The Maple Leafs outrageously cut over 20 players from camp today

With the Maple Leafs preparing for Thursday's preseason game, the team announced another absolutely massive round of cuts, by reassigning 21 players to the AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. This is a good indication that the team wants to hone in on its final lineups with the season not too far away.

Among the more notable names, forward Nick Abruzzese has been waived with the intention of assigning him to the Marlies. Fellow forwards Matthew Barbolini, Jacob Frasca, and Ty Voit join him, with the likes of Matt Anderson, Rhett Parsons, and Vyacheslav Peksa on the back end and in goal. Many, including Abruzzese, have to clear through waivers, while others like Voit and Peksa do not, allowing them to move freely around. It will be interesting to see if there are any takers on these Leafs players that will be on waivers for 24 hours.

Some younger stars, including goaltender Dennis Hildeby, have been reassigned without the need for waivers. Hildeby had a very encouraging camp and looks ready to at least contribute at the AHL level before forcing his way onto an NHL roster one day. Joining him as waiver-exempt pieces of the future are the prospects Braden Kressler and William Villeneuve.

The team has turned their attention to Thursday's preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings, where young forwards Easton Cowan, Nikita Grebenkin, and Steven Lorentz will compete for an opening-day roster spot. These final two preseason games against the Red Wings, which wrap up Toronto's six-game preseason schedule, have significant implications for bubble players. The end of this home-and-home set will without a doubt result in further clarity with respect to the final roster.

With the Leafs' regular-season opener going on October 9 at the Bell Centre against the Montreal Canadiens, they will need to settle on a line-up soon. As the cuts continue to come, the Leafs will be paying more attention to Easton Cowan, Nikita Grebenkin, and Steven Lorentz to sew up those positions for the beginning of the season. That first game against the Habs is going to no doubt be a rough and tumble style, especially considering what we all saw the last time these two teams faced each other. Cough, Patrik Laine, cough.