The first look at the 2026-27 Leafs practice groups came quickly, and the split between the NHL group and the minor-league group was immediate.
Morgan Rielly was not on the ice yet, while Nick Blankenburg was in with the team group. Ben Danford also landed on the team roster, and Tinus Luc Koblar was listed on the other side.
The first set of line combinations from the team group, as reported by David Alter, had Knies with Matthews and Roslovic on the top line. Behind them came McKenna with Tavares and Nylander, then Paul with Sissons and Cowan, and finally Duhaime with Blueger and Lorentz. Joshua was also listed separately.
On the back end, the pairings were McCabe with Tanev, Ekman-Larsson with Raddysh, Andrae with Danford, and Stecher with Blankenburg. The goaltenders listed were Bobrovsky and Stolarz.
The forward groups drew attention right away, especially McKenna getting a look alongside Tavares and Nylander. That setup stands out as a possible path into the top six, with the option to shift him with Nick Paul or Easton Cowan if needed.
There was also interest in Lorentz getting the nod ahead of Dakota Joshua, even with the idea that Joshua has chemistry with Teddy Blueger. The concern there, as noted, is skating speed, with Duhaime bringing more pace and Blueger being closer to average in that area.
With these 13 forwards, Joshua looked like the odd man out, with his role already being squeezed and the possibility that someone from the Marlies could eventually take that spot.
The defence was the bigger surprise. With Rielly reportedly ill, the group did not appear to have simply plugged someone into his usual place. He was not expected to be paired with Darren Raddysh, and if he were to land on the third pair, that could push Emil Andrae over and explain why Danford is getting a chance with Rielly out.
McCabe and Tanev looked like a straightforward shutdown pair, while the second unit was the one that stood out. Ekman-Larsson and Raddysh were grouped together, and both players were described as fitting labels that don’t quite match the way they actually play.
Ekman-Larsson was described as stronger defensively than his reputation suggests, and as more of a puck-mover than the standard modern Swedish defenseman. He was also described as a dirty and nasty player with a temper.
Mark Masters later posted another version of the first practice lines, showing Knies-Matthews-Roslovic, McKenna-Tavares-Nylander, Cowan-Paul-Sissons, Joshua-Blueger-Duhaime, and Lorentz as the forward group. On defence, that version listed Ekman-Larsson-Raddysh, McCabe-Tanev, Andrae-Danford, and Blankenburg-Stecher, with Bobrovsky and Stolarz in goal.
The two games this Saturday are both set for 7 pm, with one on TSN and one on SN. Which team will appear on which broadcast has not been announced yet.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Suddenly Face A Max Domi Problem They Can't Ignore
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For a team trying to get its lineup settled early, the timing is hardly ideal. The Leafs now have to build around the possibility of being without a player they expected to factor into their forward group, while also waiting for clearer signs on when he might be ready to return. For now, the focus shifts to coverage, flexibility, and hoping the recovery path stays on track. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Are Building Around Matthews And Tavares Very Differently
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The idea is pretty clear: give Auston Matthews and John Tavares more room to do what they do best by easing the burden that has often dragged them into tougher defensive and penalty-killing work. It is a different kind of construction for a team that has spent plenty of time chasing top-end talent, and it says a lot about how Toronto now views the path back to being harder to play against. [Read more 🡒]
Matthew Knies Trade Noise Just Drew A Clear Line In Toronto
The buzz around Matthew Knies has been hard to ignore, but the Maple Leafs made it clear Friday that the noise belongs to a different era. General manager John Chayka said any trade discussions involving Knies were handled by the previous management group and should not be read as part of the current plan, drawing a firm line between past chatter and the direction Toronto is taking now.
Chayka also reinforced that Knies remains a meaningful piece of the lineup and that the present front office is invested in his future with the club. For a player whose name has surfaced in rumor cycles, the message was designed to settle things down rather than stir them up, even if it leaves the broader question of how Toronto continues to shape its roster still worth watching. [Read more 🡒]