The Toronto Maple Leafs are making a captaincy change. The Hockey News breaks down why Auston Matthews will become the 26th captain in franchise history. As the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2024 training camp gets underway on Wednesday with media day and medical testing, the club has officially released its roster of players competing for a spot on the team’s opening night roster. Here is the complete list of 75 players, as per the Leafs’ press release on X [https://x.com/MapleLeafs/status/1836391034164777089]: Forwards #26 Nick Abruzzese #68 Matthew Barbolini #94 Joseph Blandisi #43 Kyle Clifford #53 Easton Cowan #24 Connor Dewar #11 Max Domi #66 Finnie Marshall #48 Jacob Frasca #65 Mathieu Gosselin #71 Nikita Grebenkin #33 Roni Hirovonen #98 Miroslav Holinka #29 Pontus Holmberg #19 Calle Jarnkrok #64 David Kamf #23 Matthew Knies #63 Braeden Kressler #96 Brandon Lisowsky #18 Steven Lorentz #16 Mitch Marner #45 Robert Mastrosimone #34 Auston Matthews #81 Sam McCue #74 Bobby McMann #39 Fraser Minten #42 Maxim Muranov #92 Alex Nylander #88 William Nylander #56 Cedric Pare #67 Max Pacioretty #61 Jacob Quillan #75 Ryan Reaves #89 Nick Robertson #15 Logan Shaw #72 Marko Sikic #86 Zach Solow #46 Alex Steeves #85 Sam Stevens #91 John Tavares #77 Ryan Tverberg #49 Ty Voit Defensemen #90 Matt Anderson #57 Jacob Bengtsson #2 Simon Benoit #58 Noah Chadwick #38 Ben Danford #95 Oliver Ekman-Larsson #28 Jani Hakanpaa #84 Mikko Kokkonen #37 Timothy Liljegren #54 Nicolas Mattinen #82 Nathan Mayes #22 Jake McCabe #62 Ryan McCleary #36 Dakota Mermis #73 Tommy Miller #51 Phillippe Myers #47 Topi Niemela #87 Rhett Parsons #32 Matteo Pietroniro #44 Morgan Rielly #83 Marshall Rifai #97 Chas Sharpe #8 Christopher Tanev #25 Conor Timmins #76 William Villeneuve #52 Cade Webber Goaltenders #70 Artur Akhtyamov #80 Jon Gillies #35 Dennis Hildeby #30 Matt Murray #50 Vyacheslav Peksa #41 Anthony Stolarz #60 Joseph Woll The team’s first on-ice session will get underway on Thursday, September 19, the team announced. Notable among the invitees is Max Pacioretty, who joins training camp on a professional tryout (PTO) with a strong opportunity to earn both a contract and a roster spot. The 35-year-old veteran forward has appeared in just 52 games over the last two seasons split between the Washington Capitals and Carolina Hurricanes, following two Achilles injuries that limited his playing time. In 47 games in the 2023-24 season, Pacioretty recorded four goals and 19 assists. At training camp, he will be wearing number 67. Additionally, Stanley Cup winning forward Steven Lorentz, who scored a goal and tow assists with the Florida Panthers in 2023-24. The forward recently signed a PTO with Toronto [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/ive-looked-at-this-group-and-i-believe-this-group-can-get-the-job-done-maple-leafs-pto-signing-steven-lorentz-hoping-to-bring-stanley-cup-winning-experience-to-toronto-this-season] and is looking to be a contributor in the team’s quest for the Cup. The Kitchemer, Ontario native will wear the same number as he did with the Panthers, number 18 – in hopes of breaking through to the opening night roster. The Leafs lack depth at the left-wing position and will be in search of filling that void at the conclusion of training camp next month. Barring any setbacks, Pacioretty is presumably a promising candidate to fill that role, likely to sign with the Leafs in the coming month. This preseason should have plenty to offer with many intriguing storylines. The Leafs, who prioritized addressing the defense and goaltending in the offseason, have some decisions to make regarding their look upfront. One of the more talked-about moves is the possibility of William Nylander starting the season at center. This shift could give Toronto added depth down the middle, forming a formidable trio of Matthews, Nylander, and Tavares. Conversely, what prospects will stand out this year? A calendar year ago, Fraser Minten was the surprise of training camp, earning a spot on the Leafs’ opening-night roster in his second camp. He only appeared in four games and didn’t record his first NHL point, but still proved to come as advertised – the 20-year-old made a strong impression. Similarly, attention will be on standout forward Easton Cowan, who will be playing for the Maple Leafs or returning to the Ontario Hockey League to play for the London Knights, given his 19-year-old status. He has seemingly achieved everything at the junior level, but he’ll need to earn his spot in the NHL. This marks his second training camp – could this be his chance to break through and crack Toronto’s roster? Time will tell. Training camp will provide a glimpse into potential line combinations, surprising breakouts, and a look at all the new faces who joined the system. Without a doubt, there will be no shortage of storylines to follow with the Leafs set to play their first preseason game of 2024 against the Ottawa Senators on Sunday, September 22 at Scotiabank Arena. Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MjAwNTk1MTUxMDE2NDM2ODQ0/cf1808c0-6a82-4298-9049-3eb2eae105b0.jpg] Related Rogers Purchases Bell's 37.5 Percent Stake in Maple Leafs' Parent Company MLSE for $3.5US Billion [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/report-rogers-purchases-bells-37-5-percent-stake-in-maple-leafs-parent-company-mlse-for-3-5us-billion] Canucks Forward and Former Maple Leafs Prospect Dakota Joshua Reveals Testicular Cancer Diagnosis [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/former-maple-leafs-prospect-and-canucks-forward-dakota-joshua-reveals-testicular-cancer-diagnosis] Maple Leafs' Full Schedule for the 2024-25 NHL Regular Season Revealed and Key Dates [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/toronto-maple-leafs/latest-news/maple-leafs-full-schedule-for-the-2024-25-nhl-regular-season-revealed-and-key-dates] News from THN.com NHL Free Agency: Grading 10 Teams for Their Off-Season Actions – or Lack Thereof [https://thehockeynews.com/news/nhl-free-agency-grading-10-teams-for-their-off-season-actions-or-lack-thereof] Chicago Blackhawks Continue to Build Up with Bertuzzi, Teravainen and More NHL UFA Signings [https://thehockeynews.com/news/chicago-blackhawks-continue-to-build-up-with-bertuzzi-teravainen-and-more-nhl-ufa-signings] 2024 NHL Draft: Building Team Ferrari with the Detroit Red Wings' Pick [https://thehockeynews.com/news/2024-nhl-draft-building-team-ferrari-with-the-detroit-red-wings-picks]
