Forward Josh Leivo stuck on the bubble at Maple Leafs’ training camp
TORONTO — Forward Josh Leivo is trying to crack the Maple Leafs opening-night lineup out of training camp for the third time, and it’s not getting any easier.
The 24-year-old made the Leafs’ roster last fall for the first time, but was a healthy scratch on opening night and didn’t dress until Dec. 19. The signing of winger Matt Martin in the summer along with some emerging rookies pushed him to the press box.
This off-season the Leafs added another veteran winger in Patrick Marleau and it’s stacked the odds against Leivo even more to be on the ice Oct. 4 when Toronto opens its season in Winnipeg against the Jets.
“There’s no breathing room for positions, it’s definitely the hardest camp I’ve been at,” Leivo said on Friday after practice. “Hopefully I can crack a spot.”