The Nashville Predators continue to struggle early this season, and general manager Barry Trotz hasn’t been shy about saying they need more from their roster and that everything is on the table. One name that has quickly become the centre of speculation is Steven Stamkos, who could be an intriguing option for a team looking to shake things up. Meanwhile, the Toronto Maple Leafs have battled major inconsistencies in their secondary scoring, relying heavily on William Nylander

Easton Cowan has firmly earned his place in the Maple Leafs’ lineup after scoring a crucial late goal in Toronto’s 2-1 overtime win against the Blue Jackets. Moments after, Columbus took the lead in the third period. Cowan answered with a sharp-angle finish off a setup from John Tavares , capping off a night where he consistently generated offence and pushed the pace. Despite several close chances in recent games, he hadn’t been able to convert until that game. With this bre

The Toronto Maple Leafs have lost forward Sammy Blais, who was claimed off waivers by the Montreal Canadiens. Blais, a versatile forward known for his physicality, net-front presence, and penalty-killing ability, had been providing depth and toughness for the Maple Leafs. His departure leaves a noticeable gap in the bottom-six, both offensively and defensively. Impact on Depth and Line Combinations Blais’ style made him a valuable piece for Toronto. Standing 6-foot-3 and over

If you’re a young, rebuilding club with speed up front and a need for secondary scoring beyond your core group, Matias Maccelli could be the perfect fit. Before joining the Toronto Maple Leafs, Maccelli posted 57 points in 82 games in 2023-24, proving he can be a gifted playmaker and a reliable secondary winger when given the right opportunity. Even if his start to 2025-26 with Toronto has been rough 9 points in 21 games so far. His underlying ability and prior production mak

The Toronto Maple Leafs continue to spiral, falling to the bottom of the Eastern Conference after a disappointing 5–2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens. This season was always going to be a test for Toronto as they adjusted to life without Mitch Marner, who departed for the Vegas Golden Knights over the summer, but the transition has been far rockier than expected. The Leafs hoped that new faces in the lineup would help soften the blow of losing one of their most dynamic playmak

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube prefers a hard-hitting, physical, defensive style of play. Since the departure of Sheldon Keefe, Auston Matthews has been asked to play a heavier style of hockey, a shift that has reshaped both his role and the overall identity of the Leafs. Under Berube, Matthews is expected to drive play in all three zones, win board battles, and take on heavier matchups against opposing top lines. While he is still Toronto’s most dangerous offens

The timing of McCabe’s injury could not be worse for a Maple Leafs team already struggling to maintain stability on the blue line. Toronto’s defensive identity this season has relied on its ability to suppress chances, win battles below the goal line, and maintain structure in front of their goaltenders. McCabe has been at the center of that effort, playing heavy minutes against top opposition while providing the kind of physical presence and accountability the Leafs have his

John Tavares deserves serious consideration for Team Canada’s Olympic roster, and his play this season has made that clearer than ever. The Toronto native is off to one of the strongest starts of his later-career years, producing 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points in 21 games with the Maple Leafs. Beyond the raw numbers, Tavares continues to drive play, anchor his line, and provide the type of leadership and two-way reliability that Olympic teams rely on in high-pressure m

The Toronto Maple Leafs finally have some good news on the injury front, as forward Scott Laughton returns to the lineup after missing six games with an upper-body injury sustained against the Boston Bruins on November 8. It’s a much-needed boost for a lineup still juggling key absences and looking to build momentum after a gutsy 3–2 win over the St. Louis Blues on Tuesday night. Toronto now shifts its focus to a meeting with the Columbus Blue Jackets, a game it hopes can hel

When people talk about the “face of the franchise," they’re usually talking about more than just who scores the most goals. They mean the player whose identity defines the team, the one fans associate with the logo before anyone else. For the Toronto Maple Leafs, that title has belonged to Auston Matthews for most of the last decade. But over the last few seasons, William Nylander has built such a strong case that it’s fair to ask if the Leafs now have more than one franchise

There has been no secret that the Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled this season. At the root of the problem is their defensive play, specifically, their inability to defend their own end. Nineteen games into the season, Toronto has a goals-against average of 3.79, placing them 31st in the NHL. Their offence, meanwhile, sits fourth in the league at 3.53 goals per game. The contrast is jarring: the scoring has held up its end of the bargain, but the defence has completely coll

The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the 2025-26 season with high expectations, boasting one of the most complete defensive cores in the Matthews era. Yet, after 19 games, the team finds itself struggling mightily in its own end. Injuries to key players, inconsistent goaltending, and a coaching transition behind the bench have combined to leave the Leafs near the bottom of the league defensively. What was once a strength for Toronto has become a glaring weakness, and the team must

As the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to battle injuries, defensive inconsistency, and a mounting need for stability on the back end, one name has surfaced repeatedly in league circles as a realistic and impactful trade target: Rasmus Andersson of the Calgary Flames. With Calgary hovering near the bottom of the Western Conference standings and heading toward another retooling phase, Andersson has become one of the most discussed and coveted defencemen on the market. The Leafs r

For the first time in the Auston Matthews era, the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference after Buffalo’s 4–1 win over Carolina bumped them down yet again. It’s fair to say the Leafs have hit rock bottom. Through 22 games, they sit at 9-10-3 with just 21 points per start, a start nobody in Toronto saw coming. The one saving grace? There’s still time. A lot of it. With more than 60 games left on the schedule, and only a four-point gap

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe went down during the second period against the Montreal Canadiens , due to an upper-body injury. The team later announced that he is ruled out for the remainder of the game. This news for the Leafs is of concern, and hopefully it is nothing significant. Let’s Analyze the Leafs Defenceman Jake McCabe’s Injury The 32-year-old took a puck to the face. Moreover, the severity of the injury is unknown at this time. There will likely be a

When you look around the NHL, it’s easy to talk about international legends. However, when it comes to homegrown, American talent, Auston Matthews has staked a seriously compeling claim to being the greatest USA-born player ever. He may not have the longevity of some Hall of Famers yet, but in terms of peak production, scoring dominance, and historical milestones, he’s already building a case few Americans can match. From California and Arizona to NHL Dominance Auston Matth

The injury situation in Toronto took another hit Monday morning as the Maple Leafs officially placed defenceman Brandon Carlo on injured reserve. Carlo, who did not play in Saturday’s 3–2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, was initially listed as day-to-day. However, the setback was evidently more significant than the team first hoped. While the exact nature of his injury has not been disclosed, his placement on IR ensures he will miss at least one week of action. This is durin

The Toronto Maple Leafs received another blow on Tuesday as forward Nicolas Roy was placed on injured reserve. The 27-year-old centre suffered an upper-body injury during practice. Moreover, this means adding yet another key absence to an already battered roster. He now joins a crowded IR list that includes Auston Matthews , Anthony Stolarz , Chris Tanev , Scott Laughton , and Brandon Carlo . For a team already struggling to stay afloat, Roy’s loss compounds the lineup inst

When the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Anthony Stolarz in the offseason, it felt like the kind of move teams make when they believe a goaltending dilemma is within reach of a resolution. Stolarz, 31, and already a Stanley Cup winner, inked a four-year extension worth approximately $15 million ($3.75 million average annual value) early in the 2025-26 campaign. This was after posting a career-best .926 save percentage and a 2.14 goals-against average in 2024-25. 2025-26: The Stra

The fallout from David Kämpf’s sudden contract termination with the Toronto Maple Leafs continues to ripple across the league. Welcome to today’s NHL Rumours, as we dive into what happened between Kampf and the Leafs. Then, we go on to discuss some of the potential suitors for the defensively reliable centre. NHL Rumours: Multiple Teams Would Have Interest in Kampf Rumour: Today’s rumour comes from Darren Dreger of TSN’s Insider Trading . It is difficult to imagine a world wh