TORONTO — Randy Carlyle is unafraid to change a winning lineup.

The Toronto Maple Leafs coach was expected to insert Mark Fraser and Korbinian Holzer for Monday night’s home opener against the Buffalo Sabres. Both were in the press box when Toronto opened the season with a victory in Montreal on Saturday night.

Mark Fraser and Korbinian Holzer are in tonight for the #leafs.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 21, 2013

While Carlyle didn’t reveal who would be coming out, Mike Komisarek and Cody Franson were both kept on the ice for extra conditioning work following the morning skate – a sign they’d likely be given the night off.

“It’s not a message of (unsatisfactory) play by some individuals, it’s just that we’ve got 48 games to play,” Carlyle said. “We’re going to have to integrate people into the lineup as we go. We’ve got four games in (six) nights this week so it’s kind of like you better start to use some of your personnel.”

The move also comes with Jake Gardiner expected to make his way back into the lineup as soon as Wednesday night in Pittsburgh. The fleet-footed defenceman says he feels “100 per cent” in his recovery from a concussion and neck injury and is ready to play as soon as Carlyle needs him.

Jake Gardiner says he’s 100 percent and can play for the #leafs when Randy Carlyle wants him.

— Chris Johnston (@reporterchris) January 21, 2013

“It’s pretty much the coach’s decision now,” Gardiner said.

His return would force Leafs GM Dave Nonis to send a player to the American Hockey League. Holzer and Fraser (who would need to clear waivers) are candidates to be demoted and Carlyle wants to give each a chance to show what he can do before a decision is made.

“We want to make sure that we give everybody that’s here as much of an opportunity to make a contribution because they’ve earned it,” Carlyle said.

A look at the Leafs ahead of Game 2:

Joffrey Lupul found himself in the spotlight one day after signing a five-year extension with the Leafs that will kick in next season and pay him $26.25-million.

The top-line winger is coming off a career year and expects to face even higher expectations now that he’s signed a long-term deal. Lupul could have tested unrestricted free agency for the first time in July but chose instead to commit to the Leafs.

“I’ve been happy here, I’ve had success here and I really enjoy the city,” Lupul said. “Now the next step is getting this team to the playoffs and back where this team should be. That’s the goal here.

“If I didn’t think that wasn’t possible I wouldn’t have signed (the extension).”

One of the more interesting aspects of Lupul’s recent success is that it came following a period where he struggled to make an impact in Anaheim after missing an entire year to a back ailment and blood infection.

The Ducks coach when Lupul was dealt to Toronto in February 2011? None other than Carlyle, who was hired by the Leafs last March. On Monday morning, the veteran coach indicated that he might not have used Lupul properly.

“Lupes and I didn’t see eye to eye in years gone past,” Carlyle said. “He’s a much different player now than what he was then. … He’s taken a different approach to his preparation both physically and mentally and he’s a much more complete hockey player today than he was five or six years ago.

“I think Lupes has shown a tremendous amount of leadership, a lot of courage and a lot of grit and determination to get where he is.”

It wasn’t a contentious negotiation. Lupul and Nonis were looking for the same thing when it came time to talk about a new contract.

“I was happy when they reached out and said they wanted to start talking about an extension,” Lupul said. “That’s a good feeling — the team showing they have faith in you and wanting to get something done long term. It happened quickly, it took us a couple days to get it done, and I think both sides are happy.”

Here’s the breakdown of Lupul’s new deal:

2013-14: $5.25M

2014-15: $5.25M

2015-16: $6.75M

2016-17: $5.25M

2017-18: $3.25M

PROJECTED LEAFS LINEUP

Forwards

Lupul – Bozak – Kessel

MacArthur – Grabovski – Kulemin

Van Riemsdyk – Kadri – Komarov

Orr – McClement – Brown

Defence

Gunnarson – Phaneuf

Liles – Kostka

Fraser – Holzer

Goaltenders

Scrivens

Reimer

Scratches

Steckel, Franson, Komisarek

PROJECTED SABRES LINEUP

Forwards

Foligno – Ennis – Stafford

Vanek – Hodgson – Pominville

Ott – Grigorenko – Hecht

Scott – Ellis – Kaleta

Defence

Regehr – Myers

Sulzer – Ehrhoff

Sekera – Leopold

Goaltenders

Miller

Enroth

Scratches

Brennan, Weber

ONE-TIMERS

In a bid to make amends for the lockout, the Leafs didn’t charge for tickets to the home opener and plan to give all fans a free drink during the game … The Leafs and Sabres split six meetings last season, with the home team winning each game … Dion Phaneuf led all players in ice time in Saturday’s opener at Montreal with over 26 minutes … Thomas Vanek has 45 points in 44 career games against the Leafs … Buffalo forward Ville Leino remains sidelined with a lower-body injury … The Sabres kept 18-year-old centre Mikhail Grigorenko, the 12th overall pick in June’s draft, out of training camp … Sabres assistant coach Kevyn Adams appeared in 77 games for the Leafs during his playing career.

QUICK QUOTES

“We’re not talking about last year anymore. This is a new group, a new season and an opportunity for us to go out and play to our capabilities.” – Randy Carlyle.

“It’s like a loud ringing in your ears … and you smell burning rubber.” – Leafs goalie Ben Scrivens, describing what it felt like to take a puck in the mask during the morning skate.

“I thought I’d be more nervous.” – Mikhail Grigorenko on his NHL debut Sunday afternoon.