Toronto Maple Leafs 2013 opening lineup

Komarove provides grit to Kadri line

New Leafs coach Carlyle is more of a Big Nine and Checking Line kinda guy, relative to Wilson's Top Six / Bottom Six approach. Here are the Big Nine for tomorrow night's opener against Habs:

Lupul - Bozak - Kessel

MacArthur - Grabovski - Kulemin

van Riemsdyk - Kadri - Komarov

The fourth line has defensive specialist McClement between bangers Brown and Orr, though look for David Steckel to replace Orr for faceoffs in the defensive zone, as that way either McClement or Steckel can take the draw and there'll be no trouble if one gets booted from the circle.


Defence will miss Jake Gardiner

On defence, Kostka may be kept in the bigs until Jake Gardiner heals, though Reilly is almost certain to be returned to juniors. Possible pairings:

Phaneuf - Gunnarsson
Liles - Franson
Frazer - Holzer

Spares: Komisarek and/or Kostka

Although Scrivens outplayed Reimer early in camp, Carlyle has not yet revealed who will start Saturday on Hockey Night in Canada. The decision may have already been made and he doesn't want to tip off the Canadiens coaching staff, or James Reimer may have been showing flashes of his form.

Look for this game to be a tight one, likely to be decided in overtime.

2013 Toronto Maple Leafs training camp roster

New Maple Leafs' coach Randy Carlyle has indicated he will be inviting 30 players to Toronto's shortened NHL training camp. As GM Brian Burke has already indicated juniors Morgan Reilly and David Broll with be invited, that leaves 28 more.

With Jake Gardiner injured, Luke Schenn gone, and Cody Franson unsigned, in the short term there may be as many as three spots open on the Toronto Maple Leafs backline, with Holzer, Kostka, Fraser and Ranger the main contenders for the spots.

Forwards

1. Phil Kessel

2. Joffrey Lupul

3. Bozak

4. Van Riemsdyk

5. Grabovski

6. Kulemin

7. Steckel

8. McClement

9. Komarov

10. MacArthur

11. Connolly

12. Frattin

13. Kadri

14. Lombardi

15. Brown

16. Hamilton

17. Aucoin

18. Broll

19. Orr

Defence

20. Phaneuf

21. Liles

22. Gunnarsson

23. Komisarek

24. Kostka

25. Holzer

26. Ranger

27. Fraser

28. Reilly

Goaltenders

29. James Reimer

30. Ben Scrivens

31. Jussi Rynnas

(If Luongo arrives via trade, Rynnas will stay with Marlies)

Injured: Jake Gardiner (D)

Unsigned: Cody Franson (D)

If Franson is signed and Gardiner soon returns, the defence will be quite deep, so a trade there is possible. If the NHL opts fopr expanded rosters for the first few weeks of the shortened NHL season, look for the Buds to break camp with 15 forwards, eight defenceman and two goalies, for a total of 25 active players, plus any injured guys.

Although Jason Arnott is still a free agent, he has been skating with his former team the Dallas Stars, so look for him to end up there.