Training camp has given the Maple Leafs a roster problem that feels pretty straightforward on paper and messy in practice: four players, three spots, and one fourth line that still needs to be sorted out.
Dakota Joshua, Brendan Duhaime, Teddy Blueger and Steven Lorentz are all in the mix, and Toronto simply does not have room for all of them. That means camp performance is going to matter, because the Leafs will have to choose the best fit rather than squeeze everyone in.
Joshua stands out as one of the more intriguing names in the group. He’s heading into his second season with the club, and his appeal is obvious.
He brings size and physicality, exactly the kind of presence Toronto would want if it’s trying to build a fourth line that can do more than just survive shifts. He is not expected to pile up goals, but his connection with Blueger from their time together with the Vancouver Canucks adds another layer here.
At this point, it feels more like Joshua would need to work his way out of the lineup than force his way into it.
Blueger offers something different, though he fits neatly beside Joshua. He comes with plenty of NHL experience and can be trusted in defensive situations. He does not bring the same edge physically as some of the other options, but there is real value in having a center who can handle tough minutes and steady things down the middle.
Duhaime sits somewhere between those two profiles. He has enough physicality to matter, can pressure on the forecheck and brings energy that could help a fourth line wear teams down. The question is whether he does enough in camp to separate himself from the other players chasing the same job.
Lorentz may be the toughest player to pin down in the race, even if he feels like the safest bet to remain around the team. He has been in the organization for a few years, so Toronto already knows what he brings.
He is likely to begin as the 13th forward and move in and out of the lineup, especially when injuries hit or the team wants a different look. Even if he ends up playing only 45-50 games, he still looks like a player who will be part of the group because of what he adds in the room.
So the decision really comes down to what Jim Hiller wants from that fourth line. If the goal is to lean hard into physical play, Joshua, Blueger and Duhaime make the most sense. If Toronto wants a more responsible forward who can work on both sides of the puck, then Lorentz replacing Duhaime would be the cleaner fit.
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Maple Leafs Camp Just Got Tougher For Prospects Chasing NHL Spots
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For prospects, the timing is not ideal. Toronto has brought in experienced players to add competition and depth, which raises the bar for anyone trying to win a spot, while the defense corps is also unsettled enough to create openings and pressure at the same time. Young blueliners are getting their chances, but with Morgan Rielly out while he recovers from illness, the competition for those jobs is only getting tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Camp Battle Could Reveal Jim Hillers Real Team Identity
The last forward spots in Maple Leafs camp are shaping up as more than a routine roster decision. Joshua, Blueger, Duhaime and Lorentz are all in the mix for jobs on the fourth line, and the choice among them is starting to feel like an early test of what Jim Hiller wants this team to look like. One path leans toward size and physicality, while the other favors a steadier, more defensively sound two-way setup.
For a Toronto club trying to define itself under a new coach, this kind of battle matters because it can hint at bigger priorities before the regular season even starts. Hillers preference here could say plenty about whether he wants his bottom six to wear teams down with heaviness or give him more reliable support away from the puck, and the answer will be watched closely as camp unfolds. [Read more 🡒]
Morgan Rielly's New Camp Role Puts Leafs Future In Focus
Morgan Rielly missed the first day of Maple Leafs training camp because of a viral illness, but he was back and fully involved on day two, where he skated alongside newcomer Emil Andrae on what looked like Torontos projected third defensive pair. It was a useful early look at how the blue line could be arranged, and it also put Rielly right back at the center of the conversation around how the Leafs want to deploy their longest-tenured defender.
The pairing was notable not just because of the new face beside him, but because camp has already started to hint at a changing role for Rielly as Toronto sorts through its defensive combinations. With trade talk still lingering around his name, every shift and every setup choice matters a little more, and the way the Leafs handle him in the coming days will be watched closely as a sign of where he fits in the teams bigger picture. [Read more 🡒]