Training camp has settled into its real work now, and for the Maple Leafs, this week is about more than just getting through exhibition games. The coaching staff is sorting through blue-line combinations, watching the bottom six closely and giving a handful of younger players every chance to force their way into the picture.
The biggest evaluation point right now sits on the back end. Chris Tanev and Morgan Rielly remain the mainstays at the top, while Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jake McCabe handle dependable minutes behind them.
That leaves the final spots open for competition, and Ben Danford and Cade Webber are getting extended runs in meaningful situations. Toronto’s goal is clear: find a group that can cut down on high-danger chances in its own end while moving the puck quickly to the top six.
Injuries are also shaping the conversation early in camp. Dakota Joshua missed weekend action and is listed as day-to-day with an undisclosed ailment. Head coach Jim Hiller said Joshua is “dealing with something,” and that absence creates an opening for depth forwards such as Jacob Quillan and Luke Haymes to make their case for a fourth-line role.
There have also been some adjustments on defense because of minor ailments across the larger camp roster. Nick Blankenburg and William Villeneuve have both had modified practice loads as the team takes a cautious approach before games start to matter.
The forward group is drawing its own share of attention, especially among the younger names trying to climb into the roster mix. Easton Cowan is still pressing to earn a full-time opening-night job, and his pace and puck-retrieval ability fit what Toronto wants. The staff, though, wants to see steadier decisions when the pressure rises.
Gavin McKenna has also made an impression in the early going. Toronto will handle his workload carefully, but his poise with the puck has already made him one of the more interesting players to follow this week.
The Leafs’ preseason slate for Sept. 21-27 begins with a home-and-home against Ottawa, giving players on the bubble a chance to prove they belong before roster cuts start coming. With the regular season opener at the end of the month getting closer, Hiller and his staff are expected to begin narrowing things down after Wednesday’s split-squad action. Defensive structure and penalty-kill work will be major factors in those decisions.
Wed, Sep 23 Ottawa Senators Canadian Tire Centre (Ottawa) 7:00 PM Preseason (Split-Squad)
Wed, Sep 23 Ottawa Senators Scotiabank Arena (Toronto) 7:00 PM Preseason (Split-Squad)
In Other News...
Leafs Fans Just Got A Reality Check On This Prospect
Tinus-Luc Koblars first taste of preseason action offered a reminder that even promising prospects rarely arrive in Toronto as finished products. The Maple Leafs second-round pick had a modest debut, and it was enough to cool some of the buzz around him after fans had started to imagine a quicker path to the NHL.
Last season in Sweden, Koblar put up 14 points in 47 games with Leksands in the SHL, a solid base but not the kind of production that screams instant readiness. The early read is that he may still need more time before jumping to the NHL, and perhaps even before taking the next step into the AHL, which is why another season in the SHL is being viewed as a sensible part of his development. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Opening Night Blue Line Sends A Clear Early Message
The Maple Leafs have their opening-night blue line in place, and the first look says plenty about how the team wants to start the 2026-27 season. Morgan Rielly is back on the top pair after missing preseason games because of a viral infection, and hell be flanked by newcomer Darren Raddysh in a setup that instantly gives the group a different feel. Behind them, Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev form the second pair, while Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Troy Stetcher round out the third.
Theres also a fourth pair in the mix with Emil Andrae and Nick Blankenburg, which gives Toronto a fuller picture of how the defensive rotation may settle in once the games begin. The pairings hint at a staff that wants a mix of stability, mobility and experience, even as it asks Rielly to jump right back into a leading role after the lost time in camp. For a team still shaping its early-season identity, the blue line is already sending a clear message about who the Maple Leafs trust most when the puck drops. [Read more 🡒]
Hiller Is Pushing Morgan Rielly Back To The Center Of It
Morgan Rielly has started to look like the kind of defenseman the Maple Leafs have always wanted him to be when he is at his best, and Jim Hiller is clearly leaning into that idea. During practice, Hiller pointed to the pairing with Darren Raddysh as a potential offensive defenseman combination, while also highlighting Riellys mindset and physical condition as reasons for optimism about where his game is headed.
The bigger sign for Toronto may be what Hiller said about Riellys renewed passion for the game, because that kind of confidence can change how a player carries himself on the ice. Hiller also gave an update on Dakota Joshua, saying the forward is close to being ready but not yet at full capacity, a reminder that Toronto is still juggling lineup decisions even as a few important pieces begin to settle back into place. [Read more 🡒]