Maple Leafs Take Steps to Build Their Final Roster
The word “waivers” has a particular sound in Toronto. It makes people wonder whether somebody is being given the boot, another team is going to steal a player, or the general manager has made another questionable decision. Usually, it is none of those things.
The Maple Leafs placed six players on waivers on Thursday.
The Maple Leafs put six players on waivers Thursday as they continue the annual process of getting from a training-camp roster to something that actually fits on an NHL roster. Henrik Rybinski, Marshall Rifai, Philippe Myers, Brendan Brisson, Vinni Lettieri and Ryan Tverberg are now waiting to see whether another team wants to take a chance on them.
And a few interesting names are in that group. Steven Lorentz, also placed on waivers Thursday, is the seventh name worth watching. He jumps out as an NHL player who could attract attention. But the others tell us something about the depth chart Toronto is putting together. Lettieri is an interesting case. He was a big part of the Marlies’ Calder Cup championship run, scoring 11 goals and 26 points in 25 playoff games. He also had 42 points in 55 regular-season games. That's a pretty good minor-league résumé.
But there comes a point when a player can be extremely useful in the American Hockey League and still not have a regular NHL job. Lettieri appears to be in that territory. Philippe Myers is another name worth noticing. He played 39 games for the team last season, but much of that opportunity came because Toronto had defensive injuries. With a healthier blue line, his path back into the NHL lineup is considerably narrower.
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The Maple Leafs also placed some younger players on waivers.
Rybinski is 25 and hasn't played an NHL game. He had 30 points in 59 games with Hershey last season before signing with Toronto this summer. Tverberg had 15 goals and 21 points in 63 games with the Marlies. Brisson, meanwhile, arrived after the Rangers didn't give him a qualifying offer.
None of that means these players can't become NHL players. It simply means the Maple Leafs have made some decisions about who gets the first opportunity. That's what training camp is for.
And this is where the new Toronto management group gets interesting. Chayka isn't just choosing the most talented players. He is putting together a roster with particular jobs in mind.
Where do the players who stay with the Maple Leafs fit?
Some players will be on the fourth line. Some are going to kill penalties. Some will play big minutes. And some will start the season in the minors. That's not necessarily a bad thing. It's just hockey's annual reminder that there are more good players than NHL jobs.
And on Thursday, the Maple Leafs had to make some room. That's just part of the business of getting a roster down to 23 players.