Maple Leafs Lineup and News and Notes Ahead of Regular Season Opener Against Canadiens, Where to Watch
The Toronto Maple Leafs open the 2023-24 regular season with a new look and an NHL Debut
Brad Treliving preached patience when speaking to the media on Tuesday ahead of the team's season opener.
While keeping his core intact there are several new players joining the team that have the potential to push the team to new heights... But there could be some growing pains, too.
Treliving called Tyler Bertuzzi's fit on the team's top line a work in progress.
"I think the attributes fit," Treliving said. "He goes to the net and he's dog on the bone with the puck."
The Leafs signed Bertuzzi to a one-year, $5.5 million contract this summer.
Other newcomers include Max Domi, who will play on the wing alongside John Tavares and William Nylander.
There are newcomers on all four lines. Matthew Knies gets ready for his first NHL regular-season opener after an exceptional debut last season. The Leafs 2021 second-round selection (57th overall) in the 2021 NHL Draft, will have to adjust to the schedule and game load at the professional level. But he'll do with a rookie center as Fraser Minten makes his NHL debut.
Minten came out of nowhere and impressed during his second training camp with the Maple Leafs. Although this will be his first NHL opener playing in a game, he was in attendance last season while recovering from a pre-season injury.
The 19-year-old played in six pre-season games and registered a goal and three assists. But his poise on the ice pushed the Leafs to try him out at the NHL level much earlier than they anticipated.
"He forced his way on the team," Maple Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe said.
Rounding out the list at forwards is Noah Gregor. The former San Jose Sharks forward was the only professional tryout player at training camp and fit in well on the team's fourth line alongside David Kampf and Ryan Reaves.
Keefe said Gregor's "pace" was his most impressive attribute.
On defense, the Leafs will have a slightly different look with John Klingberg playing alongside Jake McCabe.
It's hard to know exactly what to expect as the 31-year-old played in just two games while leaving one of those early with an upper-body injury.
Klingberg will also quarterback the top power-play unit alongside Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander.
Key is to not look past Montreal
The Montreal Canadiens are not projected to do particularly well this season but have been known to haunt a good Maple Leafs team, particularly during season openers.
The Maple Leafs fell to Montreal 4-3 on Oct. 12, 2022, when Josh Anderson scored the winning goal with 19 seconds remaining in regulation time. BetMGM places Montreal at 3.4 to 1
Where to watch
The game will be available nationally in Canada on the main Sportsnet network with the game beginning at 7 p.m. ET. For Americans wanting to watch the game, it will stream on ESPN+. Across the world, the game will be available on NHL Live.
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