LRT has assembled the most likely roster going into the 2009-2010 NHL season based on the players that are currently under contract with the team or are restricted free agents (RFAs) at the end of the 2008-2009 season.

This roster outlook will not include any player or players currently on the Leafs that are impending unrestricted free agents. Furthermore, you will not see any players that are rumored to be acquired via trades or signings in this lineup until such players are officially members of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Line combinations are based on player experience, roles, expected progress and estimated potential. In order to make a line up that would be able to take the ice next season some forwards may be playing out of their natural position.

This line up will be updated regularly throughout the season and off season as new players are acquired and old players move on.

The intent of this visual representation of the prospective 2009-2010 23 man roster is to give Leaf fans a clear look at what their team will look like heading into the next year of the rebuild process. This should help keep the average Leaf fan more informed about what positions have depth and what ones are lacking. As a result Leaf fans should be able to better gage what the needs of the team are heading into the draft and free agent season this summer.

Youth, youth and more youth will be the theme of the rebuilding Toronto MAple Leafs next season. The first thing one will notice is that Mikhail Grabovski and Nikolai Kulemin are on the top line, a change from the 3rd line spots they occupied at the start of the 2008-2009 season. Also of note, Matt Stajan has move back to his more familiar bottom 6 forward role despite his career year in 08/09. Also, Jiri Tlusty is now expected to stick with the club and provide some offense on the second line in what will be his official rookie campaign. And finally, the 4th line is no longer occupied by the likes of Brad May and Jamal Mayers, instead clearing the way for a younger forward in QMJHL graduate Chris DiDomenico. Newly acquired free agent college centres Christian Hanson and Tyler Bozak find themselves on the 3rd and second lines respectively to start the season and may move up or down depending on how they adjust to the NHL game. Meanwhile, Marlie standout Jeremy Williams and veteran winger Jamal Mayers look like they may see press box duty. At this point the blueline remains virtually identical, however that may well change if some off season moves take place.

Overall the 2009-2010 lineup in it's current state would be one of youth, speed and skill up front and a mostly veteran group on the back end. Toskala will be coming off surgery and will hopefully return to the form he showed in 2007-2008. Backing him up, for now at least, is the only other goalie that is not a UFA at season's end, Justin Pogge. The glaring deficiency of the team as it stands now is, as it was in the 2008-2009 season, a lack of size, grit and physical players up front. That being said, as the off season pushes forward LRT expects to see Brian Burke address that issue.