The Toronto Maple Leafs are officially into training camp, and the first big number of the season is a hefty one: 73 players.
That group includes the full mix - forwards, goaltenders and defensemen - as the club opens camp and gets ready for preseason action that begins this weekend. For Leafs fans, it’s the part of the calendar where things finally start to feel real again.
Most of the roster, though, is already spoken for. Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Morgan Rielly are not going anywhere, and they’ll be on the ice when opening night arrives. The real intrigue comes further down the depth chart, where a handful of players are fighting for the few spots still up for grabs or simply trying to show how far they’ve come.
There are a few names in this camp group that should draw plenty of attention. Ben Danford, Harry Nansi and Miroslav Holinka are among the skaters worth watching, while Samual Hlavaj and Ken Appleby are also on the list in goal, even if a season in the NHL with Toronto is unlikely for them.
That’s the beauty of a camp like this: there are established stars at the top, but a long line of players trying to make noise underneath them. For fans, the bubble is where the stories usually live.
The preseason gets started on Saturday with two split-squad games against the Montreal Canadiens. Toronto will play in Montreal and at Scotiabank Arena at the same time, both at 7:00 PM EDT.
The Leafs’ next split-squad set comes on Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2026, when they face the Ottawa Senators in Ottawa and in Toronto, again with both games set for 7:00 PM EDT.
For now, camp is open, the roster is set at 73, and the countdown to preseason hockey is on.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Suddenly Face A Max Domi Problem They Can't Ignore
Max Domis status has quickly gone from a quiet offseason footnote to a real issue for the Maple Leafs, after the club announced he is out indefinitely because of complications from an undisclosed offseason surgery. General manager John Chayka said Domi failed his physical, a development that now pushes his recovery into training camp and at least part of the season, leaving Toronto to sort through both its roster plans and the ripple effects on the cap.
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 🡒]