Mar 22, 2025; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson (95) looks to pass the puck during the first period of the game against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Alan Poizner-Imagn Images

The Toronto Maple Leafs will likely dress one player short when they host the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday.

Maple Leafs defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is day-to-day with an undisclosed injury, head coach Craig Berube confirmed following the defenseman's absence at practice on Friday.

With Jake McCabe (undisclosed) injured and forward David Kampf still out with an upper-body injury, the Leafs do not have any salary cap room to call up an additional player. In normal circumstances, they would likely move other of either McCabe or Kampf to long-term injured reserve to create salary cap room. However, their injuries occurred with less than 10 games remaining in the regular season and they are not eligible to be placed on LTIR.

According to Puckpedia.com, the Leafs only have $195,333 in space. That leaves the club with only one solution. That is to play a player short, which they will likely do on Saturday, before being permitted to call up an additional player on an emergency basis ($875,000 salary or less) that will count for $0 on the salary cap until the emergency situation is resolved. It's detailed under article 50.10(e) of the CBA.

Roster Emergency Exception (CBA Article 50.10(e))

A team may recall a player without cap charge under the following conditions:

Cap Constraint: The team has less payroll room than the sum of the NHL minimum salary plus $100,000.
Injury/Suspension: A player is unable to play due to injury, illness, or suspension.
LTIR Not Applicable: The club cannot utilize the Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception to make a regular recall.
Roster Below Threshold: The club has fewer than 18 skaters and 2 goaltenders (“18 and 2”).
Played Short: The club played its previous game with fewer than 18 and 2 — this is key for the emergency recall to kick in.

The fifth point is key, so that's Leafs will likely play a player short.

Not the first time the Leafs have technically dressed short.

In the past, the Leafs have dressed a shortened roster due to injury, but they were able to move it around and make that person a backup goaltender signed to an amateur tryout. That was the case when Alex Bishop dressed as a backup for the Leafs in 2021.

Leafs Sign U of T Goaltender Bishop to Amateur Contract to Dress as Backup Against Senators Injuries, illness and cap issues have forced the Toronto Maple Leafs to sign an amateur goaltender to dress as the team's backup against the Ottawa Senators.

Why The Maple Leafs Will Dress 5 Defensemen Against The Canadiens On Saturday