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Find the latest hockey news, analysis, and updates from around the league. Nicholas Hockey Report delivers timely coverage, game breakdowns, and stories that matter to fans who want more than just the score.

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The Maple Leafs See The Return Of Their Superstar
The Toronto Maple Leafs finally received good news on the injury front, as Auston Matthews will make his return to the Maple Leafs lineup against the Winnipeg Jets . Matthews missed the New Jersey Devils game Tuesday night with a lower-body injury. The injury occurred during Sunday night’s loss against the Detroit Red Wings as Matthews blocked a shot during the second period and remained in the game. This is a big boost for the Maple Leafs as they are right in the thick

Nicholas Giannone
Jan 12 min read


Maple Leafs Will be Without Superstar Winger Against the Jets
The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without their superstar winger, William Nylander, for a third straight game. Nylander suffered a lower-body injury during their win Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators. The injury occurred during an awkward play with Sens defenceman Artem Zub behind the Sens net. The Maple Leafs will look to keep the good vibes going as they faceoff against the Winnipeg Jets on Thursday night. Latest William Nylander injury update William Nylander has be

Nicholas Giannone
Jan 12 min read


3 Players That Have Quietly Carried the Maple Leafs This Season
The Toronto Maple Leafs have needed their depth players to step up numerous times this season, with all the injuries that have come their way. The latest injury report included William Nylander, Auston Matthews, Chris Tanev, and Dakota Joshua. All of these players have played a vital role in the Maple Leafs lineup. The Maple Leafs' bottom six and depth have been good all season long, but a few players have risen to the top of that list. Bobby McMann: third-line spark plug Bob

Nicholas Giannone
Jan 13 min read


How The Olympics Will Be The Turning Point For Auston Matthews
Since the arrival of Craig Berube, Auston Matthews has been asked to play a much more structured, defensive brand of hockey. That shift has naturally led to a decrease in point production, not just for Matthews but across the Maple Leafs’ lineup as a whole. Toronto now plays lower-scoring games, creates fewer rush chances, and focuses far more on limiting mistakes than it did during the Sheldon Keefe era. For a player who has built his reputation as one of the most dangerous

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 31, 20252 min read


Maple Leafs Have Entered Survival Mode, They Must Weather the Storm
The Toronto Maple Leafs have officially entered survival mode. Tuesday night marked the first time since February of 2017 that the Leafs played a game without both Auston Matthews and William Nylander in the lineup. Ironically, it also turned into one of the most complete and impressive performances the team has delivered in years. While that win proved Toronto can play high-level hockey without its stars, it also highlighted an uncomfortable truth: this is not a sustainable

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 31, 20252 min read


Maple Leafs Face Another Major Setback With This Most Recent Injury Update
The Toronto Maple Leafs received discouraging news as defenceman Chris Tanev will be sidelined long-term after suffering a lower-body injury against the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday night. It has been a frustrating season for Tanev, who has already missed significant time due to an upper-body injury earlier in the year. The latest setback is a major loss for the Leafs, as Tanev has only appeared in 11 games this season but quickly established himself as a stabilizing presence

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 31, 20252 min read


3 Players the Maple Leafs Need to Move On From
The Toronto Maple Leafs have not had the season many have expected; they are last in the Atlantic Division and are not looking like a team that can make a strong run at the Stanley Cup. This leaves the question of whether the Maple Leafs should try to retool and move on from some of their current players. Max Domi, Matias Maccelli, and Brandon Carlo all make north of $3M and could be assets that help the Maple Leafs in the long run. The Leafs do not have a strong and deep pro

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 31, 20253 min read


Maple Leafs Play Most Impressive Game of the Season in Win Over Devils
The Toronto Maple Leafs turned in their most impressive performance of the season Tuesday night, blanking the New Jersey Devils 4–0 despite being without Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Chris Tanev, and Dakota Joshua. Facing a talented Devils team, the Leafs needed a full 60-minute effort from every player on the bench, and that is exactly what they delivered. Many expected New Jersey’s high-powered offence to overwhelm a depleted Toronto lineup. Instead, the roles were re

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 30, 20252 min read


Why Auston Matthews Will be a Maple Leaf For Life
If an Auston Matthews trade were ever to happen, it would not be anytime soon. Matthews still has two seasons remaining on his contract, which carries a $13.25 million AAV and includes a full no-movement clause. Simply put, Matthews controls his future. If he wants to remain in Toronto and eventually sign a long-term extension, the organization has little reason or ability to move him. In fact, doing so would be organizational wrongdoing. Matthews is not a player you trade; h

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 30, 20252 min read


Which Leafs Players Need to Step Up in Stars' Absences
The Toronto Maple Leafs face off against the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night, and once again, the lineup will look far from ideal. Toronto is expected to be without Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Dakota Joshua, and Chris Tanev, forcing the Leafs to lean heavily on their depth. Calle Järnkrok and Jacob Quillan are both expected to re-enter the lineup as the coaching staff looks for answers to their ongoing injury trouble. The Maple Leafs have battled injuries all season

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 30, 20252 min read


This Bruins Forward is Exactly What The Leafs Are Missing
Pavel Zacha is exactly the kind of middle-six forward the Leafs should be calling ahead of the trade deadline this March. At 28 years old, he brings a combination of size, versatility, and offensive ability that would help a Leafs lineup desperately in need of secondary scoring and depth centre options. Zacha is under contract with the Bruins through 2027–28 with a $4.75 million average annual value, making him a mid-term asset for a team looking to compete now and in the nea

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 30, 20252 min read


Maple Leafs Miss out as Scoring Winger Trade Target Lands in Pittsburgh
The Blue Jackets sent Chinakhov to the Penguins in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick, a 2027 third-round pick, and forward Danton Heinen. Chinakhov had requested a trade last summer, but Columbus was never interested in moving the young winger without meaningful value coming back. General manager Don Waddell waited patiently until the right deal presented itself, one that balanced Chinakhov’s desire for a fresh start with the organization’s long-term interests. Chinakhov'

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 29, 20252 min read


Jake McCabe Has Become Backbone of the Maple Leafs’ Blue Line
In a season filled with inconsistency and uncertainty on the back end, one thing has remained constant for the Toronto Maple Leafs is Jake McCabe. Since arriving in Toronto, McCabe has quietly established himself as the team’s most reliable defenceman, trusted in every situation and tasked with the toughest assignments night after night. Jake McCabe’s path to becoming a cornerstone defenceman was anything but flashy. Drafted in the second round by the Buffalo Sabres in 2012,

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 29, 20252 min read


Should the Maple Leafs Claim this Penguins Forward Off Waivers?
The Pittsburgh Penguins placed Danton Heinen on waivers Sunday, and it could present an intriguing opportunity for the Toronto Maple Leafs to address their ongoing lack of depth scoring. Heinen has struggled this season in Pittsburgh, recording just one goal and one assist in 13 games, but his resume suggests there may be more to offer than his recent numbers indicate. For a Leafs team searching for a spark, adding a new face to the bottom six could be a worthwhile gamble. A

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 29, 20252 min read


Maple Leafs Dodge Bullet with William Nylander's Injury News
The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Ottawa Senators 6-4 on Saturday night. During the second period, William Nylander got injured on what seemed to be a harmless play with Artem Zub behind the Senators' bench. Nylander did not return to the Maple Leafs bench for the third period. Maple Leafs dodge a bullet Craig Berube gave a positive message after the game, regarding Nylander, saying that he will travel with the Leafs to Detroit for Sunday night's matchup against the Red Wi

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 28, 20252 min read


William Nylander Injury Update Sends Leafs Into Possible Crisis Mode
William Nylander did not return for the third period of Saturday night’s game against the Ottawa Senators after suffering a lower-body injury in the second period. The injury occurred during an awkward play behind the Senators’ net involving Artem Zub. The Maple Leafs confirmed Nylander would not return to the game; the severity of the injury remains unknown. At the time of his exit, the Maple Leafs were in control of the game, holding a 5–2 lead after two periods. Nylander w

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 27, 20252 min read


Maple Leafs Goalie Injury Remains a Mystery
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz remains out indefinitely, with head coach Craig Berube confirming there is still no clear timeline for his return. The update is disappointing news for both fans and management, especially for a team desperately searching for stability during a turbulent season. Last season with Stolarz Stolarz was arguably the Maple Leafs’ most important player last year. He led Toronto to its first Atlantic Division title in decades and played

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 27, 20252 min read


Good News for Maple Leafs Fans as Key Defenseman Returns to Practice
The Toronto Maple Leafs hit the ice Saturday night against the Ottawa Senators, and ahead of the matchup, they received some encouraging news on the injury front. Defenceman Brandon Carlo skated ahead of the team’s morning skate, marking his first appearance on the ice since undergoing foot surgery. While Carlo has not yet been cleared to return to game action, simply seeing him skating is a significant step forward for both the player and the organization. Carlo stayed on fo

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 27, 20252 min read


Revisiting Battle of Ontario Before Leafs and Senators Face Off Again
One of hockey’s most storied rivalries returns Saturday night on Hockey Night in Canada as the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators renew the Battle of Ontario. The rivalry’s latest chapter was written in last season’s playoff series, adding even more edge to an already heated matchup. The Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators face off for the first time this season since their playoff meeting last year, a series Toronto won 4–2. While the Leafs advanced, the matchup was

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 27, 20254 min read


Should the Maple Leafs Try to Acquire This Predators Star Forward?
General manager Brad Treliving wants to be aggressive and make the Toronto Maple Leafs a better team. The Maple Leafs have struggled this season and find themselves in last place in the Atlantic Division while only sitting five points out of a spot. Although the season is not over, the Leafs have to make a decision quickly on whether they want to be a buyer or seller. With how the season has gone and the assets that they have, they could use the remainder of this season and t

Nicholas Giannone
Dec 27, 20252 min read
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