Maple Leafs Announce Trio of Healthy Scratches for 2025-26 Home Opener

The Maple Leafs are coming into the 2025-26 season with a lot of additional roster flexibility and many more options than they had available to them at the start of last season.

This season, the Leafs are able to carry a full roster of 23 players, which means that the decisions are more difficult than ever, with 3 players needing to sit out as healthy scratches.

On Wednesday, the Leafs confirmed that Anthony Stolarz would get the start, which was always the expectation, and that Cayden Primeau would back him up on opening night.

However, what wasn't known was who the Leafs would opt to assign to the press box for the season opener. Thanks to David Alter of The Hockey News, we have our answer. Per Alter, the Leafs have scratched Philippe Myers, Sammy Blais and rookie Easton Cowan.

The decision to put Cowan in the press box is certainly going to be an unpopular decision, especially after Leafs GM Brad Treliving had stated on Tuesday that if Cowan did make it back up to the NHL roster for the season opener, it would be to play, as he does not want the rookie forward sitting.

The Leafs' 2023 1st round pick produced 29 goals and 69 points in 46 games played last season with the London Knights before popping off in the post-season, notching 13 goals and 39 points in just 17 playoff games.

Seeing Blais on the sidelines tonight was a bit of a surprise as well, after Leafs coach Craig Berube gave Blais a glowing review on Tuesday following practice.

The decision to scratch Blais can probably be chalked up to the newly-acquired forward not having time to get many reps in with the team since he was claimed off of waivers on Monday. Understandable, if that's the case.

Philippe Myers, being the 7th defenseman, was always viewed as a likely potential scratch, so no surprises there.