The Toronto Maple Leafs will look to test out some of their depth options tonight when they take on the Ottawa Senators tonight in Belleville, Ontario.
Projected Lineup:
Forwards:
Malgin – Holmberg – Robertson
Aston-Reese – Kämpf – Aubé-Kubel
McMann – SDA – Anderson
Steeves – Shaw – Simmonds
Gogolev
Defense:
Král – Holl
Mete – Villeneuve
Rifai – Hollowell
Hoefenmayer – Pietroniro
Goalie:
Samsonov
Källgren
Players to Watch
Denis Malgin
Malgin is looking to prove that he belongs on this team and can perform without an elite player like Nylander on his other wing. While Roberston and Holmberg are no slouches themselves, tonight is a perfect opportunity for him to show that he deserves a spot on opening night. Malgin has played with speed and determination throughout two preseason games with the Leafs and looks to continue that tonight.
Zach Aston-Reese
Being on a professional tryout, Aston-Reese will be looking to play himself into a contract through the remaining preseason games. To this point, the forechecking forward has shown why he belongs in the NHL. Tonight could very well be the debut of what could be one of the Leafs’ lines on opening night as Aston-Reese is paired with David Kämpf and Nicholas Aubé-Kubel. Look out for this line to be a heavy-hitting, forechecking line as they debut tonight.
Mac Hollowell
While Hollowell looks unlikely to be on the Leafs’ roster opening night, he has shown continual development each year and could slot into a few games this season if there are injuries on the Leafs. Hollowell looks poised with the puck and deserves to get a solid look as he plays alongside Marshall Rifai tonight.
While tonight’s matchup is the Battle of Ontario, for the Leafs, it is the battle of depth players too. Many of the forwards playing tonight are battling with each other for a spot on the opening night roster. Catch the action tonight as it begins at 7:00 pm on Sportsnet1.
