The leafs pre-season is finally over and on Thursday the Leafs will face the Habs at home for their season opener . The leafs have limped out of the preseason looking impressive at times , not so much at other times, and a once touted deep roster looked a little thin after their tilt with the Wings on Saturday .
The Leafs started the preseason with Lombardi and Brown on the shelf , Lombardi coming off a major concussion and Brown nursing a tweeked groin . They enter this week with Grabovski , Bozak , and Connoly dealing with day to day injuries , but prospect Kadri out for a month with a sprained knee . Macarthur will also miss the first two games on a questional suspension handed down from Shannahan for a hit to the head on a Dteroit forward .
Bozak and Connolly are expected to be in for Thursday , but Grabovski remains unknown .
The Kulemin , Grabovski , Macarthur line looked great in pre-season and seemed to pick up from where they left off last year .
Lupul , Connolly , Kessel line really didnt seem to click right away , however I would expect that this line with a few games under their belt will look as dangerous as the 1b line .
Armstrong , Bozak , Kadri line was fun to watch and seemed to have instant chemistry . When Frattin was inserted on this unit , he didnt look out of place .
The best looking fourth line was Orr , Dupuis , Brown .... However I believe that Orr and Rosehill will flip flop all season depending on who the Leafs are facing .
A few other standouts in Preseason .... Well Jake Gardiner. Night in and Night out he was one of the best Leafs on the ice . It is hard to believe he doesnt make the team and log good minutes . This creates a big log jam on the back end , and the rumors of a trade are running rampat . From Komisarek and Lupul to Edmonton .... To Gunnerson and Bozak to NYR or Phoenix . Something has got to give, and like Ron Wilson said , sometimes you need to blow up a hole to make room .
Matt Frattin played his way on the team . Kadri injury or not , I believe he has an all around game that fits really well on that third line wing . But with Macarthur out for two and Lombardi back and healthy , he may get a crack at least for a few games on the second line .
The Monster had a decent preseason , his attitude seems to be under control and his composure looks better . Reimer seemed to struggle a bit , and threw out alot of big rebounds . allthough he is definately the #1 , Gustavson will be pushing him all season long .
I really have to give Komisarek some props , his time in Toronto have been tough , but he seems to have a jump this year , and looks good overall. As mentioned earlier , he may be the odd man out , but I still think the Leafs could use his jam on the backend .
So With the injury sittuation and players returning etc , roster cuts are due today , but here is my opening night roster influenced by this preseason , injury etc .
Lupul - Connolly - Kessel
Kulemin - Grabovski - Frattin
Lombardi - Bozak - Armstrong
Rosehill - Dupuis - Brown
Orr - Boyce
Phaneuf - Gunnerson
Schenn - Liles
Franson - Gardiner
Komisarek
if no trade is made .... I think Aulie goes down to make room for Gardiner .
If Gunnerson or Komisarek are traded .... Aulie stays up . Either way I think Toronto dress 7 dmen .... Aulie may even stay up dressed with Komi in the press box .
Riemer / Gustavsson .
LEAF RUMORS :
Komi , Lupul , Gunnerson to EDM for Hemsky and Linus Omark
Players to PHX for Turris and Shane Doan
Gunner and Bozak to NYR for Anseminov and high pick
Edmonton chatter is the most talked about .
Allrighty Leafers ..... I will post roster cuts and any Trades or Rumors as they happen .
