Realistically though, it probably gives Mike Babcock and his Toronto Maple Leafs assistant coaches a headache. With so many promising players seemingly ready to make the jump to the NHL, there just aren’t enough roster spots up front to accommodate everyone.
There are going to be extremely good, young, players who begin the season in the American Hockey League.
Babcock isn’t going to want to ice a forward group of rookies. Veterans provide the stability and experience the rookies need in order to flourish as full-time NHLers. So, barring a large trade happening between now and opening night puck drop, here are the veteran Leafs forwards still on the team’s payroll for next season:
You could make a case for Peter Holland and Nazem Kadri to be included on that list as well, depending on where you draw the line as a “veteran”.