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The Toronto Maple Leafs do not have many decisions to make based on what happens in their eight preseason games, as their roster appears fairly set. The only question is what magical acts Brandon Pridham will be able to perform to get under the salary before October 11.
In between now and then, the main information to be gathered is which of the young prospects look promising and bear watching either in the minors or in junior hockey this upcoming season.
In the 4-3 overtime loss to the Ottawa Senators, the star of the night for the Leafs was 2023 top pick Easton Cowan, who drew a penalty shot in the first period with his speed, scored the first Toronto goal on the power play, and assisted on Joseph Blandisi’s goal late in the first to narrow the lead to 3-2.
Head coach Sheldon Keefe said after the game that he was impressed with the 18-year-old’s performance and that he has earned a longer look.
Mitch Marner tied the game with 4.9 seconds remaining on with Martin Jones pulled for the extra attacker, but Jakob Chychrun scored in OT to give the Sens their second straight victory over their provincial rival.
Joseph Woll surrendered three goals on 22 shots, all three in the first period, but did not have much of a chance on any of the goals. Jones lone goal was Chychrun’s OT winner, stopping 16 of 17 shots on the night.
Tyler Bertuzzi seemed to struggle early on getting on the same wavelength with new linemates Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, and the first power play appeared out of sync at times with new quarterback John Klingberg, but the former Dallas Star had eight shots on goal and assisted on Marner’s tying goal.
The club shifted to two practice groups on Tuesday, with one group closely resembling what is likely their NHL lineup and the other more or less their Marlies grouping.
The Bertuzzi-Matthews-Marner unit remained intact, with rookie Matthew Knies skating with John Tavares and Sam Lafferty, Max Domi was partnered with William Nylander and Nick Robertson, and PTO candidate Noah Gregor slotted in with David Kampf and Ryan Reaves. Cowan also skated with this group and is slated to play tomorrow in the Kraft Hockeyville game against Buffalo near London, ON where the Leafs top pick plays junior hockey.
Forward Calle Jarnkrok was held out of workouts on Tuesday after tweaking something in practice on Monday and is listed as day-to-day.
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • 
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