Maple Leafs top skaters set to take the ice for Tuesday’s preseason match vs. Senators

On offence, Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies are all in the lineup Tuesday, leading a group of returning NHLers. Outside that core are Easton Cowan, Luke Haymes, and Nick Robertson, the only three forwards back in the lineup after Sunday afternoon’s contest. Cowan and Haymes are two top prospects set to make the full jump to pros this season, after Cowan wrapped up his time in juniors with the London Knights, and Haymes finished his NCAA career with Dartmouth College, adding nine appearances with the Toronto Marlies at the end of last season. Robertson continues to be on the bubble of the NHL roster, but will look to keep scoring after burying one on Sunday against the Senators.

Fans will also get a first look at Dakota Joshua and Matias Maccelli in the blue and white sweater, two attackers who were added over the summer. Joshua comes to Toronto from the Vancouver Canucks as a size-add depth piece looking for a bounce-back year offensively. Maccelli last played with the Utah Hockey Club and is a top candidate to play alongside Matthews and Knies on Toronto’s top line, which will likely get a first look on Tuesday night.

Defensively, Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev lead a group of five returning NHLers alongside another top prospect in Ben Danford. The 19-year-old blue liner made his preseason debut on Sunday afternoon, earning praise from head coach Craig Berube after the match.

In between the pipes, Artur Akhlyamov and Dennis Hildeby will be taking the reins. Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll have yet to make their preseason debut, with the latter on a personal leave of absence.

Toronto looks to build on a 4-3 defeat of the Senators on Sunday afternoon, now with a more complete lineup on the ice. Following tonight’s match, the Leafs play two preseason matches each against the Montreal Canadiens and the Detroit Red Wings before opening the regular season at home against the Canadiens on October 8th.