Cuts looming over Leafs camp

Liljegren likely making debut Monday or Tuesday

LANCE HORNBY

NIAGARA FALLS — As the Maple Leafs wagon train made its way to Toronto on Sunday, the first round of cuts are coming.

At some point in the evening, the club was to announce 25 players either returning to junior teams, ending tryouts or starting to form the nucleus of the AHL Toronto Marlboros and ECHL Orlando Solar Bears. Leafs’ coach Mike Babcock said the slimmeddown roster would consist of 28 forwards, 16 defencemen and four goalies.

Toronto begins eight NHL exhibition games Monday night in Ottawa, with a return engagement Tuesday at the Air Canada Centre against the Senators. An announcement on a game roster was pending.

Babcock and general manager Lou Lamoriello have something of a juggling act ahead in the next few days. As well as the desired look at past draft picks, PTO defenceman Roman Polak and free agents looking to at make the Marlies, they must dress at least eight veterans who played 30 games last year, under terms of the CBA, a move to insure clubs have some semblance of a competitive lineup for the ticket buying public.

The eight can include 2017 first round picks, thus defenceman Timothy Liljegren will likely play Monday or Tuesday, as well as players with at least 100 total NHL games or goalies who dressed at least 50 games in ’16-17. Babcock wants his projected starting lineup to play at least four pre-season matches.

“They need the exhibition games, right off the get-go,” Babcock stressed. “We’re getting ready for Oct. 4 (the opening game in Winnipeg). They’ll all play four games.

“We’re just going about it like we always do, try to end up in a situation where the players determine who’s on the team and who’s playing in the right situation. This (three day portion of camp in the Falls) was an opportunity for us to see our kids build structure and work ethic into our game winning habits, Now we get the evaluation period. The next eight games, as much as it’s about the team game, is also an individual time. You’re battling for your lot in life.”