Leafs' Lineup for Thursday Night's Game Set Up as Showcase Game for Potential Trade Chips
The Maple Leafs return to pre-season action on Thursday and will ice a lineup that is set to showcase a few a players the Leafs may look to use as trade chips.
The Leafs are set to take on the Detroit Red Wings in their second last pre-season game on Thursday and have officially released their lineup details. The lineup features Easton Cowan, who will skate in his fifth game of the pre-season, and Nikita Grebenkin, who has become very popular with teammates and coaches during camp.
Calle Jarnkrok, who returns from a lower-body injury tonight is perhaps one of the more likely candidates to move given his recent health issues and $2.1M cap hit.
Max Pacioretty, David Kampf and Steven Lorentz will draw in, as will Nicholas Robertson as the Leafs look to sort out their overloaded forward group. On the back end, Timothy Liljegren is the only regular from last season to draw in, while camp standout Marshall Rifai will also dress as the Leafs have a few decisions to make on the blueline as well.
With an abundance of forwards still at camp, Thursday's game is setting up to be a game that gives the Leafs a chance to pump the tires of a couple of veterans who are being shopped to clear some cap and roster space for Pacioretty and Lorentz.
With only one pre-season game remaining after Thursday, there should be a number of cuts coming this weekend. Now that the Leafs have a healthy contingent of players with Jani Hakanpaa and Connor Dewar returning to practice yesterday, Brad Treliving can begin negotiating trades and deciding on waiver assignments that are likely to include a few surprises for fans.
