More Roster Cuts On the Way After Maple Leafs Announce Lineup Against Canadiens

As training camp rages on, the Maple Leafs are preparing to take part in their 3rd pre-season game, and judging by the roster for Thursday's game in Montreal, there are more roster cuts on the way.

The Leafs confirmed their roster for tonight's contest via their official PR account on Thursday morning, and it contains a lot of fringe players. The main group contains many bottom six forwards such as Nicolas Roy, Dakota Joshua and former Montreal Canadien Michael Pezzetta.

Matias Maccelli and Bobby McMann, who appear to be vying for top-6 spots, will be leaned on heavily tonight, as will rookie sensation Easton Cowan, who has impressed head coach Craig Berube during camp thus far.

With just 3 pre-season games remaining after tonight, it's a pretty good bet that the team is looking to trim the roster significantly and refine it to get the hopeful NHL roster some time to gel together as the pre-season winds down.

As far as how the lines will look tonight, TSN's Mark Masters shared the line combinations from this morning's line rushes.

Cowan has once again joined Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz -- perhaps a strong indicator that this will be the Leafs' 4th line to open the season if Cowan makes the cut.

The Leafs are 1-0-1 to begin the pre-season, and there appears to be plenty of reason for optimism, with standout performances from the rookie Cowan, Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly as well as rookie goalie Dennis Hildeby, who has impressed veteran defenseman Brandon Carlo and head coach Craig Berube.