Reporter reveals when the Leafs will likely make their next round of roster cuts
Pre-season hockey is always a fun time of year. Everyone's excited to be back, fans are hopeful about prospects making the jump, and everyone feels like they've got a shot at winning the Cup, except Montreal of course. Watching pre-season games is a ton of fun if you focus on the prospects, PTOs, and bubble players. The games don't even count, so there's not even any pain!
Leafs fans have been treated to one of the most exciting pre-seasons in recent memory thanks to the electrifying play of Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson, Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan. But Seeing new Leafs Max Domi, Tyler Bertuzzi, Ryan Reaves and Martin Jones play their first games in Leaf uniforms has fans chomping at the bit for the regular season to start.
Before we can start the regular season, the training camp roster needs to be trimmed down, cuts need to be made to get the team cap compliant. Tough decisions lie ahead for many teams, including the Toronto Maple Leafs.
While nearly half the league made cuts and placed players on waivers today, the Leafs did not. Kyle Cushman, a prospect expert and reporter for The Score, believes the reason for this is that the Leafs have a full day off today, and would rather wait until Monday to make their next round of roster cuts. With the team back on the ice tomorrow, Cushman expects to see several Leaf hopefuls land on the waiver wire, and others be sent back to their Junior teams.
Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten have impressed at camp but remain more likely than not to be sent down this week. Whether or not that occurs tomorrow remains to be seen. They've both had excellent showings and may deserve to make the team based on the merit of their work, but both will benefit from another year of development before making the big team full time. It's best not to rush these prospects. They'll be ready in due time and may come back to camp even stronger next summer with another year of playing in all situations in the OHL and WHL, respectively.
| POLL | ||
OCTOBRE 1 | 695 ANSWERS Reporter reveals when the Leafs will likely make their next round of roster cuts If only one of Fraser Minten and Easton Cowan could make the team out of camp, who would you prefer to have up with the big club to start the season? | ||
| Minten | 272 | 39.1 % |
| Cowan | 135 | 19.4 % |
| Neither, let them both develop longer | 288 | 41.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
