Leafs Name Opening Night Roster: Stalberg and Rosehill in Kulemin, Bozak, and Tlusty out.

It appears that Toronto Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson is set on who will start in the regular season opener on Thursday.

As promised, the door was open for some of the younger players to go out and steal jobs, which is exactly what Viktor Stalberg has done this preseason. After leading the team with six preseason goals, the rookie will lineup Thursday on the top unit with Matt Stajan and Jason Blake

"I obviously took someone's spot. They'll want to take that back soon so it's going to be a battle all season," Stralberg said. "If I want to stay up here I'm going to keep working the way I have been the last couple of weeks."

The odd men out at this point are Nicolai Kulimen and Jiri Tlusty. Both came into camp with jobs to lose and, at least for now, have lost them.

"They haven't earned a spot," Wilson said of the pair. "Other people have played ahead of them. We've got plenty of veterans up front. You look at what Stalberg has done is knock Kulimen off one of the top two lines."

Another guy who fell just short of making the team is Tyler Bozak. While he did open a lot of eyes during camp, there's simply not enough room for him to begin the season with the big club, leaving Wilson with few options

"He'll probably have to go down because of numbers. Based on the way played in training camp he's certainly worthy of playing in the NHL but we may not have room at the beginning."

Bozak had to know the writing was on the wall when practice began and he saw he wasn't skating on any of the top four lines, but the 23-year-old took the news in stride.

"You'd love to be playing Thursday night and you'd love to be on one of those lines," Bozak explained. "But like they've said anytime you can get called back up and be in the lineup so just take it day by day and hopefully get in as soon as possible."

Bozak, along with the rest of players who won't suit up Thursday, had better keep ready because the coach won't hesitate to shake thngs up if the guys on the big club don't perform out of the gate.

NOTES: Mike Komisarek (hamstring) didn't skate Tuesday but does expect to play Thursday ... Jeff Finger (oblique) and Jamal Mayers (suspected concussion) both practiced bit neither is expected in Thursdays lineup ... Joey Macdonald has been placed on waivers

Here's how the Leafs lineup should look Thursday night:

Forwards:

Blake-Stajan-Stalberg

Grabovski-Hagman-Ponikarovski

Rosehill-Primeau-Orr

Wallin-Stepniak-Mitchell

Defence:

Beauchimen-Schenn

Kaberle-Komisarek

White -Exelby

In net:

Toskala

Gustavsson

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Courtesy Rogers Sportsnet

Gustavsson Will Get A Period

Jonas Gustavsson will not have to wait long tonight to make his NHL debut.

Before departing for Detroit Friday afternoon, Maple Leafs coach Ron Wilson said the young goaltender will be his starter against the Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena.

“There is no point having him sit on the bench, have him get cold, then put him out there (later in the game),” Wilson said. “The plan is for one period. If he doesn’t face a lot of shots, maybe will leave him in for 30 minutes.”

Wilson, like many Leaf fans, is anxious to see Gustavsson play in a game situation, although he is not putting too much pressure on the young goalie.

“It’s not like if he struggles tonight, we’re going to ship him back to Sweden,” Wilson said.

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Courtesy Canoe.Ca

DONE DEAL!!! Kessel to Leafs all but done?

According to sources and TSN the Maple Leafs and Bruins have agreed to a deal that would send Kessel to the Leafs........................PENDING Kessel signs a contract with Buds (Come on who thinks he won't?)

I will have more later on the return I have also been told the Leafs are getting another F from the B's stay tuned.

UPDATE: Done deal folks steep price but IMO well worth it for a 21 year old premier center

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Leafs and Bruins Close

According to Darren Dreger the Leafs are close to acquiring 21 year old F Phil Kessel from the Boston Bruins, I did some checking with my sources and they have all confirmed to me that if the Leafs are to make a deal it would be for a "HIGH" 2010 pick and a forward...........Don't ask I don't have any names for you.

I will keep everyone posted.

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Leafs Poised to Make a Move?

With last nights re-acquisition of Toronto's 2nd round pick in 2010, the Leafs seemed poised to make a run at an RFA of there choice. The real question is who is it.........

There are 3 that would be on my list if I were Burke

1.)Brandon Dubinsky
2.)Drew Stafford
3.)Phil Kessel

The Leafs have cap space to offer anyone of these players a long term deal the question is would and of the 3 teams that own the rights match with the 10/11 season looking so blank in terms of the economy.

I have it from a VERY reliable source that the Leafs are targeting Kessel, my question to you is, is he the smartest choice?

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