Comparing last year’s Game 7 Maple Leafs roster to this opening night

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The proof won't be in the DNA pudding yet.

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But 153 days after their Game 7 lineup meekly bowed out of the playoffs against Florida, a series they nearly led 3-0, Wednesday's season opener featured four new Maple Leafs, one significant deletion up front and plenty of talk that this edition will be more battle-tested by the spring.

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General manager Brad Treliving spoke about changing the DNA of a club stuck at two wins in the series. Auston Matthews era, and after a summer of high-profile trades and several profound changes, the new Leafs take on the Montreal Canadiens.

At morning skate, defenseman Oliver Ekman-Larsson said the positives were evident last year but were overshadowed by that 6-1 elimination that left them booed at Scotiabank Arena for the long summer.

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“Our culture and DNA kind of (strengthened) last year, it seemed like we were a hard-working team with skills. But if the talent doesn't work hard enough…

“There are some areas where you can get better and that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Leafs lineup for May 18, Game 7 against Florida:

Forwards

Matthew Nice – Auston Matthews — Mitch Marner

Pontus Holmberg – John Tavares – William Nylander

Bobby McMann – Max Domi – Max Pacioretty

Stephen Lorenz – Scott Lawton – Calle Jarnkrok

Defense

Morgan Rielly – Brandon Carlo

Jake McCabe – Chris Tanev

Simon Benoit-Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Target

Joseph Wall

Anthony Stolarz

Premiere 2025

Forwards

Matthew Nice – Auston Matthews – Matias Maccelli

Bobby McMann – John Tavares – William Nylander

Dakota Joshua – Max Domi – Nick Robertson

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Stephen Lorenz – Nicolas Roy – Calle Jarnkrok

(Lawton on IR)

Defense

Morgan Rielly Brandon Carlo

Jake McCabe Chris Tanev

Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Simon Benoit

Goalkeepers

Anthony Stolarz

Kayden got (Wall on Ir)

Treliving was able to turn Mitch Marner's awkward free agent departure into the acquisition of Nicholas Roy in a Marner deal that was arguably best for both parties. At some point in this camp, Roy centered two newcomers, Dakota Joshua and Matias Maccelli, a mixture of size and scrappiness who had to be shuffled when Scott Laughton was injured a week ago.

“I heard that we are the heaviest team in the league (average weight 210 pounds according to NHL statistics),” Ekman-Larsson added. “I really enjoyed our intense training and we are eager to take the next step.

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“But it takes a while for the new guys to get in the system (newcomers Sammy Blais and goalie Kayden Primeau just arrived).”

Ekman-Larsson's partner, Simon Benoit, often uses the term “brotherhood” when talking about the Leafs' camaraderie.

“This part has been there for me since day one of last year,” OEL said. “We support each other, pick guys up when we need to, and it's also responsibility. That's what makes good teams great. I feel like we have that.”

Coach Craig Berube enters his second year on the bench with a couple advantages: He's already seen the dynamics of the locker room and has had a little more say in personnel matters since Brendan Shanahan's ouster as president.

“The team. There was a lot of talk about it among the guys here, not just me,” Berube said. “They have a tight-knit group now and they truly believe that they need everyone to be successful and that everyone is important. That's a good sign.”

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The Game 7 exit especially irritated Berube because the two-time Panthers Cup champion had achieved what he wanted from the Leafs. At times, stars Matthews and William Nylander have found it just as difficult to turn their game around and improve in the playoffs as it has been for Marner, but both still have another chance to flip the script.

“There’s a lot of talk about this (identity),” Berube said. “The pieces we've added are good, Joshua has great size, he plays with such a heavy style and can score. Roy won the Cup and knows how to win, he's got a great shot through the middle, a right center which we haven't had for a couple of years, and also Macchelli.”

Let's go back to the DNA laboratory.

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