For the latest Leafs updates or Follow @mikeinbuffalo on Twitter With just a few days remaining to make final roster decisions, the Toronto Maple Leafs take on the Detroit Red Wings in their final home exhibition game at Scotiabank Arena on Friday. The Leafs will make only a few changes in the lineup they dressed in Montreal on Wednesday, as injured players Travis Dermott and Frederik Gauthier return after missing most of the preseason. Dermott, who missed the last 10 days with a shoulder injury, will partner with Igor Ozhiganov on the bottom pairing, while Gauthier will play the wing on the fourth line with Par Lindholm and Andreas Johnsson. Kasperi Kapanen is being moved up in the lineup, replacing the injured Zach Hyman on a line with John Tavares and Mitch Marner and Frederik Andersen will get the start in his second straight game. Defenseman Connor Carrick has been skating with the group made up mostly of players expected to be bound for the Toronto Marlies this week and many feel that he has lost his spot to Ozhiganov or Calle Rosen. According to David Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, Carrick is not in the Leafs top six plans and they are actively shopping the blueliner. The 24-year-old signed a one-year, $1.3 Million contract this summer after scoring 12 points (4 goals, 8 assists) in 47 games, but the need for size or more offense on defense with the departure of Roman Polak has made candidates Ozhiganov, Calle Rosen and Justin Holl better NHL options. *******
The lineup configuration that Babcock decides to start the season with may have an effect of what players get sent down or placed on waivers this weekend or early next week. There are three possible options for the 23-man roster: the traditional 13 forwards, eight defensemen and two goaltenders, 14 forwards, seven defensemen and two goalies or 13 forwards, seven defensemen and three goalies. 13-8-2 means that Babcock has decided to keep blueliners Calle Rosen and Justin Holl(who requires clearing waivers to go down to the AHL) on the roster and only one extra forward, which could once again be Josh Leivo. 14-7-2 could be the breakdown if William Nylander signs his contract before next Wednesday, which likely means that Holl or Rosen (who is waiver exempt) would be sent down to make space. 13-7-3 would be only implemented if GM Kyle Dubas is fearful that goaltender Garret Sparks will not clear waivers or he is unable to trade the Calder Cup winner in the next few days. It is likely that the 25-year-old will be claimed by another NHL club if Toronto tries to send him down, but barring a completely disastrous outing by Curtis McElhinney on Saturday, the veteran has significantly outplayed Sparks in training camp.
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