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Leafs practice notes: Ekman-Larsson, McMann, Laughton scratched, Stolarz projected to start vs. Devils
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Photo credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Arun Srinivasan
Mar 4, 2026, 11:58 ESTUpdated: Mar 4, 2026, 16:24 EST
UPDATE: After Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube originally told travelling reporters there would be no lineup changes, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton will now be healthy scratches for Wednesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils due to roster management purposes.
Nick Robertson, Calle Jarnkrok and Troy Stecher were originally projected to be healthy scratches, but will replace the aforementioned trio on Wednesday. Stecher will likely join Philippe Myers on the Maple Leafs’ third defence pairing, while Robertson and Jarnkrok will slot into the team’s bottom-six rotation. Matias Maccelli will likely replace McMann on the top forward line, playing alongside Auston Matthews and William Nylander.
Anthony Stolarz is the projected starter for the Maple Leafs. Stolarz made 23 saves during Monday’s game. The 32-year-old has posted a 7-8-2 record with a .887 save percentage in 18 appearances this season. Joseph Woll will almost certainly start Thursday’s game against the New York Rangers as a result.
Easton Cowan’s deployment has been a point of contention, and the 20-year-old rookie will remain on the fourth line, alongside Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton. Cowan played a team-low 8:23 in Monday’s loss to the Flyers.
“It’s not about that,” Berube said of Cowan following Monday’s game. “It’s about where he’s slotted right now. He’s on the 2nd unit on the PP, didn’t get much time there. But he did some good things, made some good puck plays, worked hard, competed. It is what it is.”
This could be the last time we see this lineup as we know it, with Friday’s trade deadline looming.
In other Leafs news, Chris Tanev underwent core muscle surgery in New York on Wednesday morning, and is expected to return for training camp in September.

Maple Leafs’ projected lineup vs. Devils

Matias Maccelli-Auston Matthews-William Nylander
Matthew Knies-John Tavares-Max Domi
Nick Robertson-Nicolas Roy-Easton Cowan
Dakota Joshua-Steven Lorentz-Calle Jarnkrok
Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo 
Simon Benoit-Jake McCabe
Troy Stecher-Philippe Myers 
Anthony Stolarz (projected starter)
Joseph Woll