Easton Cowan and Ben Danford will be leading the Toronto Maple Leafs into battle against the Ottawa Senators for their preseason opener Sunday.
Toronto released its roster for Sunday’s game, where the vast majority of veteran players are getting the afternoon off. Cowan will be afforded every chance to make the team this fall, and was placed on a line alongside Dakota Joshua and Logan Shaw during Saturday’s scrimmage, with Shaw effectively filling for the injured Nicolas Roy.
Danford was paired alongside Marshall Rifai during Saturday’s scrimmage and it’s likely the pair will remain intact for Sunday’s game. The 19-year-old was impressive during Friday’s line rushes and is the most promising defensive prospect within Toronto’s system.
Although most of the roster regulars are out of the lineup Sunday, there are still several storylines to keep an eye on. Nick Robertson is looking to cement his spot on the roster after signing a one-year deal with the Maple Leafs, and recorded both goals in Saturday’s scrimmage. Robertson will be pushed by Cowan among others for a spot on Toronto’s third line, but the veteran was lauded by head coach Craig Berube during Wednesday’s press conference for his scoring ability. Calle Jarnkrok also looked like he was back in his 2023-24 form during practice sessions after missing the majority of last year recovering from groin and sports hernia surgery.
Among the defence corps, there are fewer battles to settle, but with Simon Benoit out of the lineup due to injury, Philippe Myers will look to hold onto his spot in the lineup as the team’s No. 7 defenceman, while his partner, Henry Thrun, is also pushing for a roster spot.
Toronto cut its training camp roster by six players Saturday afternoon and Sunday’s game could go a long way in helping Craig Berube and Brad Treliving determine who will stick around for the second week of camp.