The Toronto Maple Leafs have announced their first cuts to the training camp roster. Leafs announce first round of training camp cuts: pic.twitter.com/F8PkVGYgH1 — Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) September 16, 2018 Not a lot of surprises on this list, as you would expect at this early date. Finnish D Jesper Lindgren going back to the Liiga is not a huge shock given the Marlies’ abundance of defenders. It’s worth noting that for players who can be loaned back to junior (e.g. Sean Durzi) that are going to the Marlies’ camp, this does not necessarily mean they’re going to play in the AHL this year. Stay tuned. The remaining roster features a number of names that are definitely bound for the minors once further cuts are made. #Leafs first training camp cuts are in, reducing their roster to 46 players. No surprises in the group. The updated roster is pic.twitter.com/45wd5iUd24 — Kristen Shilton (@kristen_shilton) September 16, 2018 Maple Leafs September 16 Roster Name # Pos Sh Ht Wt Born Birthplace Not on NHL Deal Name # Pos Sh Ht Wt Born Birthplace Not on NHL Deal Jeremy Bracco 59 RW R 5'10" 171 03/17/97 Freeport, NY, USA - Adam Brooks 77 C L 5'11" 175 05/06/96 Winnipeg, MB, CAN - Connor Brown 28 RW R 6'0" 185 01/14/94 Toronto, ON, CAN - Emerson Clark 58 F L 5'10" 180 12/17/92 Whitby, ON AHL Rich Clune 39 F L 5'10" 207 04/25/87 Toronto, ON, CAN AHL Adam Cracknell 15 RW R 6'2" 218 07/15/85 Prince Albert, SK, CAN - Semyon Der-Arguchintsev 85 F R 5'10" 159 09/15/00 Moscow, RUS Draft Pick Pierre Engvall 47 LW L 6'5" 196 05/31/96 Ljungby, SWE - Tyler Ennis 63 LW L 5'9" 161 10/06/89 Edmonton, AB, CAN - Frederik Gauthier 33 C L 6'5" 232 04/26/95 Laval, QC, CAN - Colin Greening 38 F L 6'2" 210 03/09/86 St. John's, NL AHL Carl Grundstrom 20 RW L 6'0" 194 12/01/97 Umea, SWE - Zach Hyman 11 C R 6'1" 213 06/09/92 Toronto, ON, CAN - Andreas Johnsson 18 LW L 5'10" 180 11/21/94 Gävle, SWE - Josh Jooris 36 RW R 6'1" 197 07/14/90 Burlington, ON, CAN - Nazem Kadri 43 C L 6'0" 190 10/06/90 London, ON, CAN - Kasperi Kapanen 24 RW R 6'1" 187 07/23/96 Kuopio, FIN - Josh Leivo 32 LW R 6'2" 210 05/26/93 Innisfil, ON, CAN - Par Lindholm 26 C L 5'11" 187 10/05/91 Kusmark, SWE - Patrick Marleau 12 C L 6'2" 215 09/15/79 Aneroid, SK, CAN - Mitch Marner 16 C R 6'0" 175 05/05/97 Markham, ON, CAN - Auston Matthews 34 C L 6'3" 216 09/17/97 San Ramon, CA, USA - Trevor Moore 42 LW L 5'10" 187 03/31/95 Thousand Oaks, CA, USA - Chris Mueller 49 C R 5'11" 196 03/06/86 West Seneca, NY, USA - John Tavares 91 C L 6'1" 208 09/20/90 Mississauga, ON, CAN - Dmytro Timashov 41 LW L 5'10" 190 10/01/96 Kirovograd, UKR - Andreas Borgman 55 D L 6'0" 212 06/18/95 Stockholm, SWE - Connor Carrick 8 D R 5'10" 192 04/13/94 Orland Park, IL, USA - Travis Dermott 23 D L 6'0" 208 12/22/96 Newmarket, ON, CAN - Jake Gardiner 51 D L 6'2" 200 07/04/90 Minnetonka, MN, USA - Ron Hainsey 2 D L 6'3" 205 03/24/81 Bolton, CT, USA - Justin Holl 54 D R 6'3" 205 01/30/92 Tonka Bay, MN, USA - Timothey Liljegren 37 D R 6'0" 190 04/30/99 Kristianstad, SWE - Vincent LoVerde 45 D R 5'11" 209 04/14/89 Chicago, IL, USA - Martin Marincin 52 D L 6'5" 212 02/18/92 Kosice, SVK - Andrew Nielsen 56 D L 6'3" 224 11/13/96 Red Deer, AB, CAN - Igor Ozhiganov 92 D R 6'2" 207 10/13/92 Krasnogorsk, RUS - Morgan Rielly 44 D L 6'1" 217 03/09/94 Vancouver, BC, CAN - Calle Rosen 48 D L 6'1" 195 02/02/94 Vaxjo, SWE - Rasmus Sandin 78 D L 5'11" 184 03/07/00 Uppsala, SWE - Jordan Subban 46 D R 5'9" 175 03/03/95 Toronto, ON, CAN - Nikita Zaitsev 22 D R 6'2" 195 10/29/91 Moscow, RUS - Goalies # Pos Sh Ht Wt Birthplace - Frederik Andersen 31 G -- 6'4" 230 10/02/89 Herning, DNK - Curtis McElhinney 35 G -- 6'2" 200 05/23/83 London, ON, CAN - Calvin Pickard 30 G -- 6'1" 200 04/15/92 Moncton, NB, CAN - Garret Sparks 40 G -- 6'2" 195 06/28/93 Elmhurst, IL, USA - Injured - - -- - - - - - Mason Marchment 53 LW L 6'3" 200 06/18/95 Uxbridge - Josh Kestner 96 F R 6'1" 185 11/08/93 Huntsvill, AL AHL Derian Plouffe 64 F L 5'10" 187 01/15/95 Nepean, ON AHL Fedor Gordeev 75 D L 6'7" 227 01/27/99 Toronto, ON, CAN Draft Pick Those enjoying the ride on the Semyon Der-Arguchintsev hype train will notice he is the only junior forward left at the Leafs camp; recent first-rounder Rasmus Sandin is still holding down a defence spot thus far. Obviously neither are approaching the NHL anytime soon, but it’s nice to make the final 46 right after being drafted. The Leafs now have two full teams ready to go for preseason. Time to gear up.<doc-sep>Share this Story: First Leaf cuts were easy, but next group harder First Leaf cuts were easy, but next group harder Article content NIAGARA FALLS — At least the kids saw a great show before being sent home. After the most entertaining of three scrimmage games ended the Niagara Falls’ portion of Maple Leafs training camp on Sunday, 25 players were returned to junior hockey or assigned to the AHL Marlies/development roster. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or First Leaf cuts were easy, but next group harder Back to video Mike Babcock gave the departed a good luck message, then prepared for a busy week of four exhibition games to expedite cuts of the 46 who remain. “We’ll give as many guys an opportunity as we can and shorten up so we can see the people who are really playing,” the coach said. “You’re trying to get up to speed. (Camp) is about learning how to work again, it’s about details, getting your goaltenders going. You have to be ready Oct. 3.” He already has a pretty good idea of the late-September survivors, based on forming camp lines that seem close to the finished product. Of course there are many blue-chip Leafs who just need a little tune-up. Auston Matthews capped an afternoon of stop-me-if-you-can rushes, with a fine defensive strip of Ron Hainsey, spotting Tyler Ennis open at Calvin Pickard’s crease and zipping it across for a goal. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content Ennis is on Matthews’ right winger for as long as William Nylander stays home in a contract snit and he continues to bask in the young centre’s glow. We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or “It was enjoyable couple of days,” said Ennis, rescued from being an odd man out in Minnesota last year to partnering Matthews and Patrick Marleau. “Sometimes (Matthews) gets into a tight space and you think the puck will get turned over, but he always seems to come out with it and do some crazy stuff. “We kind of started to get going yesterday and today towards the end of the game. The more we play together, the more the energy builds and you start to gel.” Sunday was a 3-2 crowd-pleasing result at the Gale Centre, ending with five creative shootout goals. Josh Leivo’s line with Nazem Kadri and Connor Brown did well and bubble boys such as Carl Grundstrom got on the board. The John Tavares-Mitch Marner-Zach Hyman line had already played its two games, but spent their day honing systems, which Hyman welcomed after getting the Tavares gig. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content “I’ve only played with John for two scrimmages, so it’s tough to compare it to two years with Auston. They’re both elite players. I’m lucky to have that opportunity. “I’ve been asked a lot, when I heard the news about (Tavares), what was I going to do? But you don’t change the way you play, just be the best version of yourself. Those (changes) are things as a player you don’t really think about. You go out there with whoever they put you with. That was fun (with Matthews), now I have a new opportunity and he does, too. There will be so many good players on this team that it doesn’t matter who you’re with.” We apologize, but this video has failed to load. tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or Babcock is also seeking clarity on the fourth line, with Par Lindholm getting the first chance at centre between Kasperi Kapanen and Andreas Johnsson, who scored twice on the weekend. Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content What has become evident is the head start that forwards of the Calder Cup winning Marlies have at camp. “I think (Trevor) Moore has been fantastic,” Babcock said. “(Pierre) Engvall can become a good player that you can use, with real good pace. Grundstrom has to dig in here, but he’s another guy that can become an NHL player.” Babcock was more measured in his early assessment of candidates on defence. With only nine goals scored in regulation during three 50-minute running-time scrimmages, it would indicate most of the blueline did its job. “Evaluation time is coming for them,” Babcock forewarned the defencemen. “About five of them are in a battle for a job. The NHL and AHL are different birds. One’s got space, one has no space.” Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Article content IT’S ‘ROCK ON’ FOR LEAFS IN 2019 Mike Babcock dropped a nugget of gold for the many Maple Leafs fans on The Rock. The coach was responding to the warm reception the team has received when staging the first few days of training camp outside Toronto, such as Halifax a couple of years ago, here in the Falls and Tuesday’s exhibition against Ottawa in Lucan, Ont., when he mentioned the Leafs are going to Newfoundland next September. A team official was caught off-guard, but didn’t contradict the coach, only cautioning that nothing has been finalized for 2019. But St. John’s came on the radar after the Leafs set up an affiliation with the new ECHL Newfoundland Growlers as a second farm, ending their long relationship in Orlando, Fla. The Leafs had an AHL team in St. John’s from the early 1990s to 2006 when they moved it home to Ricoh Coliseum. The ‘Baby Leafs’ were beloved in St. John’s and Toronto intended to make a big splash there for its 2001 camp that had to be curtailed by events of 9/11. At the Gale Centre in the Falls this weekend, fans lined up for hours to watch practices and scrimmages. “All these things are fantastic for the people and it’s great for our players,” Babcock said. “It’s nice to be appreciated and we obviously have a great fan base.” lhornby@postmedia.com Share this article in your social network Latest National Stories Advertisement Story continues below This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. The Toronto Sun Headline News Sign up to receive daily headline news from the Toronto SUN, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. Email Address There was an error, please provide a valid email address. By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. You may unsubscribe any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link at the bottom of our emails. Postmedia Network Inc. | 365 Bloor Street East, Toronto, Ontario, M4W 3L4 | 416-383-2300 Thanks for signing up! 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TORONTO, ON - September 6: Timothy Liljegren (37) and Rasmus Sandin (78) look around during a drill. Toronto Maple Leafs rookies skated at their training facility, the MCC before heading to Montreal for tournament. (Toronto Star/Toronto Star via Getty Images) The Toronto Maple Leafs made the first step towards whittling down their roster today by announcing the first round of training camp cuts. Opening camp with a hefty roster in excess of 70 players, the Leafs make the trip back to Toronto now housing just 46. The list of those who didn’t make the cut can be seen below. Leafs announce first round of training camp cuts: pic.twitter.com/F8PkVGYgH1 — Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) September 16, 2018 The first round of cuts typically consists of two groups. One is made up of career AHLers with no real shot at ever making the jump, the other an amalgamation of junior eligible teenagers attending camp simply to get a taste of the organization. That’s basically what the Leafs put forth here. In all, 7 players will be returning to their respective junior teams while 17 others are re-assigned to the Marlies prior to their training camp in roughly a week. Then again, there are some notable takeaways from the list. 2018 second round pick, Sean Durzi, has remained mum as to where the Leafs intend for him to play this season, and his name ends up among the group heading to Marlies camp. If he does indeed spend time in the AHL, Durzi will be fighting for playing time on perhaps the most loaded blueline in the league, similar to the path Timothy Liljegren rode down a year ago. Jesper Lindgren has been loaned to HPK of Finland’s Liiga as well. Lindgren’s return to the finish league has been a widely unkept secret for the entirety of the summer, especially since he still has one year remaining on his contract. Even after spending a brief 4-game stint on the Marlies via a PTO in 2017-18, Lindgren appears to be in line for a featured role on HPK, something he wouldn’t have received in the AHL. Then there’s Mac Hollowell, another 2018 pick, who will attend Marlies camp rather than return to the Sault St. Marie Greyhounds. Hollowell’s game is perhaps the rawest of his two draft compatriots, those being Durzi and first rounder Rasmus Sandin, and yet still seems to be getting a shot at jumping to the pros. Whether he actually sticks is still up for debate, but it’s intriguing nonetheless. Speaking of Sandin, he managed to survive the first round of cuts, which could tell us a number of things. Sandin’s landing spot for 2018-19 is up in the air as well, and his continued presence at Leafs camp only hints further towards his reluctance to return to junior. At this point, the two options appear to be joining the Marlies or returning to the SHL to suit up for Rogle. Either way, there will certainly be more news in the days to come. Thanks for reading!