Mike Babcock wanted his roster down to two workable practice squads by the end of this week and wasted no time after the club completed three exhibition games.

On Wednesday morning, seven players were let go, reducing Toronto’s roster to 46. Sent to the AHL Marlies were forwards Casey Bailey, Frederik Gauthier, Brendan Leipsic and Josh Leivo. Returned to their junior teams were defencemen Travis Dermott (Erie), Andrew Nielsen (Lethbridge) and forward Dmytro Timashov (Quebec City).

None were surprises, though Bailey and Leivo did play a few NHL games last year. Bailey was the Penn State grad whom the team had signed late last year. He played six games and scored once, while Leivo opened the season on the big team because of injuries to regulars and scored once in nine starts.

Gauthier, a big, two-way centre, is expected to have a strong rookie season in the AHL, while Leipsic, acquired from Nashville mid-season, already had a fine rookie year in the minors.

Dermott, Nielsen and Timashov were all 2015 draft picks behind No. 1 Mitch Marner, who remains on the main roster. The camp is now made up of 26 forwards, 15 defencemen and five goaltenders. The roster must be down to 23 players by Oct. 6, prior to the season opener against Montreal.

The club took Wednesday off to prepare for a Thursday practice and then back to back home exhibition games, against Buffalo on Friday and the Canadiens on Saturday. Tuesday’s 2-1 overtime win in Montreal improved the Leafs record in pre-season to 3-0.

Nielsen did get a chance to meet Toronto captain Dion Phaneuf again. As a kid, Nielsen was a water boy on Phaneuf’s WHL club in Red Deer.

lance.hornby@sunmedia.ca