Toronto Maple Leafs: Surprise Additions as 64-Man Training Camp Roster is Announced

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Toronto Maple Leafs invite Brady Vail, Spencer Machacek, and Stefan Della Rovere to training camp on tryouts

Late Wednesday, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced their 2014-2015 training camp roster.

In detail, here’s the roster, including 19 players who just played in the Leafs Rookie Tournament:

NAMEPOSITION
SPENCER ABBOTTF
CARTER ASHTONF
TYLER BIGGSF
TROY BODIEF
DAVID BOOTHF
TYLER BOZAKF
DAVID BROLLF
CONNOR BROWNF
SAM CARRICKF
DAVID CLARKSONF
STEFAN DELLA ROVEREF
JAMIE DEVANEF
BRETT FINDLAYF
MATT FRATTINF
FREDERIK GAUTHIERF
PETER HOLLANDF
NAZEM KADRIF
PHIL KESSELF
LEO KOMAROVF
PETRI KONTIOLAF
BRANDON KOZUNF
JOSH LEIVOF
JOFFREY LUPULF
SPENCER MACHACEKF
GREG MCKEGGF
FRAZER MCLARENF
CARSON MCMILLANF
WILLIAM NYLANDERF
COLTON ORRF
BRAD ROSSF
MATT RUPERTF
RYAN RUPERTF
MIKE SANTORELLIF
TREVOR SMITHF
JAMES VAN RIEMSDYKF
CARTER VERHAEGHEF
FRANCIS WATHIERF
PATRICK WATLINGF
DANIEL WINNIKF
BRADY VAILF
CODY DONAGHEYD
MATT FINND
CODY FRANSOND
JAKE GARDINERD
PETTER GRANBERGD
KORBINIAN HOLZERD
ERIC KNODELD
VIKTOR LOOVD
ANDREW MACWILLIAMD
KEVIN MARSHALLD
BRENDAN MIKKELSOND
TOM NILSSOND
STUART PERCYD
DION PHANEUFD
ROMAN POLAKD
MORGAN RIELLYD
STEPHANE ROBIDASD
HENRIK TALLINDERD
JONATHAN BERNIERG
ANTOINE BIBEAUG
CHRISTOPHER GIBSONG
CAL HEETERG
JAMES REIMERG
GARRET SPARKSG

Mar 16, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; The entrance to the Toronto Maple Leafs dressing room prior to a game against the Winnipeg Jets at the Air Canada Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

*roster courtesy of Toronto Maple Leafs website

In addition to the pro tryouts for Cal Heeter (discussed here), Brendan Mikkelson (discussed here), and Henrik Tallinder (here), three forwards on tryouts are worth monitoring.

Let’s take a quick look at each.

Brady Vail

Vail posted 83 points in 67 games for the Windsor Spitfires and was voted the OHL’s best defensive forward as well. The former Montreal Canadiens fourth round pick also caused some buzz in the Hurricanes prospect development camp and appears to have a shot at the third line centre job for the Marlies.

Spencer Machacek

During the past three years, Machacek hasn’t escaped the AHL. Between St. John’s, Springfield, and Wilkes-Barre, he posted 122 pts in 192 GP – a .64 ppg. Hockey’s Future described the utility winger this way:

"“Machacek is the prototypical, two-way winger with the size and strength to cause opponents problems in their own end. At the same time, he plays a responsible game in his own end of the ice.”– Hockey’s Future description of Spencer Machacek"

Destined for the Toronto Marlies, the 26 year-old energy forward may see time with the Leafs if a rash of injuries strike but he’s a low ceiling plugger.

Stefan Della Rovere

Della Rovere has spent time in the St. Louis Blues system, not really doing much of anything. Check for yourself. But, the 24 year-old’s description on Hockey’s Future is interesting to note.

Here it is, in full:

"“Della Rovere will score goals, but he’s best known for his chippy, bordering on dirty, play.  At the NHL level, he’d likely be a fourth-liner.”– Hockey’s Future on Stefan Della Rovere’s “truculence”"

Interesting stuff. Della Rovere sounds like the type of skater that Brian Burke might have been proud to bring in when he was GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This young, “chippy” forward has a good deal of AHL experience and may find a spot at the bottom of the depth chart in the AHL.

What do you think, Leafs fans? Could any of these skaters make some noise in training camp with the Toronto Maple Leafs this week?