Leafs lineup news: Villeneuve expected to make NHL debut vs. Panthers, Woll projected to start
“He’s a skilled guy. He skates very well and he moves puck. Offensive, more than the other side of it. We’ll see how it goes,” Berube said of Villeneuve.
“It’s pretty special, especially in Toronto. When I look back, I got into the organization in 2020 and been playing here for four years so I feel pretty grateful and pretty lucky to be here today and I’m excited for the opportunity,” Villeneuve said Saturday.
Luke Haymes will remain in the lineup as the third-line centre. Haymes made his NHL debut on Thursday and was one of the team’s best players, recording his first NHL point on Morgan Rielly’s third-period goal.
“He had an opportunity to score and hit the post. He got an assist. I was happy with his play tonight, too. He handled himself well,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Haymes, following Thursday’s game.
Joseph Woll is projected to start Saturday’s game. Artur Akhtyamov made his NHL debut Thursday, and could be a potential option for Monday’s game. It appears unlikely that Anthony Stolarz will rejoin the team for the final two games of the year, after suffering an injury during Wednesday’s game against the Washington Capitals.
Maple Leafs’ projected lineup vs. Panthers
Matias Maccelli-John Tavares-William Nylander
Easton Cowan-Max Domi-Matthew Knies
Steven Lorentz-Luke Haymes-Nick Robertson
Michael Pezzetta-Jacob Quillan-Calle Jarnkrok
Morgan Rielly-Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Jake McCabe-Troy Stecher
Simon Benoit-William Villeneuve
Joseph Woll
Artur Akhtyamov