Leafs Unveil Line Combinations for 2024-25 Season Opener, with Two of Last Year's Regulars as Scratches

After the Maple Leafs concluded training camp earlier this week, the team took to the ice for practice on Monday with what appear to be the new line combinations for the season opener on Wednesday in Montreal.

According to Mark Masters on X:

There are two notable exclusions in the expected game day lineup, with Bobby McMann and Timothy Liljegren, both of whom were regulars on the team last season, appearing to be on the outside looking in.

Luke Fox noted on X:

This decision is surprising for both players. Liljegren has been a key member of the Maple Leafs, playing 196 games for the organization, while McMann had a strong first full season, scoring 15 goals in 56 games. However, the roster seems too deep, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Another wrinkle here is that neither player had a particularly strong training camp. As Sheldon Keefe might have said, were he still in Toronto, it's been very vanilla from both players.

New head coach Craig Berube, though, commented specifically on some of McMann's positive attributes, as noted by Luke Fox on X:

McMann's omission is surprising, especially as he was preparing for a potential breakout season with the opportunity to play higher in the lineup. However, with players like Max Pacioretty and Nick Robertson having outstanding camps, McMann finds himself on the outside, awaiting an opportunity to show that he can be and is much better than what he has shown in camp.