Tonight marks the beginning of a new era of Toronto Maple Leafs hockey. Opening night is the first game post Mitch Marner and the Leafs will be taking on a promising young crew skating for the Montreal Canadiens.
After losing a perennial 100-point player, all eyes will be on the Leafs’ first line. If morning skate is any indication, the team is giving the nod to new comer Matias Maccelli.
The scratch crew is lead by Sammy Blais, Easton Cowan, Philippe Myers, and goaltender Joseph Woll who remains away from the team for personal reasons.
Scott Laughton is also on the injured list heading into Game 1.
Ekman-Larsson Tells Fans To Be Ready For Physicality
The Leafs are a motivated team coming into 2025-26. A roster that is clearly tired of coming short during the playoffs has been electric on the mic this offseason. Several quotes coming out of camp imply that Toronto feels like they have something to prove.
Third line defense-man Oliver Ekman-Larsson says the team will look to use their weight to their advantage.
“We’re the heaviest team in the league, I hear (210-pound average according to NHL Stats),” Ekman-Larsson added. “I’ve really liked or camp, our intense practices. We really want to take the next step.”
His line mate, Simon Benoit, described the team as a brotherhood as written by Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun. Ekman-Larsson shares that sentiment.
“That part has been here since Day One last year for me,” he continued. “We stick up for each other, pick guys up when we need to and it’s the accountability as well. That’s what makes good teams great. I feel we have that here.”
Craig Berube Confirms Size Will Be The Story
You want an identity, you got one. Head coach Craig Berube confirms this is a fired up and motivated crew. But more than anything, they’re big.
“There’s a lot of talk about that (identity),” Berube said. “The pieces we added are good ones, Joshua has size, who plays that heavy style and can score. Roy’s won a Cup and knows how to win, great reach down the middle, a right-handed centre we didn’t have for a couple of years, and also Maccelli.”
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