Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz: Tending twine Thursday
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Stolarz will protect the road goal versus the Red Wings in Thursday's preseason game, Ansar Khan of MLive.com reports.
Stolarz is set for his third game of the preseason. The 30-year-old has given up just two goals on 26 shots over his first two appearances. Stolarz is set to begin 2024-25 as backup to Joseph Woll, but it's possible the Maple Leafs ultimately give their goalies roughly equal workloads.
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Maple Leafs' Dennis Hildeby: Heading to AHL
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Hildeby was reassigned to AHL Toronto on Thursday.
Hildeby started Saturday's preseason game against the Canadiens and saved 26 of 27 shots, but he'll still begin the 2024-25 regular season in the minors. He was called up several times last year but didn't see any playing time in the NHL, and he'll likely spend most of this season with the AHL club.
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Maple Leafs' Nick Abruzzese: Waived by Toronto
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Abruzzese was placed on waivers by the Maple Leafs on Thursday with the intent to reassign him to AHL Toronto.
Abruzzese hasn't appeared in an NHL game since he made two appearances for the Maple Leafs during the 2022-23 season. Assuming he clears waivers, he'll head back to the AHL, where he'll likely spend most of the 2024-25 campaign.
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Maple Leafs' Alex Steeves: Back in lineup Thursday
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Steeves (lower body) will return to the lineup Thursday in Detroit.
Steeves has been out a week with the injury. Steeves scored the lone goal in a 2-1 preseason loss versus Ottawa on Sept. 24 and has not played since then. The 24-year-old inked a one-year, two-way contract during the offseason and he is expected to start the season at the AHL level with the Marlies, barring a flurry of injuries to the Maple Leafs up front. He was without a point in his one regular-season game with Toronto in 2023-24, but managed 27 goals and 57 points in 65 regular-season appearances with the Marlies.
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Maple Leafs' Calle Jarnkrok: Playing Thursday
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Jarnkrok (lower body) will be in the lineup versus Detroit on Thursday.
Jarnkrok played in 52 regular-season contests for the Leafs last season in which he registered 10 goals, 11 assists and 92 shots while averaging 15:16 of ice time. Barring any setbacks, the 33-year-old Swede appears set to fill a top-six role for Toronto, which could see him challenge for the 40-point threshold for the first time in his career.
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Maple Leafs' Connor Dewar: Skates Wednesday
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Dewar (shoulder) was on the ice Wednesday, per David Alter of The Hockey News.
Dewar, who underwent offseason shoulder surgery, was previously expected to start the 2024-25 campaign on injured reserve, and while that still might be the case, the 25-year-old forward skating with his teammates is a positive sign. He had 11 goals, 19 points, 28 PIM, 123 hits and 38 blocks in 74 regular-season outings between Minnesota and Toronto in 2023-24.
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Maple Leafs' Ben Danford: Sent back to OHL
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Danford (concussion) was loaned to OHL Oshawa on Monday.
Danford had been out with a concussion during Toronto's training camp. However, he practiced Monday and has been cleared for contact, according to Nick Barden of The Hockey News. The 18-year-old Danford should be available to play for the Generals soon.
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Maple Leafs' Jani Hakanpaa: Making progress
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Hakanpaa (knee) could practice with the Leafs' main group for the first time next week, reports Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun.
Hakanpaa has been working his way back from arthroscopic surgery this past spring and has been wearing the red no-contact jersey while skating with the Marlies-bound third group. Hakanpaa played 64 regular-season games with Dallas in 2023-24, scoring two goals and 10 assists while averaging 18:39 of ice time.
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Maple Leafs' Oliver Ekman-Larsson: Showing chemistry with new partner
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Ekman-Larsson has been paired with Jake McCabe this preseason.
The duo appear to have early chemistry. Ekman-Larsson, who became the eighth defender in NHL history to win his first Stanley Cup title after playing at least 980 games, brings impressive hockey sense, skating and skill to the Leafs' blue line. Last year, he performed on the Panthers' second power-play unit, putting up 11 of his 32 points on the man advantage. He might be deployed in that role in Toronto, which could make reaching the 40-point plateau a real possibility.
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Maple Leafs' Jake McCabe: Toughness and skill on display
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McCabe has been paired with newcomer Oliver Ekman-Larsson this preseason.
The two seem to have already developed some chemistry. McCabe has showcased the kind of toughness and skill that new head coach Craig Berube and general manager Brad Treliving value in defenders. Thursday night, McCabe dominated a young Montreal squad, and his stability could allow Ekman-Larsson to provide secondary offense for the Leafs.
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Maple Leafs' Easton Cowan: Strong game but still no points
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Cowan got to skate with his boyhood idol, Mitch Marner, and Max Domi against Montreal on Thursday.
Cowan didn't hit the scoresheet but did impress. The trio created eight scoring chances and controlled 84.4 percent of the expected goals at 5v5. But in reality, games aren't decided based on expected goals. Cowan hasn't picked up a point during the preseason. The diminutive 19-year-old must work on his strength -- he got pushed off the puck a few times, and he had the puck stripped a few times by average NHL defenders. But that will come. Cowan needs more development time, but he sure is fun to watch.
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Maple Leafs' Auston Matthews: Practices again Saturday
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Matthews (upper body) practiced Saturday with Toronto's non-game group, per Nick Barden of The Hockey News.
Even if Matthews misses the final two preseason contests, he should be ready for Opening Night on Oct. 9 against Montreal. He said he was "feeling good" after Friday's practice, according to TSN's Mark Masters. The 27-year-old Matthews amassed 69 goals and 107 points in 81 regular-season outings in 2023-24.
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Maple Leafs' Dennis Hildeby: In goal Saturday
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Hildeby will guard the road net Saturday against Montreal, Mark Masters of TSN reports.
Per Masters, Hildeby is expected to play the full exhibition contest. The 23-year-old netminder was promoted from the minors by the Leafs a few times last year, but he didn't see any playing time.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Injury not considered serious
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Nylander (undisclosed) avoided any serious injury with coach Craig Berube telling reporters Friday, "He'll be OK. He's fine. Nothing to worry about.", according to Mark Masters of TSN.
Nylander exited Thursday's preseason contest versus Montreal after a collision with a Canadien. The move to take Nylander out of the contest seems more precautionary now after hearing Berube's quotes, which is a great sign for the team and player. Nylander's first year of his new eight-year deal kicks in this season. The 28-year-old had a career-high 98 points in 82 regular-season contests with Toronto in 2023-24.
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Maple Leafs' Dakota Mermis: Undergoes surgery
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Mermis is listed as week-to-week after having jaw surgery Thursday.
Mermis was expected to compete for a depth spot on Toronto's blueline, but this serves as a major setback for the Illinois native. The 30-year-old had the most productive campaign of his career in 2023-24 -- he appeared in 47 regular-season contests, garnering eight points and a minus-2 rating. Mermis will likely miss a good chunk of the early portion of the 2024-25 season as he recovers from surgery.
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Maple Leafs' Alex Steeves: Dealing with injury
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Steeves (lower body) is listed as day-to-day and will not skate Friday.
Steeves faces an uphill battle in his fight to crack Toronto's roster in 2024-25, and being injured only serves as a setback. The 24-year-old signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Leafs in August. Steeves will more than likely begin the season with AHL Toronto -- the Minnesota native generated 57 points in 65 regular-season contests with the Marlies in 2023-24.
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Maple Leafs' John Tavares: Labeled day-to-day
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Tavares is dealing with a lower-body injury and will not skate Friday as a result.
Tavares took a hit from Montreal's Michael Pezzetta in Thursday's preseason contest, which has given the former an injury designation. Tavares returned to the game after taking the hit and even scored a goal -- this could be a sign that the injury is not overly serious, but more of a precautionary move by the team. Expect an update on the status of the 34-year-old ahead of Saturday's rematch versus Montreal.
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Maple Leafs' William Nylander: Leaves game Thursday
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Nylander sustained an undisclosed injury in the first period of Thursday's preseason game versus the Canadiens and won't return for precautionary reasons.
Nylander collided with a Canadien and appeared to hit his head, though the Maple Leafs did not specify the nature of the 28-year-old's injury. Given the precautionary label, it doesn't appear this will be a long-term concern. Nylander has gotten a look at center this preseason after spending the bulk of his NHL career as a winger.
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Maple Leafs' Anthony Stolarz: Expected to start Thursday
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Stolarz is set to guard the home net in Thursday's preseason clash against Montreal, per Mark Masters of TSN.
Stolarz stopped 15 of 16 shots across 30 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Ottawa on Tuesday. It's not clear if Stolarz is scheduled to serve for the full three periods of Thursday's exhibition game, but Matt Murray is the other netminder who will dress. Stolarz and Joseph Woll are set to enter the season in a close competition for starts.
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Maple Leafs' Calle Jarnkrok: Out of lineup Thursday
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Jarnkrok (lower body) will not play against the Canadiens on Thursday.
Jarnkrok missed 30 regular-season games due to injury last year and seems to already be dealing with another problem to open the 2024-25 campaign. The winger has been skating, so he seems on track for Opening Night -- though fantasy players will want to continue monitoring the situation.
