The Toronto Maple Leafs begin a three-game road trip Thursday night against the Washington Capitals. The Leafs are coming off a 3–2 third-period comeback win over the Chicago Blackhawks. These games loom large for Toronto. They do not need a perfect road trip, but winning two of three would go a long way toward pushing them back into the playoff picture. The Leafs currently sit sixth in the NHL’s Atlantic Division standings with a 15–12–5 record. The Return of Marshall Rifai

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced Tuesday that defenceman Marshall Rifai has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies on a conditioning loan. The 24-year-old has been sidelined since undergoing surgery following a preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens, and this assignment marks an important step in his return. Rifai is expected to suit up Saturday night against Belleville, and if all goes well, there is a real chance he could rejoin the Maple Leafs ahead of their matchup

The Toronto Maple Leafs currently sit sixth in the Atlantic Division with a 15-12-5 record, six points back of the first-place Detroit Red Wings. On the surface, it hasn’t been the start many expected. Inconsistency has defined much of the season, and frustration has followed. Toronto opened the year on solid footing, posting an 8-5-1 record through October, but things quickly unravelled. A brutal stretch saw the Leafs lose eight of nine games, coinciding with a string of inj

When the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired Dakota Joshua from the Vancouver Canucks over the summer, they believed they were adding a high-energy, physical forward who could thrive in a hard, forechecking system. Early on, that vision didn’t materialize. But over the past few weeks, Joshua has begun to look like the player Toronto hoped they were getting, and his emergence has come at a critical time as the Leafs fight to stay in the playoff picture. A slow start and a reality che

The Toronto Maple Leafs are once again being linked to Calgary Flames defenceman Rasmus Andersson. Toronto has shown interest in Andersson before, including an attempt to acquire him at last year’s trade deadline, but no deal materialized. This time around, the fit still makes sense, especially given Brad Treliving’s history with the player. Treliving drafted Andersson in 2015 and knows his game well. With the Leafs sitting five points out of a divisional playoff spot, pressu

The Toronto Maple Leafs bounced back in a big way Tuesday night, defeating the Chicago Blackhawks in a game that felt like a must-win. Coming off an embarrassing loss to the Edmonton Oilers on Hockey Night in Canada, the Leafs had something to prove to management, to the fans, and to themselves. Head coach Craig Berube had openly challenged the team’s leaders to be better, and much of that spotlight landed on captain Auston Matthews . For a player making $13.4 million per

With the Olympics right around the corner and teams being announced at the end of the month, there is a lot of speculation on which players will make it on the team. Matthew Knies is an interesting name that has many US and Leafs fans wondering if he is good enough. I believe he is, and here is why. From NCAA Star to Maple Leafs Cornerstone Matthew Knies is the perfect modern-day power forward; he is a player that every team wishes they had on their team. Knies was drafted ba

The Toronto Maple Leafs got great news today on the goalie front with Joseph Woll coming back into the Leafs lineup today against the Blackhawks. With Woll coming off IR, the Maple Leafs have sent down goalie Artur Akhtyamov back to the minors. Joseph Woll back in the lineup Joseph Woll is the confirmed starter for Tuesday's game from Craig Berube. This season, Artur Akhtyamov has a 7-5-0 record with the Marlies this season, posting a .896 save percentage with a 3.04 goals ag

The Toronto Maple Leafs laid an egg against Connor McDavid and the Oilers, dropping an ugly 6-3 game on home ice. After the loss, the media asked to speak with Auston Matthews, and he declined. That’s a tough look. When you get blown out on a Saturday night in your own building, the captain needs to face the music. Fair or not, that comes with the job. Many believe the captain should speak after every game, especially the bad ones. Berube sends a clear message to his leaders

Dougie Hamilton has been a name that has surfaced in trade rumours as of late. According to Kevin Weekes, the New Jersey Devils have discussed moving on from the Toronto product. Hamilton is in the fifth year of his seven-year contract, making $9M per season. Hamilton recently suffered an injury and will be out for a week with a lower-body injury he suffered in a 4-3 overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens last Thursday. This could be a move that Brad Treliving takes to b

Good news for the Toronto Maple Leafs as defenceman Chris Tanev has returned to the ice for Maple Leafs practice in a contact jersey. This comes just days after the Maple Leafs wanted a second opinion about Tanev's health. The timeline for Tanev has not yet been confirmed, but it is great to see him back on the ice after his lengthy absence. Chris Tanev back in the lineup would provide massive boost The veteran blueliner was previously seen on the ice in a non-contact jersey

It has been no secret that Auston Matthews has struggled over the past year and a half. His goal production has dipped, and his metrics show he is declining. This year, with the Maple Leafs, Matthews has 13 goals in 26 games, a number that is good but not elite. Auston Matthews has improved on the defensive side of the puck, a game Craig Berube wants Matthews to play, but until he can carry the offence, those numbers won't change. Auston Matthews was known for the better part

Scott Laughton has finally seemed to find his fit in the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup. Laughton was acquired during the trade deadline last season in a trade that sent Nikita Grebenkin and a conditional 2027 first-round draft pick the other way. Laughton struggled early with the Maple Leafs, as he couldn’t seem to find a fit. The 31-year old has had a successful career with both the Flyers, and early on in Toronto. He was drafted 20th overall by the Flyers back in 2012. Laugh

If the Toronto Maple Leafs want to become a contender for the Stanley Cup, they will need to acquire a top-six forward to bolster their offence. Matias Maccelli was a player that Brad Treliving tried to bring in during the off-season to play on a line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, but the Leafs quickly found out that it did not work out. Maccelli has been a healthy scratch for the better part of the last few weeks. There does not seem to be a lot available on the tr

The Toronto Maple Leafs have seemed to be hit by an illness bug. Dakota Joshua, who did not participate in yesterday's 5-1 loss against the Oilers, has been hit by an illness. William Nylander was also questionable in yesterday's contest, but played through the illness. Joshua's season with the Leafs Dakota Joshua has had an up-and-down season with the Maple Leafs this year. Joshua started the year out slow, struggling to build chemistry and couldn't quite find his groove. He

Toronto Maple Leafs fans received tough news today regarding goaltender Anthony Stolarz. The veteran netminder, who signed a four-year, $15 million extension (3.75M AAV) this summer, is once again dealing with an injury setback. Stolarz emerged as the Leafs’ No. 1 goalie last season before going down against the Florida Panthers in the playoffs. In the 2024–25 campaign, he appeared in 34 games and posted a 21-8-3 record with an impressive .926 save percentage and a 2.14 goals

Welcome back to another edition of NHL Rumours with the crew here at Last Word on Hockey. The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking to shake up their roster and improve their forward core. Brad Treliving’s off-season acquisitions have not been playing to their potential or as the Leafs expected. Matias Maccelli is a player who has completely flopped for the Leafs. The Finnish native was expected to slot into the top 6 on a line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies . He did not

The Maple Leafs have received good news on the injury front as Joseph Woll could return very soon. Woll may return to the Leafs' lineup for Tuesday's game against the Chicago Blackhawks. Joseph Woll believes that he has been progressing well, and his body has been feeling better every day. Woll has been out of the lineup after being sidelined with a lower-body injury on December 4th in a 5-1 win against the Hurricanes. New air in the locker room The Maple Leafs should breathe

The Toronto Maple Leafs were greatly outplayed by the Edmonton Oilers in a 6-3 defeat on Saturday night. Edmonton’s stars dominated from start to finish, with Connor McDavid recording two goals and an assist for three points, while Leon Draisaitl added three assists of his own. On the other side, Toronto’s top players were nearly invisible, struggling to generate momentum or match the Oilers’ pace. What used to be a battle of Matthews versus McDavid has now shifted into a mor

Oliver Ekman-Larsson is set to return to the lineup Saturday night when the Maple Leafs take on the Edmonton Oilers, easing concerns after his scary exit earlier in the week. The veteran defenceman had been dealing with a leg injury that initially appeared serious after he needed assistance leaving the ice during Thursday’s game against the San Jose Sharks. At the time, there was real uncertainty surrounding how long Toronto might be without one of its most reliable blue-line