The Maple Leafs have 23 healthy players on their roster right now, and everyone they signed this summer as a depth player (except Nick Shore) has cleared waivers and been assigned to the Marlies. The Marlies, we should remember, train one icesheet over at the Corporate Name Centre in Etobicoke. They also play against teams in a much more confined geographical area than the Leafs do. They aren’t in California when you need to call up a player.
These circumstances make it easier for the Leafs to handle what will become a short-roster season. That private jet helps too.