Leafs release final preseason game lineup with surprising names missing sparking major trade speculation
The Toronto Maple Leafs have set their roster for tonight's preseason finale against the Detroit Red Wings, with Easton Cowan and Timothy Liljegren sitting out which has sparked major speculation.
The Leafs, with a 3-1-1 record, are aiming to end the preseason strong before starting the regular season on October 9th and 10th against the Montreal Canadiens and New Jersey Devils.
Tonight's lineup is close to what we'll see on opening night, but Nick Robertson, Calle Jarnkrok, and Jake McCabe are sitting out after getting injured in Thursday's game against Detroit. Philippe Myers will fill in for McCabe and has one more chance to impress the coaches, although he's expected to be sent to the Toronto Marlies after the game.
A surprise move is Easton Cowan, who's played in all five preseason games but won't play tonight. This could mean the team is considering keeping him for a short trial or sending him back to the OHL's London Knights soon.
Joseph Woll is set to play the full game, following Anthony Stolarz's 2-0 shutout win on Thursday.
There's talk that Leafs GM Brad Treliving may make a trade to help the team get under the salary cap. Tonight's game could showcase a few players while Robertson, McCabe, and Jarnkrok recover. Robertson was back at practice on Saturday, so his injury doesn't seem serious.
Timothy Liljegren isn't playing tonight, sparking speculation that he could be traded or that the Leafs are giving Conor Timmins a chance to showcase his skills. Timmins has one year left on his contract with a $1.1 million cap hit.
Liljegren, re-signed this summer for two years at $6 million, spoke to the media about his focus as roster cuts approach. He acknowledged he hasn't been at his best but is working hard to secure his spot on a blueline that's become more competitive after the Leafs added Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jani Hakanpää in free agency.
Last season, Liljegren scored three goals and 23 points in 55 games. He also had one assist in six playoff games as the Leafs were eliminated by the Boston Bruins in seven games. Since being drafted 17th overall in 2017, he has totaled 14 goals and 65 points in 196 career games.
