Cut Day! No M-Orr Goons!

Excuse me while I take a brief victory lap around my office, as these are the best possible decisions the Leafs could have made heading into the regular season. And while the Leafs couldn’t cut everyone I wanted them to, they made four correct decisions.

Let’s start by looking at the most significant player who didn’t make the Leafs. William Nylander. By most accounts Nylander had a great camp, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s 18 and a year developing in Sweden or the AHL won’t hurt him (UPDATE: He’s going to play for MODO in Sweden). He’s going to be an exciting prospect to keep track of, and ultimately show up next year ready to take a top six role. Maybe he’ll even get some time at center this year and can compete for one of those jobs. Godspeed Snizzbone, you did great.

Moving into the more controversial decision. The Leafs have waived two players who are great in the room, and make everyone in the roster play bigger with more space on the ice. Colton Orr and Frazer McLaren will likely be having their mail forwarded to the Ricoh unless someone (likely an Alberta team) makes a waivers claim on them. Before we mourn the death of truculence, remember that Carter Ashton, David Clarkson will still be available options for facepunching, but ideally both will play some improved hockey as well. How the Leafs arrived seems interesting, as Carlyle leaned heavily on Orr throughout the preseason, and there were no shortage of MSM articles praising Orr’s efforts. Maybe the team president has some say in the roster decisions. Who knows, just enjoy their absence while it lasts.

Finally, forgettable defenseman Korbinian Holzer has also been waived. Holzer is another player who received praise from Carlyle in the preseason, so it’s becoming clear that the coach might not have much say in his roster anymore. Holzer isn’t a guy who’s likely to get claimed, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he makes a return to the Leafs after Franson has fully healed and there isn’t a regular shift for Stuart Percy in the NHL anymore. Or some team makes a claim on him and Granberg or MacWilliam can inherit press box duties. Ideally Holzer does leave the organization as it would be nice to free up some space on the Marlies blueline for legitimate prospects.

So, it looks like the opening day roster has been established. 

Remember this day. October 6th, 2014 the Leafs plan on opening season with their best possible roster. It will be exciting to see how Brandon Kozun and Stuart Percy do in an actual NHL game that matters, and having Leivo and Ashton to platoon with Frattin and Kozun is equally exciting. Dare I say, we’re going to enjoy October?