Brad Treliving on the first week of Leafs preseason & training camp: "Two young guys who have caught my eye are Easton Cowan and Ben Danford... Both have acquitted themselves well"

"You can sit here and put it on a piece of paper, and everyone will have an opinion on it, but until you get out on the ice and see who fits with who... Some of it is the job description, too. We all know what the prototypical top-six forward looks like in terms of creating offense, but sometimes, it needs a little bit of a different ingredient,"

"We are not going to get ahead of ourselves and look to the playoffs. It sounds like a motherhood statement, but we are just looking at tomorrow. We have to go through camp and see if there is chemistry with the guys we have right now. That is the process, right? You practice, and you talk. Chief and I talk every day, and we talk with our staff here about different ideas."

The organization is evaluating internal and external options to fill a top-six right-wing role alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. On-ice chemistry and complementary skill sets are primary determinants of any acquisition or promotion. Internal candidates such as Matias Maccelli and returning players like Max Domi are being assessed during camp and preseason. Daily staff discussions are weighing potential fits, roster cost, and role definition, including defensive contributions and forechecking ability. Immediate focus is on camp performance and short-term fit rather than projecting playoff lineups, with decisions guided by practice, preseason games, and staff collaboration.

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