Canadiens vs. Maple Leafs: What the Opening-Night Lineups Say About Both Teams
Montreal opens its season in Toronto, and NHL.com’s projected lineups provide the first working look at how both teams plan to play. Both teams are 0-0-0. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET on TVAS and SN.
Toronto’s biggest change is up front
Kirill Marchenko is projected to play on the top line with Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic. Marchenko arrived Monday in a trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets, and general manager John Chayka said he would play if his immigration status is sorted out. That status remains the biggest single question around the Leafs’ opening night.
The rest of Toronto’s projected forwards:
- Gavin McKenna – John Tavares – William Nylander
- Easton Cowan – Nick Paul – Colton Sissons
- Brandon Duhaime – Teddy Blueger – Zack MacEwen
Toronto’s projected defense pairs Morgan Rielly with Darren Raddysh, Jake McCabe with Chris Tanev, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson with Troy Stecher. Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz are the goaltenders listed.
Dakota Joshua is listed as week-to-week with a core injury but has started skating. Max Domi is out with an undisclosed injury. Bo Groulx and Nick Blankenburg are scratched.
Montreal is short a key defenseman
For the Canadiens, the focus is on the back end. Kaiden Guhle is expected to miss the first 7-10 games after offseason adductor muscle surgery. Oliver Kapanen is day to day with a lower-body injury.
Montreal’s projected forwards:
- Chris Kreider – Nick Suzuki – Cole Caufield
- Juraj Slafkovsky – Alex Newhook – Ivan Demidov
- Alexandre Texier – Phillip Danault – Kirby Dach
- Zachary Bolduc – Jake Evans – Josh Anderson
Alex Newhook’s placement is notable: he is projected to center Slafkovsky and Demidov, giving him a clear offensive role from the start.
Montreal’s projected defense pairs Mike Matheson with Noah Dobson, Lane Hutson with Alexandre Carrier, and Jayden Struble with Arber Xhekaj. Jakub Dobes and Samuel Montembeault are the goaltenders listed. Florian Xhekaj and Adam Engstrom are scratched.
The opener is a real look at roster depth
Projected lineups are not final, and warmups can change the starting look. But the opener shows how each team wants to use its available players.
For Toronto, it is early evidence of whether the new forward group around Matthews and Tavares can produce. For Montreal, it is a test of the defense and bottom six without Guhle. Marchenko’s immigration status is the most fluid variable. If he is cleared, the Leafs get their projected top line. If not, someone else has to step in on short notice.
Opening night is one game, but the decisions built into these lineups will be part of a much longer conversation.