Maple Leafs Confirm Lineup Versus Predators: One Key Change Made By Berube

While rookie Easton Cowan added much-needed speed and creativity to the top line on Monday, helping Toronto look more dangerous with the puck, the scoreboard didn't reflect the improvement.

The Leafs moved better, but finishing chances and keeping them out at the other end in the most crucial moments remain a concern as they outshot the Red Wings 40 to 15 and still lost by a score of 3-2.

Head coach Craig Berube is making a change between the pipes on Tuesday, turning to Cayden Primeau against the Nashville Predators.

The 26-year-old goaltender, claimed off waivers from Carolina at the end of training camp, will make his Maple Leafs debut after Anthony Stolarz
started the first stretch of games.

Primeau spent six seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, where he posted a career .884 save percentage across 55 NHL appearances. While those numbers aren't necessarily how the Leafs want him to perform, Toronto hopes their more structured defensive aware system can help boost his performance and his confidence.

Primeau's best stretch came in the 2023-24 season, when he posted a .910 save percentage over 23 games with Montreal. If the Leafs can get anything close to that level of consistency, they may have found a real winner on the waiver wire.

With just over $22,000 in cap space, Primeau's $775,000 contract fits perfectly into Toronto's tight current financial picture, making him a low-risk, high-reward addition while Joseph Woll recovers from injury.

But aside from the goaltending switch, the Maple Leafs aren't making any other lineup adjustments tonight, and that's likely for the best.

The team looked more cohesive and energetic against Detroit than in previous outings, and Berube appears to be betting that another night of chemistry and effort could finally produce results.

Toronto's showing against Detroit yesterday proved they can skate, create, and compete, but moral victories won't cut it for long. With Cayden Primeau stepping in and Easton Cowan continuing to inject energy, tonight's game against Nashville gives the Leafs a chance to finally turn progress into points.