3 Maple Leafs that won't be on the team by November

"With the Toronto Maple Leafs struggling to start the 2025-26 NHL season, they will need to find a way to turn things around soon before it's too late. Whether it be tinkering with the everyday lineup, promoting or demoting players, or even potentially making external moves to make the team better, the Leafs definitely need to try something to get them out of their funk. As a result, which Maple Leafs players could see their hold on a roster spot in jeopardy in the coming weeks? Let's take a look at three candidates that likely won't survive the roster by November."

"In the aftermath of Joseph Woll's leave of absence prior to the start of the 2025-26 regular season, the Leafs went out to claim Cayden Primeau off of waivers from the Carolina Hurricanes to serve as the de-facto backup to starter Anthony Stolarz to begin the year. To date, Primeau has only appeared in only one game for Toronto in which he gave up four goals on 30 shots in a 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators on October 14."

"The fact that the 26-year-old goalie has only seen action in one of the eight Leafs games to date clearly showed that he wasn't a 1B option to Stolarz but instead just a stop-gap solution until Woll's eventual return. Now that Woll has finally rejoined the team to resume activities with Toronto after dealing with his personal matter, it won't be long before he takes back the crease and push Primeau out of an NHL roster spot and eventually head back down to the Marlies to act as goaltending depth for the Maple Leafs going forward if he manages to clear waivers."

Toronto started the 2025-26 season poorly and must pursue lineup tweaks, promotions, demotions or external moves to improve results. Joseph Woll took a leave before the regular season and the Leafs claimed Cayden Primeau off waivers from Carolina to serve as Anthony Stolarz’s backup. Primeau has appeared in only one of eight games, allowing four goals on 30 shots in a 7-4 win over Nashville, indicating he is a stop-gap rather than a true 1B option. Woll has rejoined team activities and is expected to reclaim the crease, likely sending Primeau back to the Marlies if he clears waivers. Easton Cowan, a 20-year-old prospect, made his NHL debut after back-to-back strong junior seasons and a promising training camp and has remained with the club since the opener.

Read at Editor In Leaf