As the opening night of the NHL season is tomorrow, teams around the league had to start making final roster cuts so they could form their opening roster for the upcoming 2023-24 NHL season.
For Toronto, they sent some players down to the Marlies already and also had to trade Sam Lafferty to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a draft pick to free up a little bit of cap space, but they also had to place six players on waivers yesterday in hopes they wouldn’t get claimed, as it always seems to happen to Toronto players.
Yesterday, the Toronto Maple Leafs placed goalie Martin Jones, forwards Kyle Clifford and Dylan Gambrell and defensemen William Lagesson, Simon Benoit and Maxime Lajoie on waivers to be sent down to the Toronto Marlies.
Malcolm Subban (STL), Nathan Walker (STL), Zach Bogosian (TB), Gabriel Fortier (TB), Simon Benoit (TOR), Kyle Clifford (TOR), Dylan Gambrell (TOR), Martin Jones (TOR), William Lagesson (TOR), Maxime Lajoie (TOR), Jack Studnicka (VAN), Christian Wolanin (VAN) ..
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 8, 2023
Luckily for the Maple Leafs, all six players cleared waivers and have been sent to the Toronto Marlies after Sportsnet Elliotte Friedman announced that everyone on waivers yesterday cleared, except for Thomson (OTT), Prosvetov (COL), Greer (CGY), and Ludvig (PIT).
Everyone else clears
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 9, 2023
Among the cuts before opening night, it was also announced that 19-year-old Fraser Minten had made the team and will start the season with the big club.
He won a spot over Nick Robertson, Pontus Holmberg, Dylan Gambrell, Alex Steeves and Nick Abruzzese, who all had a legit chance at winning a spot on the roster.
It’s unknown if Minten will remain with the NHL team past the nine days before the first year on his ELC is burned, but either way, he is here now and has deserved it with his play in training camp.
Another bit of news we’re currently waiting for is the potential signing of Noah Gregor given that he was on a PTO throughout training camp. Since the trade that saw Lafferty get dealt to Vancouver followed by six players being placed on waivers and clearing, the front office now has a better picture of what the number might come in at for Gregor.
The Toronto Maple Leafs open their season at home against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm ET/4:00 pm PT on Sportsnet.
