Leafs make three personnel moves, set opening night roster

The last moves have been finalized. The Toronto Maple Leafs have sent down John-Michael Liles, called up Troy Bodie, and send Frazer McLaren to the long-term injured reserve, setting their opening night roster.

Here’s how I presume it shakes out in the beginning:

James van Riemsdyk – Tyler Bozak – Phil Kessel
Joffrey Lupul – Nazem Kadri – Nikolai Kulemin
Mason Raymond – Dave Bolland – Carter Ashton
Troy Bodie – Jay McClement – Colton Orr
David Clarkson *
Frazer McLaren **

Carl Gunnarsson – Dion Phaneuf
Jake Gardiner – Cody Franson
Paul Ranger – Morgan Rielly
(Mark Fraser)

James Reimer
Jonathan Bernier

* – suspended
** – injured reserve

Making use of the long-term injured reserve allowed the team to bring up an extra skater from the minors to the NHL, and that was skater Troy Bodie. With the team so tight up against the cap, if a player gets hurt, basically treat the replacement you would an “equal or lesser value” coupon at Loblaws. Also, don’t shop at Loblaws because it’s outrageously expensive.

The top 6, Bozak excluded, looks pretty good, as does the third line. Not sure about the NHL potential of Bodie, and of course every team has a Colton Orr or two on the roster, so it’s hard getting angry about either one of those.

Defence is fine. If the team has Morgan Rielly on the NHL squad but not getting into games, it’s a total waste of development he could be getting in junior, which would include a return trip to the World Junior Championship and exhibition games against Russia in the Super Series. He’d probably get traded to a real team in the Western Hockey League as well.

If Rielly is sent down the junior, it clears the space necessary for the Leafs to recall John-Michael Liles.

Obviously, there will be a lot made about the Leafs spending 8.5% of their salary cap space on players that will not be there on opening night: Liles, Darcy Tucker, Colby Armstrong, and salary retention to Ben Scrivens and Matt Frattin. Ultimately, that was the Leafs’ undoing this offseason and will prevent them from icing a full roster all year.

It does get better, once they clear the ten-game hurdle. Thankfully, the only back-to-back during David Clarkon’s suspension comes on October 1st and 2nd, so it’s unlikely they need a quick turnaround if facing an injury and not having time to fill the space.

Our poll, meanwhile, is on the side of the page, asks the $64,000 question:

You get four options and only one choice. Make it a wise one.