Leafs practice notes: Cowan joins Roy, McMann, Woll projected to start vs. Senators
“These are decisions I make as a coach. I don’t believe his development is being hurt,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of his decision to keep Cowan out of the lineup, prior to Thursday’s loss to the Florida Panthers. “I believe he has improved this year as the year has gone along. He still has the swagger that is needed. He is a confident kid. In saying that, he has to get in there and play. That is our job: to get him in there at some point.”
Dakota Joshua will join Scott Laughton and Nick Robertson on a new-look fourth line. Joshua returned to the lineup during Thursday’s loss to the Panthers, after recovering from a lacerated kidney, which kept him out of the lineup since late December.
Toronto is looking to keep its minuscule playoff odds alive, after losing consecutive games to Tampa Bay and Florida this week. It could be the last look at this iteration as we know it, with the Maple Leafs expected to be sellers at the upcoming NHL trade deadline.
Maple Leafs’ projected lineup vs. Senators
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Max Domi
Matias Maccelli-John Tavares-William Nylander
Easton Cowan-Nicolas Roy-Bobby McMann
Dakota Joshua-Scott Laughton-Nick Robertson
Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo
Jake McCabe-Troy Stecher
Simon Benoit-Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Joseph Woll (projected starter)
Anthony Stolarz