Maple Leafs Adjust Lines, Rest Auston Matthews Against Canadiens

The Toronto Maple Leafs are making strategic adjustments as they prepare to face the Montreal Canadiens at home on September 30, 2023. Notably, star player Auston Matthews will not play in this pre-season matchup, despite having practiced with his new line featuring Matthew Knies and Max Domi throughout the week. Coach Craig Berube opted to rest Matthews to avoid overexerting the captain before the regular season begins.

Berube emphasized the importance of evaluating different line combinations and player roles during these pre-season games. “I’m not too worried about Matthews,” he stated. “He’s been very good in camp with how he looks, his effort and competitiveness. He’s going to get another game next week against Detroit.”

In Matthews’ absence, the Leafs will shuffle their lines. Domi will shift to center, taking Matthews’ place alongside Knies and the promoted Nick Robertson. Meanwhile, the established line of Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy, and Matias Maccelli will remain together. Roy expressed confidence in the third line’s potential, noting their combined size and offensive capabilities.

Saturday’s game is particularly significant for Roy, as it marks his first appearance at Scotiabank Arena. He expressed excitement about playing against his home province team, the Canadiens. “We’re all new, but all the coaching staff did a pretty good job getting us ready for this system,” Roy commented.

The Maple Leafs also plan to rotate their roster, with several players resting ahead of the regular season. Scott Laughton, Steven Lorentz, and Easton Cowan will receive maintenance days, paving the way for prospects Michael Pezzetta, Jacob Quillan, and Borya Valis to form the fourth line.

On the defensive end, Matt Benning has stepped in alongside Oliver Ekman-Larsson, filling in for Simon Benoit, who is still recovering from injury and has not yet been cleared for full contact. In goal, Anthony Stolarz will make his first pre-season start, while veteran James Reimer joins the team on a professional tryout contract. Berube mentioned that he and General Manager Brad Treliving have not yet determined if Reimer will participate in the upcoming home-and-home series against Detroit.

As the pre-season progresses, the Maple Leafs remain focused on building chemistry and evaluating player performances ahead of the regular season. The adjustments made in this game against the Canadiens will be critical for the coaching staff’s assessments and the team’s overall preparation.