What Happened
Nick Blankenburg is set to make his Toronto Maple Leafs debut Saturday against the Colorado Avalanche, the team he most recently played for. Toronto will dress seven defencemen and shorten its forward group to 11 for the game. Coach Jim Hiller said Blankenburg has been patient while waiting for his first appearance of the season. Blankenburg, who did not play in Toronto's first five games, joined the club on a tryout and earned a one-year, $1.4-million contract as its seventh defenceman.
Key Details
- Blankenburg's last NHL games came with Colorado, which acquired him from Nashville at the 2026 trade deadline.
- He appeared in 12 regular-season games and five playoff games for the Avalanche.
- He recorded three goals and one assist in third-pair minutes for Colorado.
- Toronto signed the undrafted right-shot defenceman to a one-year, $1.4-million deal after a tryout.
- John Tavares left the road trip early for the birth of his fourth child, Tucker.
- Forwards Miles Wood and Zack MacEwen are available options for Toronto.
What It Means
Toronto is using a seven-defenceman lineup to get Blankenburg into a game while keeping its blueline intact, a look Hiller has used before. The shortened forward group comes with Tavares away from the team, leaving the Leafs to lean on 11 forwards. Blankenburg gets a first look against the club that traded for him last season and used him in a depth role during its playoff run.
What's Next
Blankenburg's performance could determine how often Toronto uses a seven-defenceman alignment going forward. Tavares is expected back with the team after the birth of his son, which would restore a full forward complement.