We’re less than a week away from the regular season opener, and the Toronto Maple Leafs are using their penultimate preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings to test out their lineup.

Toronto held a full practice at Scotiabank Arena ahead of Thursday’s preseason contest. Anthony Stolarz will get a full start and is expected to play all 60 minutes. Stolarz is widely considered the favourite to start the season opener against the Montreal Canadiens on October 8.

Here’s what you need to know from the Leafs’ morning skate:

Auston Matthews played through a lingering upper-body injury throughout the 2024-25 season, and the Maple Leafs’ season may ultimate come down to whether their captain returns to the all-world form he displayed two years ago. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube reflected on the need for Matthews to return to peak form, while defending his franchise player.

“He wasn’t a fully healthy player, but fought through it,” Berube said of Matthews. “I thought he played extremely well for what he was going through. He just doesn’t score goals. He does a lot of things for us. He’s penalty killing, he goes against top lines. He’s a great defensive player. His work ethic. I don’t think we should be overly concerned. He’s healthy. He’s looking good. He shoot the puck really well. It’s all about goals, but I do get it. He’s a goal scorer, and everybody looks at him to score goals, and we do need him to score goals. But at the same at the same time. It’s a team. It’s a team, and it’s about winning games, and it’s about everybody contributing.”

Matthews will centre Toronto’s first line with Matthew Knies and Max Domi to begin the year. It’s the preseason, so process matters more than the result, as everyone is looking to see whether Matthews can return to the best goal-scorer alive form he showed two years ago, in a 69-goal campaign.

Easton Cowan remains on the team’s fourth line next to Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton, and while nothing has been finalized yet, the reigning Memorial Cup MVP may have pulled away from the competition. Cowan is 20 years old and during his third training camp, he’s showing more patience with the puck, using his hockey intelligence to extend plays within the offensive zone.

Nick Robertson, David Kampf, Michael Pezzetta and Calle Jarnkrok were among the players in grey uniforms during Monday’s skate.

“Yeah, we’ve talked through camp a little bit,” Laughton told The Leafs Nation about his advice to Cowan. “Being on the same line, I don’t want to really say too much to him. I think he’s going pretty good right now, so let him play, and that’s it. Try and help him on the ice as much as I can on the bench and things like that. I’ve been in that position many times where you’re fighting for it. It’s tough. It’s hard to make it, but it’s harder to stay. That’s one thing I really learned is how to be consistent every day in this league and bring it. I’m really excited for him. He’s been awesome on our line. It’s been a lot of fun to play with him and (he’s) always looking to make plays, which I think helps.”