With veteran centre Scott Laughton out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, the Toronto Maple Leafs are moving Max Domi to the middle.
“Well, I lost a centre,” coach Craig Berube explained. “I need a centre. But, at the same time, it gives us depth in our lines. Moving Max into that third hole gives us more depth in our lines.”
Known for his playmaking ability, Domi spent much of last season playing centre.
“He has the ability to have the puck in his hands more and skating rather than on the wing,” Berube noted. “I think he runs his routes good in the middle of the ice, gets the puck in the middle of the ice and can make things happen. And defensively, I think he’s been fine. He knows where to be and what to do, and that’s important, obviously, on the defensive side of things.”
Lines at Leafs practice
Non-playing group
Knies – Matthews – Maccelli
McMann – Tavares – Nylander
Joshua – Domi – Kampf
Lorentz – Roy – Groulx
McCabe – Tanev
Rielly – Carlo
Ekman-Larsson – Danford
Smith – Villeneuve
Stolarz
Peksa@TSN_Sports
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) October 4, 2025
Defensive-minded centre David Kampf had filled in for Laughton at Friday’s practice, but was placed on waivers after the workout and cleared on Saturday. Kampf skated as a placeholder on the wing beside Domi and Dakota Joshua at Saturday’s practice.
“This guy’s a good NHL player,” Berube said. “He’s been in the league. Respectable guy, well-liked here in the locker room. It’s a business thing.”
Kampf was a healthy scratch in 12 of 13 playoff games last spring and had been skating on the fifth line throughout training camp.
David Kämpf (TOR) cleared waivers and is now eligible to be sent to the AHL.
— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) October 4, 2025
Nicolas Roy moved to the spot vacated by Laughton at Saturday’s practice, skating beside Steven Lorentz and placeholder Benoit-Olivier Groulx. Acquired in the Mitch Marner sign and trade, Roy is expected to soak up some tough matchups and defensive-zone starts this season.
Two of Nick Robertson, Easton Cowan and Calle Jarnkrok will likely take those placeholder spots. All three of those forwards skated in the game group on Saturday morning.
Cowan had been skating with Laughton and Lorentz throughout training camp, while Jarnkrok had been mostly on the fifth line with Robertson.
In wake of Laughton injury, Leafs move Domi to centre With Scott Laughton out week-to-week with a lower-body injury, the Leafs moved Max Domi back to centre to help fill the gap in centre depth. Head coach Craig Berube shares what he likes about having Domi at centre, and Matthew Knies discusses the hole it creates in the lineup having Laughton out with an injury.
Domi had been skating on the top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. Now, it’s newcomer Matias Maccelli who will get that plum assignment.
“Has a heck of a shot, a heck of a pass,” Knies said of Maccelli. “Can sauce it like no one else. And, yeah, he’s a good player. He’s going to help us a lot.”
Maccelli, who was acquired from the Utah Mammoth in July, picked up an assist in his one and only game on a line with Matthews and Knies in the pre-season. Berube labelled Maccelli’s performance in that spot as “fine.”
“It’s been one game,” Maccelli said. “But obviously it feels better every day. You know, it’s just building it.”
Maccelli had been skating on the third line with Joshua and Roy.
The second line of of John Tavares between Bobby McMann and William Nylander is remaining together.
‘Can sauce it like no one else’: Maccelli back on Leafs top line Matias Maccelli discusses being back on the Leafs top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, and building chemistry with them. Knies discusses what the chemistry is like with Maccelli and what he’s learned about him in camp.
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Robertson agrees that this feels like Groundhog Day. Once again the 5-foot-9 winger is on the bubble as training camp winds down. He’ll be in the lineup on Saturday night in Detroit alongside a group of players destined to start in the American Hockey League.
“It’s something I’ve dealt with before,” the 24-year-old said. “I mean, obviously, you want to be playing more, and you want to be in that consistent lineup, but it is what it is. I mean, again, season starts [in] about a week and anything can change, so you just got to be confident and play well.”
How does he feel about his training camp so far?
“It’s been all right,” he said. “I mean, just trying to do the best I can. Obviously part of the pre-season games is to get back into it, and I want to finish off strong here.”
Robertson was a healthy scratch in 10 of 13 playoff games last spring.
“He’s part of this team and he’s a big part of this team,” Berube assured. “And that never was not said or anything. Like, he’s in here, we know what he can do. You know, Nick’s got speed, he’s tenacious, plays hard, and he can shoot a puck in the net. So, you know, I thought he had a good camp. I really did.”
Robertson always gets up for the games in Detroit. He grew up in nearby Northville, Mich. and will have a handful of family, including his in-laws, in attendance on Saturday.
Robertson scored both goals in Toronto’s 2-0 pre-season win in Detroit last year. He also scored in his lone game in Detroit during the regular season.
Robertson embraces uncertainty ahead of Leafs pre-season finale With one game left in the Leafs preseason, Nick Robertson is embracing the uncertainty as he looks to make an impression to make the final roster. He discusses his camp overall, and the outlook for tonight as he heads to Detroit for what feels like a “homecoming” game.
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For the fifth time in six pre-season games, Cowan will be in the lineup on Saturday.
“Just really excited for tonight,” he said. “A bit of a younger group going there but, you know, we’re hard workers. We got skill and we’re ready to play.
The 20-year-old is looking to make a strong closing statement in his bid to crack the opening-night roster.
“I’m getting an opportunity higher up in the lineup, on the power play, so just looking to capitalize on my chances and keep creating some opportunities, but still having some good defence along the way,” he said.
Berube has consistently praised Cowan throughout camp and says he’s looking for “more of the same” from him on Saturday night.
“He’s done a great job,” Knies said. “I wasn’t surprised because I think he had a good summer. I could tell he got a lot stronger, a lot faster. He looks a lot more mature of a player. So, yeah, he’s been having a great camp, and I think he deserves the attention he’s getting and the chance to be in the opening night lineup.”
Cowan is eager to face fellow London Knights alumnus Patrick Kane, who will be in the Red Wings’ lineup on Saturday. Cowan also played against Kane during the pre-season last year.
“Pretty cool,” he recalled. “I mean you’re warming up and you look over and he’s over there warming up too, so definitely really cool, especially, you know what he’s done in the league and what kind of player he is.”
What’s the best story Cowan heard about Kane’s season in London?
“I just heard whenever he got off the bus there was a crowd of people waiting for him to sign stuff,” Cowan said. “And obviously he lit up the OHL with the Knights.”
Pushing hard for Leafs job, Cowan aims to cash in on opportunity up the lineup The Leafs’ final preseason game against the Red Wings Saturday night is Easton Cowan’s final chance to make an impression on the coaches to secure a roster spot. He discusses his camp overall and getting to face Patrick Kane tonight.
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Dennis Hildeby and James Reimer will split Saturday’s game. It will be the first exhibition outing for Reimer since he signed a professional tryout last week.
Reimer spent the first six seasons of his NHL career in Toronto. He last played for the Leafs on Feb. 23, 2016.
“I never imagined I’d be back and so this week has been a lot of fun and it’ll be fun to be part of this team again tonight,” the 37-year-old.
Defenceman Morgan Rielly is the only Leafs player that Reimer suited up alongside during his first tenure with the team, but some of the support staff remains.
“It’s kind of fun with some of the trainers that were still here to talk about the old days,” Reimer said. “And kind of the culture we had back then and some of the stuff and the antics that were going on. So it was fun to reminisce with the old guys.”
Reimer doesn’t remember the last game he played for the Leafs, but he does remember being traded to the San Jose Sharks a few days later.
“A weird feeling,” he said. “I definitely remember that day. I think anyone will say that when you get traded. Such an odd feeling because, you know, it’s the team you’ve been a part of, especially for me for a long time, and all of a sudden it’s just like you’re not part of that team.”
The Leafs brought in Reimer after Joseph Woll left the team to attend to a family matter. There is no timeline for Woll’s return.
Reimer makes Leafs debut 2.0 as back-up battle heats up James Reimer discusses what it’s been like to be back with the Leafs’ during training camp, what the last week has been like, and shares his memories from the end of his previous Leafs tenure. Reimer also shares his impression of Dennis Hildeby.
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Hildeby and Reimer are competing to be the back-up to Anthony Stolarz. The 6-foot-7 Hildeby considers the 6-foot-6 Stolarz to be a role model as he aims to take a step in his career.
“I think just for him it’s the confidence,” Stolarz said. “Obviously playing some games last year and then coming into camp this year, he looks a lot more composed. He just looks a lot crisper, and he looks like a more confident goalie.”
Hildeby got into six games with the Leafs last season, posting an .878 save percentage.
Hildeby has made two appearances in the pre-season with a sparkling .944 save percentage.
Stolarz feels that attending the team-bonding trip earlier this week in Muskoka will help Hildeby, who’s shy by nature.
“It’s also nice that we have quite a bit of Euros on the team, a couple of Swedes to kind of help ease that transition for him,” Stolarz added. “You can definitely see he’s getting a lot more comfortable around us, which is nice.”
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Lines at Leafs practice:
Knies – Matthews – Maccelli
McMann – Tavares – Nylander
Joshua – Domi – Kampf
Lorentz – Roy – Groulx
McCabe – Tanev
Rielly – Carlo
Ekman-Larsson – Danford
Smith – Villeneuve
Stolarz
Peksa
Lines at Leafs morning skate:
Robertson – Haymes – Jarnkrok
Lettieri – Quillan – Cowan
Barbolini – Shaw – A.Nylander
Pezzetta – Pare – Boyd
Benoit – Mermis
Thrun – Myers
Webber – Benning
Hildeby starts
Reimer