The Tampa Bay Lightning had to dip into injured reserve today, and it’s a big one. Victor Hedman is set to miss significant time after undergoing elbow surgery, with his return expected sometime around February. For one of the NHL’s most dominant defencemen over the last decade, it’s another unfortunate pause in an otherwise elite career. Hedman’s Injury and the Bigger Picture What stands out is the timing. Hedman’s recovery window lines up almost exactly with the start of th

The Toronto Maple Leafs may have dodged a bullet with defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. Ekman-Larsson got injured during the third period of Thursday night’s loss against the Sharks. The Leafs have had no shortage of injuries this season, with shutdown defenceman Brandon Carlo and Chris Tanev both injured. The Swedish native's injury appeared very serious. However, as we are here to say, the Leafs may have dodged a bullet. Severity of the Injury According to Darren Dreger, OEL

Losing Oliver Ekman-Larsson is a significant setback for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He exited Thursday’s game against the San Jose Sharks with a lower-body injury and did not return. Head coach Craig Berube confirmed the team will re-evaluate him, but there’s no clear timeline for his return yet. Ekman-Larsson has been one of Toronto’s most relied-on defensemen, often playing big minutes and contributing offensively. With other key defenders already sidelined, the Leafs must ad

The Toronto Maple Leafs made what looked like a small roster move this week, but for Henry Thrun, it’s a huge opportunity. With Dakota Mermis placed on injured reserve after suffering a lower-body injury, the Leafs called up Thrun from the Toronto Marlies. The move may seem routine, but it opens the door for the 22-year-old to prove he belongs at the NHL level. Thrun fits Craig Berube’s defensive expectations better than many realize, and this call-up gives him a real chance

T he Toronto Maple Leafs have had a whirlwind 72 hours, or so. Forward Bobby McMann was suspended one game for high-sticking Tampa Bay Lightning forward Oliver Bjorkstrand during Monday night’s 2-0 win. The NHL announced the suspension on Tuesday, and rules him out tonight versus the San Jose Sharks . Furthermore, defenceman Dakota Mermis also suffered a lower-body injury on the same play. He has been placed on injured reserve, leaving the Leafs to shuffle their roster. Ma

When the Toronto Maple Leafs signed Oliver Ekman-Larsson to a low-risk, four-year deal during the summer of 2024, expectations were modest. The veteran defender was coming off a buyout in Vancouver, followed by a depth role in Florida. Many viewed it as little more than an attempt to plug a roster hole. During the early stages through the 2025–26 season, that narrative has completely flipped. Not only has Ekman-Larsson revived his career, but he has also emerged as Toronto’s

The Toronto Maple Leafs defeated the Tampa Bay Lightning 2–0 on Monday night, backed by a phenomenal performance from Dennis Hildeby. The Lightning entered the game sitting first in the Atlantic Division, making the Leafs' performance even more impressive. Hildeby recorded his first career NHL shutout and now holds a .969 save percentage, one of the best marks in the league. The Maple Leafs are finally stringing together points and beginning to resemble the team that won the

The Maple Leafs are making adjustments to their lineup ahead of Prime Monday Night Hockey against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Nick Robertson will come out, with Calle Järnkrok stepping back in. Toronto is hoping to tighten its structure and balance its forward group in an important divisional matchup, but the decision to scratch Robertson is as confusing as it is counterproductive. Nick Robertson deserves better than the press box For a team starving for secondary scoring, offen

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to be without starting netminders Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz, with no timeline for the goalies. Dennis Hildeby has been the Maple Leafs’ backup this season, posting a .927 save percentage and a 2.51 goals against in seven contests. He has one win this season in a 7-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins. Hildeby has looked sharp when asked upon this season, but will it be enough going forward for the Maple Leafs? The Maple Leafs are still o

From the start, it was clear Järnkrok was still adjusting physically. His offensive production has been modest, and his game has evolved noticeably post-surgery. The explosiveness that once made him a sneaky transition threat hasn’t fully returned, forcing him to lean more heavily on positioning, timing, and experience. Instead of driving play through speed, he now supports it through structure. While this shift hasn’t made him ineffective, it has certainly changed the type o

Andrei Vasilevskiy has been widely regarded as one of the NHL’s premier goaltenders over the last decade. Since being drafted 19th overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2012, Vasilevskiy has anchored a franchise that has won multiple Stanley Cups, earned Vezina Trophy recognition, and consistently remained in contention at the top of the Eastern Conference. But as the 2025-26 season unfolds, the question arises: is Vasilevskiy still performing at an elite level, or is he show

The Toronto Maple Leafs officially placed Joseph Woll on injured reserve Saturday with a lower-body injury, and in response brought up goaltender Artur Akhtyamov from the Marlies. The move is retroactive to Dec. 4, but it doesn’t soften the blow: Woll is out, and the Leafs suddenly have a major problem in net. Woll left Thursday’s 5–1 win over Carolina after making a second-period save that clearly didn’t sit right. He never returned for the third, and now the timeline become

The Toronto Maple Leafs got a welcome boost at practice today as Chris Tanev stepped back onto the ice for the first time since suffering his latest injury. He was in a non-contact jersey, but even that was enough to give the team and fans something positive to build on. This was the first time Leaf fans had seen the Toronto native on the ice since November 1st against the Flyers. Tanev joined his teammates for the morning skate, taking part in drills and moving well while av

The Toronto Maple Leafs are suddenly navigating a major shakeup in their crease after placing goaltender Joseph Woll on injured reserve Saturday with a lower-body injury. In response, the team recalled Artur Akhtyamov from the AHL, signalling that Toronto is preparing to roll with an inexperienced tandem for the near future. The IR move is retroactive to December 4th, but the timeline remains unclear. What Happened that Ended With a Joseph Woll Injury Woll suffered the inj

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a successful road trip as they wrap it up Saturday night against the Montreal Canadiens. The Leafs have won their last three consecutive games and have won four of their last five. They beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 7-2 on Hockey Night in Canada. Furthermore, they defeated the struggling Florida Panthers 4-1 in a playoff-type game. On Thursday night, they beat a strong Hurricanes team in dominating fashion, 5-1. The Maple Leafs struggled early

The Toronto Maple Leafs may once again be staring down the barrel of a goaltending crisis. Joseph Woll, who has been the organization’s most stabilizing force between the pipes this season, left Thursday’s game with a lower-body injury and did not return. Until further medical updates offer clarity, the Leafs must prepare for the possibility that Woll could miss meaningful time, forcing the front office to evaluate every realistic avenue to keep their season on track. Interna

When the Maple Leafs claimed Troy Stecher off waivers in November 2025, it wasn’t just a gamble; it was a strategic move to shore up a defence dealing with injuries and inconsistency. Stecher, a right-shot defenseman with over 500 NHL games under his belt, brings a style built on speed, hustle, and reliable puck movement traits that fit a team needing structure as much as skill. While Simon Benoit and Philippe Myers have been rotation regulars this season, both have struggled

The Toronto Maple Leafs faced off against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday night. The Maple Leafs ended up beating the Hurricanes 5-1, but it came at the cost of losing their number one goalie, Joseph Woll , with a lower-body injury during the second period. The Toronto Maple Leafs have started to turn their season around, as this was their third win in a row, improving to a record of 13-11-3. Joseph Woll Adds to List of Maple Leafs Injuries The Leafs have had no shortag

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced they have come to terms and re-signed defenceman Ryan McDonagh to a three-year, $12.3 million contract extension. The deal will carry a $4.1M average annual value salary cap hit. The Lightning have corrected things after having a rough start to the year. The Lightning have picked it up over the month of November and now sit in first place in the Atlantic Division with a 16-8-2 for 34 points.   Ryan McDonagh’s Career That Earned the Contract

The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to face the Florida Panthers on Tuesday night in a matchup that carries major playoff implications, even this early in the season. Despite sitting last in the Eastern Conference with an 11-11-3 record, the Leafs remain just four points out of a postseason spot in a tightly packed standings race. Toronto and Florida each sit at 25 points, making this head-to-head meeting an important opportunity for the Leafs to gain ground while handing a direc