Toronto Maple Leafs depth chart, October 2011

As training camp broke and Steckel was added for faceoffs and penalty killing, the Leafs opened the season with Connolly and Kadri on the shelf due to what are hopefully minor injuries.

Here's a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs depth chart as of today, October 9th, 2011:

Forwards

Kessel
Grabovski
Kulemin
Bozak
Lupul
Connolly
Lombardi
Steckel
MacArthur
Armstrong
Dupuis
Frattin
Brown
Rosehill
Orr
Kadri


Farm

Boyce
Crabb
Colbourne
Zigomanis




Defence

Phaneuf
Liles
Schenn
Gardiner
Gunnarsson
Komisarek
Franson



On the farm:

Aulie
Lashoff

Simon Gysbers
Korbinian Holzer
Jesse Blacker
Juraj Mikus



Goaltenders

James Reimer
Jonas Gustavsson

Ben Scrivens

2-way battle for Marlies backup spot:

Jussi Rynas
Mark Owuya

UPDATED* 2011-2012 Toronto Maple Leafs depth chart

Connolly, Liles add vet presence to fast, young team

Here's a subjective view of the top 40 or so Toronto Maple Leafs and prospects:

* Updated again on July 3rd, 2011, after trade with Nashville Predators, with Leafs acquiring centre Matt Lombardi and defenceman Cody Franson. I can't understand why the Preds gave up on Franson, but let's have a look-see first before commenting much further. As Lebda had fallen to 8th on the Leafs D chart, below Lashoff, bringing in 23 year old Franson fits the Buds nicely. Regarding Slaney, he scored 24 points in 61 games last year, but in the ECHL... whereas Lombardi has a chance to help the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2011-2012 season.

UPDATED OCTOBER 2011 Maple Leafs depth chart - click here

The Leafs take on Lombardi's $3.5 mil for this year and next, again showing faith in Colborne and their other young forwards, especially considering Connolly and Lombardi both have had concussion issues. We drop Lebda's $2.9 mil for 2011-2012, and pick up Franson's reasonable 800k for one year remaining, so we've added $1.4 mil in salary yet have 2 NHLers versus one.

The Toronto Maple Leafs 2011-2012 training camp this September looks to be the most anticipated in years. The Buds will need to get out of the gate strong and be contending through January, if they want to assure themselves of not just being in the 2012 NHL playoffs, but being a factor and playing until at least deep in the second round.

UPDATED OCTOBER 2011 Maple Leafs depth chart - click here

Forwards

Kessel
Connolly
Lupul

Kulemin
Grabovski
Kadri

Armstrong
Lombardi
Rosehill

Orr
Bozak
Brown

Matt Frattin


Contenders:

Joey Crabb (unsigned)
Joe Colborne
Darryl Boyce (unsigned)
Clarke MacArthur (unsigned)


On the Farm:

Tyler Brenner
Greg McKegg
Jerry D'Amigo
Tyler Biggs
Bradley Ross
Josh Nicholls
Gregg Scott
Luca Caputi



Defence

Aulie / Phaneuf
Liles / Schenn
Gunnarsson / Komisarek
Franson
Lashoff



On the farm:

Simon Gysbers
Korbinian Holzer
Jake Gardiner
Jesse Blacker
Stuart Percy



Goalies

James Reimer
Jonas Gustavsson

3-way battle for 2 Marlies spots:

Jussi Rynas
Ben Scrivens
Mark Owuya

Wildcard in net: Garret Sparks


UPDATED Leafs depth chart: Top Fifty Toronto Maple Leafs Players

UPDATED OCTOBER 2011 Maple Leafs depth chart - click here

Leafs add 3 to depth charts; Liles, Biggs, Perry

With cap room available and players in play, this depth chart is likely to have a shelf life of 3 to 7 days. Look for Burkie to add a centre and a winger, and then take his time reviewing the experienced goalies on the market.

Forwards

Kessel
Kulemin
Grabovski
Lupul
Armstrong
Kadri
Bozak
Frattin
Orr


Free Agents that may come back:

Boyce
Crabb
Brent
Rosehill

(If MacArthur re-signs, he'll get 1st crack at his 2nd line spot, however, after the season he just had, other teams are likely to offer him more money and a longer term than Toronto)

On the Farm:

Joe Colborne
Tyler Brenner
Greg McKegg
Jerry D'Amigo
Tyler Biggs
Bradley Ross
Josh Nicholls
Gregg Scott
Luca Caputi




Defence

Aulie / Phaneuf
Liles / Schenn
Gunnarsson / Komisarek
Lashoff


On the farm:

Simon Gysbers
Korbinian Holzer
Jake Gardiner
Jesse Blacker
Stuart Percy




Goalies

James Reimer
Jussi Rynas
Ben Scrivens
Mark Owuya*

Most would have Mark ranked fourth, however I believe he has a shot to be Reimer's backup, if a vet doesn't come in via trade or free agency. If a veteran netminder does land, the Marls may start the year with 3 goalies.

Any of Owuya, Scrivens of Rynas could earn the backup spot in camp, but if Optimus Reim falters or gets injured, are these other guys ready to carry the Leafs into the 2nd round of the NHL playoffs? We need to go strong from October to January this year to play our way into contention in a strong division, so the situation needs to be examined closely, right from the get-go.