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Five Players Likely to be Placed on Waivers by the Maple Leafs Today


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Julien Trekker
October 8, 2023  (11:47)
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Deadline in the NHL: Multiple Announcements Incoming

The deadline for roster cuts has arrived for the Maple Leafs, and today promises a lot of moves, including players being placed on waivers. Among the team's options, five players stand out as potential waiver candidates.
Hockey expert James Mirtle's assessment is straightforward: with 27 players still on the roster, the Leafs are going to make multiple cuts. Additionally, the emergence of Fraser Minten may necessitate further adjustments.
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Five Players to Watch on the Waiver Wire in Toronto

Today could see the following five players being placed on waivers:
The options are, in no particular order:

1. Martin Jones. There's been some noise made about carrying three goalies from the media at camp, but with the Leafs' cap situation the way it is, it feels highly impractical. Barring a last-minute injury, Jones should be waiver-bound. The Leafs will have to cross their fingers that the Lightning go another direction and he clears.

2. Bobby McMann. He's been hurt for much of camp, which is a tough break given that I feel like his style of game is going to have converts with the new-look front office. Can they sneak McMann through waivers after he piled up 21 goals in 30 games in the AHL last season? If I'm a rebuilding team like the Sharks, I take a flier on him just for the energy boost. Plus, he's the rare player whose cap hit is actually less than the league minimum because of how the contract is structured.

3. Simon Benoit. The big, physical defender didn't do himself many favours with a penalty-filled game on Thursday. If the Leafs want to carry seven defencemen — and it would make sense given Mark Giordano's vintage — Benoit feels like the next man up.

4. Noah Gregor. Sign him to waive him? Stranger things have happened. Gregor has impressed with his speed, and Toronto could use a few more PK converts. I still think Gregor is in the Leafs' plans, but with Minten impressing, that could be enough to turn the PTO into a PTNo.

5. Sam Lafferty. A week ago, this felt like a long shot, especially given his audition on John Tavares' wing
It's likely that only Jones will be claimed off waivers, while the others will join the Marlies to bolster their chances in the Calder Cup competition. The Leafs are currently looking more solid than they have in quite some time.

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