Predicted Maple Leafs lineup tonight: Toronto's projected lineup for NHL season opener game against Canadiens | Oct 9th, 2024

The Toronto Maple Leafs open its 2024-25 NHL season on the road on Wednesday against the Montreal Canadiens. The puck drop is set for 7 p.m. ET.

Ahead of the Leafs season opener, here is what their projected lineup is expected to look like.

Predicted Maple Leafs lineup

Forwards

• Matthew Knies - Auston Matthews - Mitch Marner
• Max Domi - John Tavares - William Nylander
• Max Pacioretty - Pontus Holmberg - Nick Robertson
• Steven Lorentz - David Kampf - Ryan Reaves

The Leafs run back a similar forward group to last season. Toronto will be led by the big four of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares and William Nylander.

The focus for the Maple Leafs is to get to the playoffs and prove the doubters wrong.

“That’s obviously the focus is to make the dance,” Matthews said, via NHL.com. “That’s where we’re at. We just want to continue to build our game now throughout the next couple of months and then, put ourselves in a position, obviously, to get there.”

Defense

• Morgan Reilly - Chris Tanev
• Oliver Ekman-Larsson - Jake McCabe
• Simon Benoit - Conor Timmins

The Maple Leafs' defense looks much different, as Toronto spent most of their offseason addressing the blue line. Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson were the two big additions, while Timothy Liljegren is a surprise healthy scratch.

"He's just an elite defensive player,” Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving said, via NHL.com. “You know, we talk about offensive players seeing plays early. He does the same thing but on the defensive side of the puck.

“He’s an absolute warrior. He's a culture carrier for your room. I know the age he's at. But I think even in the last year he showed he's one of the top shutdown defensemen, one of the top defensive players, in the League. And he's a right shot. He embodies everything you want in a teammate.”

Goalies

• Anthony Stolarz
• Joseph Woll

The Maple Leafs were expected to start Joseph Woll on Wednesday. However, the team suffered a late injury blow which will see newly-signed Anthony Stolarz start in between the piper for the Leafs.

Maple Leafs October NHL schedule

Toronto's schedule for the first month of the season is as follows:

• @ Montreal, Oct. 9
• @ New Jersey, Oct. 10
• vs Pittsburgh, Oct. 12
• vs Los Angeles, Oct. 16
• vs Rangers, Oct. 19
• vs Tampa Bay, Oct. 21
• @ Columbus, Oct. 22
• vs St. Louis, Oct. 24
• @ Boston, Oct. 26
• @ Winnipeg, Oct. 28
• vs Seattle, Oct. 31