Maple Leafs head into the final prep days with a wrench in their bottom six: Scott Laughton is out indefinitely after an exhibition injury, leaving a clear hole and forcing reshuffles around Steven Lorentz and rookie Easton Cowan.

David Kampf was placed on waivers, hinting at a near-term departure to clear cap and depth. Nick Robertson returns for the last preseason game in Detroit, giving him a legitimate shot to earn opening-night minutes. The team must balance opportunity with roster reality as Laughton’s timeline remains unclear.

The Leafs push to define lines as Robertson, Lorentz, and Cowan vie for roles while Laughton’s absence tests depth and the overall early-season plan.

Scott Laughton erupted for two goals and two assists to power the Toronto Maple Leafs to a 7-2 preseason win over the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre. Laughton’s early opener and a later strike helped Toronto surge to a 3-1 lead, with Steven Lorentz delivering a pair of goals andMat Benning and Ryan Tverberg also scoring as the depth of the Leafs came alive. Patrik Laine added a power-play goal, while Dennis Hildeby stopped 11 shots for Toronto. Montreal’s stars were quieter, and the game was notable for multiple Canadiens injuries to the blueline (Kaiden Guhle, Noah Dobson day-to-day; David Reinbacher left early), with an update anticipated Friday. Fantasy takeaway: Laughton’s multi-point night boosts his short-term intrigue, and Toronto’s balanced scoring bodes well for streaming options in deeper leagues, especially if the injury situation in Montreal lingers into the early-season window.

The Leafs leaned on speed and depth, building momentum in the second and third periods as Montreal shuffled lines behind a goaltending split that saw Montembeault and Jacob Fowler share duties. For fantasy managers, keep an eye on Laughton’s line fate and Toronto’s emerging role players—Lorentz, Benning, and Tverberg could offer value in later-September fantasy schedules. On Montreal, the injury news at blue line could alter early-season defensive pairings and minutes, opening small-but-notable opportunities for other defensemen or call-ups if the situation persists.

Steven Lorentz has officially signed a three-year, $4.05 million contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs, carrying an average annual value of $1.35 million. This deal comes after a productive first season with the team, where he achieved a career-high 19 points, including eight goals and 11 assists across 80 games. Lorentz expressed his excitement about continuing his career with the Leafs, emphasizing his desire to contribute to a franchise that has been striving for a Stanley Cup.

Having been drafted by the Carolina Hurricanes in 2015, Lorentz has accrued a total of 62 points in 310 regular-season games. His playoff experience includes contributing to the Panthers’ Stanley Cup run recently. The forward appreciates the winning culture within the Maple Leafs organization and looks forward to the upcoming season with optimism.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded Mitch Marner, a star right winger, to the Vegas Golden Knights, marking the end of his nine-season tenure in Toronto. Marner's new contract is projected at $96 million over eight years, a significant deal for the 28-year-old. In exchange, the Maple Leafs receive center Nicolas Roy, who had a solid season with 15 goals and 31 points last year, alongside crucial salary cap relief of nearly $8 million.

Not only does this trade protect the Leafs from losing Marner to unrestricted free agency for nothing, but it also allows them to bolster their roster moving forward. Marner finishes his time in Toronto ranked fifth in all-time scoring with 741 points, having formed a dynamic duo with Auston Matthews. However, despite this success, the Leafs still seek their elusive Stanley Cup title, last won in 1967. Meanwhile, the Golden Knights aim to maximize their current roster as they look forward to defending their recent championship.