2013-14 Toronto Maple Leafs face tough training camp decisions

HELLO Toronto, It's HOCKEY TIME!

Jonathan Bernier will look to prove his value to his team mates and Leafs management.


Let's first look at the horses that will be relied upon extensively:

Forwards

Lupul - Bozak - Phil Kessel 
JVR - Kadri - Clarkson

Jay McClement


Defence

Dion Phaneuf
Jake Gardner
Carl Gunnarsson


Goalies

Bernier / Reimer



The next wave should include:

Forwards

Dave Bolland
Nik Kulemin


Defence

Cody Franson (if signed soon)
Mark Fraser (with Kostka gone, more minutes for Mark)

Goal

McIntyre (if Bernier and Reimer are both healthy, will start with Marlies)



That's 17 players, so 16 Leafs if you figure Drew heads to the Marlies net. Twenty-one skaters will likely include thirteen or fourteen forwards and seven or eight defencemen, which means we need four of five forwards, plus two or three on defence, up to four if Cody Franson is not ready to start the 2013-2014 NHL season.


Main contenders:

Forwards

Joe Colborne (needs to clear waivers if sent down, so will make team or be traded)
Mason Raymond (looks like may stay, based on exhibition games)
Frazer McLaren (with Orr injured, pencil Frazer in; now they're both out)



Defence

John Michael-Liles (needs to rebound, still has top four potential)
Morgan Reilly (more likely if Franson holds out or is traded)
Paul Ranger (may be perfect 3rd pairing guy)


If you are with me up to this point, there now remains just one position open, at forward:

Carter Ashton (getting a look at filling the pest role)
Troy Brodie (depth in enforcer ranks)
Jamie Devane (will likely start with Marlies, if McLaren or Orr can be ready in time)

This thirteenth forward position may also be filled via trade or free agent signing, pushing a fourth-liner into the press box.

If there are injuries or upsets, other defencemen in the mix include Holzer, MacWilliam and Brennan.

Leafs have a lot of D contracts expiring at the end of the season, so they want Cody to sign for at least two years. If he gives up the one year idea and goes for an even bigger deal, say three or four years, then Liles would likely be moved, possibly to Calgary, to make room for Franson.

In today's NHL, you need about 30 NHLers to have a successful Stanley Cup run. Look for the Buds to add another free agent signing or two, and soon.

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.