and make it to the Conference Finals for the first time since 2001-02.