Leafs Opening Night Roster ?

The Leafs are 1 month away from opening night and Brian Burke has definitely rounded out his line up . Burke has created Locked in his top 6 and has created competition in his bottom 6 and defense .

This summer Burke has brought in Tim Connolly , Matthew Lombardi , Philippe Dupuis , and Cody Franson . Resigned MacArthur , Bozak , Reimer , Gunnerson ,Rosehill , Crabbe , Boyce, Zigomanis and of course soon to be resigned Luke Schenn .

Burke clearly has plans to use Connolly as a Top line center , but with the addition of Matthew Lombardi ( coming off a serious concussion ) he put pressure on Connolly and Bozak to be looking over their shoulders . I believe this will be more of a motivation for Bozak and an insurance if Connolly goes down to injury .


Our Bottom six should be rotated based on who the Leafs are playing . A more truculent opponent may see a fourth line of Orr , Brown , Dupuis ... where a more skilled opponent may see the likes of Boyce , Rosehill , Brown . The Leafs have given them depth options in their bottom six which should create great match ups .

On Defence ... well this is the tricky . The signing and Emergence of Schenn may make Komisarek expendable . I really hope Komi fights for his life and really steps up this year making that a tougher decision for management , because love him or hate him, the Leafs are a much tougher team with him n the line up, but with guys like Gardiner knocking at the NHL door , I think his days and hefty contract are numbered .

In Goal Reimer and Gustavson will be splitting duties . Reimer should be starting goalie with the monster playing second fiddle , but if the monster has a rough start Ben Scrivens or Jussi Rhynass could easily fill the back up role .

So I believe that Opening night is going to look like the following ....

Lupul - Connolly - Kessel
Kulimen - Grabovski - MacArthur
Kadri - Bozak - Armstrong
Orr - Dupuis - Brown

Phanuef - Aulie
Schenn - Liles
Franson - Gunner
Komisarek dressed in lineup as seventh d man

Reimer - Gustavsson

But could be any of these options

top two lines the same ....

Kadri ( Frattin ) - Bozak ( Lombardi ) - Armstrong
Brown ( Crabbe ) - Dupuis ( Zigomanis , Boyce ) - Orr ( Rosehill )

Phaneuf - Aulie
Schenn - Liles
Franson - Gunnerson ( Komisarek , Gardiner , Blacker , Finger , Lashoff )

Reimer - Gustavsson ( Scrivens , Rhynass )

I love the depth we have this year and the constant threat of a position being snatched away from an under performer , and even the options it gives the Leafs from game to game . My favorite outcome from this seasons acquisitions and resigns , is that it really leveled out our line up . Leafs now have two skilled forward lines , an offensive , gritty , pesty third line , and a truculent fourth line .

On every line there is someone who is willing to drop the gloves to protect their line mates ... Lupul , MacArthur , Armstrong , and the whole fourth line . On Defense each pairing has truculence so on any shift if things get out of hand a sherrif will be there to keep things under control .

If the leafs get a click on their first line between Connolly and Kessel and Reimer can perform like he did last season .... Leafs will be playoff bound . I really do believe they will this year ... finally .