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Concerns Mount As Player Leaves Leafs Practice Early While Marner And Matthews Have Surprising New Linemate

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Daniel Lucente
January 13, 2025  (1:39 PM)
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Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews and Chris Tanev celebrate a Toronto Maple Leafs goal
Photo credit: The Hockey News

One of the Leafs' defensemen left practice early today as fans became concerned, while Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner have a shocking new linemate.

Joseph Woll gets the start in goal for the Toronto Maple Leafs tomorrow against the Dallas Stars.

He has been good this season, going 14-7-0 with a .912 save percentage. Dennis Hildeby will remain the backup.

Jake McCabe returns from injury but leaves early again

Jake McCabe returned to practice on Monday before leaving the ice before line rushes began.

McCabe has been out of action since leaving a fight with Philadelphia Flyers' Garnet Hathaway on January 5 with an upper-body injury. He is eligible to return, but he's unlikely to play tonight.

The Toronto Maple Leafs came out of Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Vancouver Canucks and made some significant changes during Monday's practice.

The slumping power play went back to using five forwards up front. Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies were on the first unit.

Morgan Rielly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Bobby McMann, Max Domi, and Nick Robertson made up the second unit.

Head coach Craig Berube made sure to get in some work on the power play formations before the beginning of practice officially got underway.

Steven Lorentz joins Matthews and Marner on top line

The forward lines were juggled, as well. Steven Lorentz was promoted to the first line, joining Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner. Matthew Knies jumped to the second line, with John Tavares and William Nylander.

"I'm not going to lie, I was a little bit nervous at first. Anytime you're playing with guys of that calibre, I'm fortunate, but you got a little bit bigger expectations."

- Steven Lorentz


The rest of the third line was the same: McMann, Domi, and Robertson. Ryan Reaves returned on the fourth line, with Connor Dewar and David Kampf.

This was all required to get Reaves to create some sparks offensively ahead of their matchup against Dallas, one that Leafs fans hope will be a rebound game.

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Concerns Mount As Player Leaves Leafs Practice Early While Marner And Matthews Have Surprising New Linemate

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