An update on the Leafs' 2nd round of cuts
With the regular season kick starting this week with the Global Series, which features the San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators in the Czech Republic, most teams are currently in the midst of cutting down their rosters to the bare minimum in anticipation of their opener.
For a handful of teams, the regular season kicks off on the 11th of October but the Toronto Maple Leafs don't start until the 12th. Given that they still have 2 pre-season games remaining on Friday and Saturday against the Detroit Red Wings, the final wave of cuts likely won't happen until the weekend at the earliest.
It is believed that the Leafs will treat these two games similar to a split-squad back-to-back, where some regulars will play but it's primarily for the players on the bubble. Since the Leafs still have a few question marks heading into the season - mostly with their bottom 6 forward group - this is a perfect time for some youngsters to make their mark and etch their name onto the opening night roster. Expect a battle from Zach Aston-Reese, Denis Malgin, Nick Robertson, Pontus Holmberg, Adam Gaudette, Alex Steeves and other hopefuls.
Plenty of teams are still scheduled to play their final pre-season games over the weekend as the Global Series kicks off in and around the same time. There is going to be a cluster of moves around the NHL in the mean time with the waiver wire and players being sent back to their junior teams or even the AHL.
