The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Sunday that John Chayka is set to become the Toronto Maple Leafs 19th general manager in the franchise's history. Chayka has not been in the NHL since his tenure with the Arizona Coyotes lasted four seasons between 2016 and 2020. At the time of Chayka's tenure with the Coyotes, he was just 26 years of age and the youngest general manager in the NHL. Now, 10 years later, the Maple Leafs are looking for a much more mature general manager. While his time with the Coyotes is leaving fans feeling uneasy, we are going to be looking back on the moves he made during his time in Arizona. Why John Chayka's time in Arizona was cut short The reasoning for Chayka's tenure with the Coyotes only lasting a brief four-year stint was that, in 2020, Chayka was suspended from the NHL for "engaging in conduct detrimental to the league, and breached his obligation to the club.” This included illegal scouting practices, which involved scouting prospects who were separate from the draft combine. The Coyotes in result of this, had their 2020 second-round pick and 2021 first-round pick taken away from them. With the Maple Leafs ready for a big offseason ahead of themselves, does Chayka have the prior history to be the right man for the position? Many are not sure of it. Trades Chayka made during his time with the Coyotes Chayka came into the Coyotes organization at a time when they had missed the playoffs four seasons in a row and had finished fourth in the Pacific Division each of those seasons. The Coyotes weren't bad enough for a top lottery pick; however, they weren't good enough to get to the next level and qualify for the playoffs. The early portion of Chayka's time with the Coyotes was obvious; he was moving on from veteran players, trying to make the team younger, while acquiring draft picks. He moved on from players such as Alex Goligoski, Maxim Letunov, Joe Vitale, Michael Stone, Martin Hanzal, Mike Smith, and acquired Anthony DeAngelo, as well as lots of mid to late round picks. Towards the middle to end of his time with the Coyotes, he very clearly attempted to make the team better and get them in a position where they are ready to contend. With up-and-coming prospects such as Jakob Chychrun, Clayton Keller, Barrett Hayton, Matias Maccelli, and Victor Soderstrom, he understood the rebuild had come to an end. He made several strong acquisitions, acquiring Nick Schmaltz, who still plays a key role with the organization. Taylor Hall, who had just won the Hart Memorial Trophy just one season prior, Phil Kessel, who played a number of good seasons with the Coyotes, Derek Stepan, who played a critical role in the Coyotes' lineup, and Darcy Kuemper to take over the net. Questionable decisions made at a critical time However, some of the moves in the midst of these ended up hurting the Coyotes from reaching the next level. Chayka traded solid depth centre Nick Cousins to the Montreal Canadiens for essentially nothing, Anthony Duclair to the Chicago Blackhawks for Richard Panik and Laurent Dauphin, Jordan Martinook to the Carolina Hurricanes, who has played a massive role within the Hurricanes' bottom six, and Max Domi, who can be an effective middle-six winger or centre. Every general manager makes questionable decisions and mistakes that end up hurting the team in the long run, but when you look at the returns for some of these trades, it doesn't make sense with where the Coyotes are heading. It should also be noted that during his time in Arizona, Chayka did not make any massive free agent signings. John Chayka comes to Toronto at a pivotal time, and over the next couple of weeks, beginning Monday with the team holding a press conference, it will be clear the direction in which he best sees fit with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization.

For Connor McDavid, the message hasn’t changed; he wants to win, and he wants to do it with the Edmonton Oilers. “I want to win, and I want to win here in Edmonton. That’s my focus.” McDavid said on Saturday. But this time, there was a different tone behind it. Following a disappointing first-round exit at the hands of the Anaheim Ducks, the Oilers captain didn’t shy away from the reality of where the team stands. McDavid understands the team took a step back this season and was far less consistent than they have seen in the past. Connor McDavid’s Evaluation of the Oilers Season “I feel the same way. It’s only a couple days ago I made those comments about the Oilers being average, I feel the same way I did a couple days ago, and I agree with Leon that the organization as a whole has taken a step back, and that starts with me. It starts with Leon. We all can be better, and we all need to be better.” McDavid added. Over the past two seasons, McDavid and the Oilers reached the Stanley Cup Finals. But disappointingly, they lost both to the Florida Panthers. Throughout the season, the Oilers looked different. They didn’t play with the same intensity we have seen in past years and struggled at times both offensively and defensively. The Oilers finished the season with a 41-30-11 record for 93 points, their lowest point total since the shortened 2020-21 season. Injuries Played a Factor in McDavid’s Performance The Newmarket native, unfortunately for the Oilers, dealt with an ankle fracture throughout their postseason run. McDavid spoke on this injury and how it hindered his performance. Had McDavid been healthy, the series might have gone differently. “It was more of a change of direction; stops and starts were tough. I’m fast, but my advantage is my speed burst, the quick step, and I had none of that.” McDavid said to the media. The Importance of a Strong Regular Season McDavid also realized the importance of having a strong regular season to build good habits and build momentum for when the hockey matters most. “The regular season matters. It’s not easy to get in, as we showed this year, and you’re building your team for when it matters most, and we searched for consistency all year long, and searched for it in the playoffs, too. We never found that rhythm that we were looking for, and that starts in the regular season, that starts Day 1 of training camp. We do need to find a way to have a better regular season. Talk about some of these injuries, maybe we’re not pressing so hard coming down the stretch. Maybe we’re finding some way to get some guys some rest, so we’re hitting the playoffs full steam.” The Oilers Plan to Be Busy This Offseason The Oilers are set for a big offseason, as McDavid only has two years remaining on his contract and has reaffirmed his desire to be in Edmonton. Another disappointing season could risk pushing their generational talent elsewhere.

According to Sportsnet's NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, the Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to name Mats Sundin and John Chayka to lead the front office. John Chayka and Mats Sundin set to take over the front office in Toronto John Chayka is set to be named the general manager, while Mats Sundin will serve as senior executive adviser. The Toronto Maple Leafs' search began when they relieved Brad Treliving of his duties as general manager on March 31st. While this hasn't been made official, MLSE CEO Keith Pelley is expected to make an announcement later on Sunday, with a press conference likely coming on Monday. The Toronto Maple Leafs conducted an extensive search process for their new leadership group, bringing in a law firm to help oversee interviews and evaluations. Several candidates were considered for the role throughout the process, but the team ultimately chose a different direction, hiring John Chayka and Mats Sundin to lead the organization's next phase. Chayka and Sundin's past experiences As for John Chayka, he became the youngest general manager in NHL history, taking over the Arizona Coyotes at just 26 in 2016. His tenure, however, was filled with inconsistency before ultimately stepping down from the position in 2020 after a disappointing season. Now at 36 years old, the belief is that time away from the NHL allowed Chayka to grow and learn from those experiences. Keith Pelley wanted to hire an analytics general manager in the front office. Following that suit, Chayka fills that role, having been one of the first to be data-focused in the team's decision-making in roster construction and team building. Mats Sundin rejoins the organization after his departure to the Vancouver Canucks in 2008. Sundin is largely regarded as one of the most iconic players in the team's history, being an inductee to the Hall of Fame. He spent over a decade with the organization from 1994 to 2008, serving as captain for much of that time and establishing himself as a cornerstone of the franchise. Since retiring, Sundin has lived in Sweden, but he is now set to return to Toronto in a senior advisor role. Sundin does not have any prior NHL front office experience, but his reputation across the league and deep connection to the organization make him a valuable addition to the organization. Sundin and Chayka are set to have a big summer ahead of themselves with lots of questions regarding the state of their organization. Time will tell what the first order of business will be; however, Leafs fans will look to gain a lot of answers starting at their press conference on Monday.

Expectations were high heading into the 2025-26 season for the Toronto Maple Leafs. They had just won the Atlantic Division for the first time in over a decade, they pushed the Stanley Cup Champions to game seven in round two, and despite losing Mitch Marner, they still had the foundational pieces to make a serious push at the Stanley Cup. Instead, the Maple Leafs fell well short, missing the playoffs and raising serious questions about the roster’s direction. While the team's struggles were widespread, several players have stood out as the biggest disappointments of the 2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs season. 1. Morgan Rielly - Disappointing start to finish Heading into the 2025-26 season, Morgan Rielly had a lot of expectations on his shoulders. After playing some of the worst hockey of his career during the duration of the 2024-25 season, many did not believe it could be worse. Coming into training camp, many saw a rejuvenated Rielly, who had put in the work over the offseason to play some of the best hockey of his career. Rielly later finished with one of the worst plus-minus ratings on the team and struggled in his own zone, often getting exposed against top competition. Offensively, he also failed to make up for these issues, posting one of his lowest point totals in recent years. Entering the season, Rielly had spoken to the media, setting himself up for one of the most productive seasons of his career, saying, "I believe that I did everything I could to be prepared for a great season, and I think that's the truth for all of our guys." Rielly told the media. " I know everyone puts a lot of pressure on themselves, approaching a new season, and you try to do everything you can to be prepared.  So for me, I took steps, and my goal was to leave no stone unturned in trying to bounce back and have a great year." This was not true, and heading into the offseason, many speculate Rielly could be on his way out of Toronto. 2. Auston Matthews - Worst season of his career Auston Matthews had a lot of weight on his shoulders heading into the 2025-26 season. After Mitch Marner's departure, he understood that his play had to rise to the next level. If the Maple Leafs had any chance of being a playoff team this year, Matthews was going to need to refind his scoring touch and be the difference-maker he once was early in his career. Over the past two seasons, everyone has seen a decline in Matthews performance. Coming off one of his worst statistically seasons, many didn't know what to expect from the Olympic gold medalist. But what many did not realize was how hard his game would decline. Looking into Matthews' in-depth stats, according to NHL Edge, Matthews' hardest shot this season clocked in at 88.3 MPH, placing him in the 73rd percentile, nowhere near where we once saw it. His max skating speed was about average in the NHL, at 22.10, while his shooting percentage fell below average at 11.9%. Matthews' game overall has seen another massive dip in production, which led to the worst season point total of his career with just 53. Matthews also was not able to score at the rate we once saw, due to his shooting speed and shooting percentage falling, as he only put the puck in the back of the net 27 times. While offensively, Matthews continues to struggle when the Maple Leafs need him at his best, on the defensive side of the puck, the Scottsdale native continues to develop in that area. It has become clear to many that Craig Berube has transformed Matthews into a reliable two-way centre; however, you are not paying our star forward $13.4 million per season to play this way. If the Maple Leafs want any chance of success next season, they need him playing the way he was during the 2023-24 season. 3. Max Domi - Inconsistent production hurt the Maple Leafs With opportunity in the top six alongside Auston Matthews, many were wondering who was going to be the one to take the next step. Max Domi entered the 2025–26 season with many believing he was that candidate. Over his time in Toronto, Matthews has enjoyed playing with Domi; they complement each other, building chemistry and production that the top six has lacked, especially when it matters most. While there were moments where Domi’s playmaking and energy stood out, those flashes were far too inconsistent. The former 12th overall pick struggled to maintain production over long stretches, costing the Maple Leafs scoring in times when the team was unable to win games. Domi had a very up-and-down season. The beginning of the year was very concerning for management, as it seemed no matter where he was placed in the lineup, he wasn't able to find a fit, leaving him as a healthy scratch during games against the Washington Capitals and Nashville Predators towards the end of November and beginning of December. His game then slightly improved when re-entered into the lineup alongside Auston Matthews during January. The reason for his production could have been due to Auston Matthews' brief resurgence. Domi finished the 2025-26 season with a second-worst -29 plus minus rating, proving he was not effective and cannot be trusted in all three zones. Mix this along with just 33 points, one of the worst point percentages of his career, and you are waiting for disaster from a player expected to play a crucial role in the Maple Leafs lineup. The Maple Leafs’ disappointing season wasn’t caused by one player; it was a combination of underperformance, injuries, and many structural issues along the way. If Toronto hopes to get back in the playoff picture next season, it will need more consistency from its best players, health across the board, and meaningful upgrades to the roster. Otherwise, the same issues that defined the Leafs this year will carry into next season.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is reportedly joining Team Sweden at the IIHF World Hockey Championships, according to The Leafs Nation's Nick Alberga. Oliver Ekman-Larsson's strong season in Toronto earned him his spot This will mark the second time this season that we will see Ekman-Larsson representing Team Sweden, as he played in the 2026 Olympics in Italy this past February. OEL played in all five matches for Sweden, averaging 10:27 time on ice, as Sweden was later eliminated in the quarterfinals by the United States, which went on to win the gold medal. The Swedish defenceman is coming off one of his most productive seasons offensively at the age of 34. Ekman-Larsson registered eight goals and 39 points, which is the most he has produced since the 2018-19 season with the Arizona Coyotes, where he tallied 44 points that campaign. Despite the Maple Leafs struggles this season, Ekman-Larsson was their most consistent blueliner, playing crucial minutes night in and night out, when the Leafs were dealing with injury troubles and inconsistent play from their top players. Ekman-Larsson was also the Maple Leafs' Bill Masterton Trophy nominee, voted on by the Toronto chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association (PHWA). Ekman-Larsson has extensive experience representing Team Sweden, having played in six IIHF World Championships, two Olympic Games, the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, as well as the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship. Over this stretch, Oliver Ekman-Larsson has two gold medals, both at the World Hockey Championship in 2017 and 2018. OEL is set to join John Tavares and Morgan Rielly at the World Hockey Championships, as they were announced to Team Canada over the past few weeks. William Nylander has not been named to Sweden as of yet, and many have been speculating whether he is willing to join the team, as the championship begins on May 15th. Sweden is set to face Canada, Denmark, Czechia, Slovenia, Italy, Norway, and Slovakia in the preliminary round of the tournament.

Getty Images The Colorado Avalanche advanced to the second round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs with a 5–1 win over the Los Angeles Kings in Game 4 at Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, completing a four-game sweep. On paper, it was decisive. On the ice, it was a grind from start to finish. Cale Makar was quick to speak about this point following their sweep, mentioning the matchup was a lot closer than fans may have anticipated and saw. Although the Avalanche rolled past the Kings, Los Angeles consistently worked Colorado for every inch of the ice and every scoring chance they had. Cale Makar’s Thoughts on the LA Kings’ Play “It was a tight series every night; they defend extremely well and force you to earn everything. We had to adjust, find different looks, and stay patient. Nothing came easy.” Makar told NHL.com’s Dan Greenspan. Due to the Avalanche’s strong play over this period, they have now earned the right to get some much-needed rest as they await the winner of the Dallas Stars and Minnesota Wild series, which has been nothing short of a dog fight on both ends, as the series remains tied at 2’s with game five on Tuesday. From the very beginning of the series, many did not anticipate the Kings to have any chance. While they were swept and unable to take control of any games, the score remained close. The first two games of the series ended in 2-1 wins, which could have gone either way depending on the bounces. Game three proved the Avalanche had another level as they won another tight contest 4-2, while they dominated the Kings in game four 5-1. The Kings played with a lot of fight and heart, while the Avs continued to search for answers, as Makar noted. Solid Contributions All Around for the Avalanche Scott Wedgewood played solidly between the pipes, only surrendering five goals over the four-game span. The Avalanche also received key contributions from their captain, Gabriel Landeskog and Nathan MacKinnon, who led the way with two goals and two assists. With Wedgewood’s strong play, it was going to be very difficult for the Kings to remain in the series. No team in the NHL is going to have a chance with the President’s Trophy winners if you are only able to put the puck in the back of the net five times. While the loss is disappointing for the Kings, they should exit, leaving their heads held high. They played strong hockey throughout the entirety of the series, gaining respect from players of the calibre of Cale Makar. The series result says sweep; however, the performance says something otherwise.

After dropping Game 1, the Anaheim Ducks have taken full control of their series against the Edmonton Oilers, and now hold onto a 3-1 series lead. The Ducks have had many standout performances from players this series; however, none stand above Jackson LaCombe. The young defenceman leads the NHL in playoff scoring with eight points, including one goal over four games. He was a key contributor during game four, where he set up Cutter Gauthier on the power-play, as well as Jeffrey Viel‘s game-tying goal. LaCombe’s play has earned him more points as generational talent Connor McDavid over the span of their series. Jackson LaCombe’s Breakout Season in Anaheim LaCombe has emerged as one of the best young defencemen in the NHL this season, showing signs of being a future number one defenceman. The Minnesota native was selected 39th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, proving to be one of the biggest steals of this generation. LaCombe had a strong regular season in Anaheim, recording 58 points in all 82 games, and was selected to represent Team USA during its gold-medal run at the Milano Cortina Olympics in February. The 25-year-old has been near perfect in all three zones this postseason, proving how valuable he is to this Ducks roster. Over the first four games of this series, LaCombe has averaged 26:42 of ice time and almost played a career-high 29:54 in the Ducks’ overtime win on Sunday. He has registered at least two points in each of the team’s wins. His eight points over his first four playoff games tie for the second most in NHL history alongside Cyclone Taylor in 1918, while trailing Joe Micheletti with nine points in 1981. The Ducks’ play has shocked the Oilers at times this series, but it would be hard to imagine where they would sit without LaCombe in the lineup. LaCombe has played a very crucial part in their lineup, and it will look to continue that way as the Ducks gear up for game five in Edmonton on Tuesday.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have another name joining Team Canada at this year's IIHF World Hockey Championship in Switzerland beginning on May 15. According to TSN NHL insider Darren Dreger, Reilly will join Maple Leafs superstar John Tavares at the upcoming tournament. Disappointing season in Toronto for Morgan Rielly Morgan Rielly had a very disappointing season with the Maple Leafs, falling short of expectations heading into what was seen as a crucial season for his career. Rielly is coming off the worst season of his career, with his game being magnified by many. The 32-year-old was on the ice for the second-most five-on-five goals in the entire NHL, due to his defensive play falling off a cliff. Representing Team Canada at the IIHF World Hockey Championship can be used as an opportunity for Rielly to regain his confidence and re-find the form people once saw. Shying away from the Toronto media while playing in high-pressure competition could be what the British Columbia native needs moving forward. Offensively, Rielly did not play much better as he recorded the least amount of points since the shortened 2020-21 season, with just 36 points, including 11 goals. Rielly also registered the second-worst plus-minus of his career, tallying a -18. Rielly's name heading towards the trade block Reilly is currently the longest tenured player on the roster, but has found his name in trade rumours as of late. "It’s a challenging thing to answer when those conversations haven’t happened yet, but, you know, after a year like this, after any year, but especially one like this, as an athlete, you have to be prepared for that. You know, it’s not the first time that it’s crossed my mind." Rielly said during the Maple Leafs end-of-season media availability on April 16th. Rielly was not the only player announced to Team Canada, as Dreger also announced that Macklin Celebrini, Mathew Barzal, Mark Scheifele, and Gavin McKenna will be joining Rielly in Switzerland. The veteran defenceman has ties to Canada's management staff, as former general manager Brad Treliving and Jason Spezza will oversee the roster, with the help of Kyle Dubas, with each of them being a part of the organization over the past decade. Morgan Rielly should be looking forward to this opportunity as it could truly help get his game back in the right direction for what will be a very interesting 2026-27 season for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

This offseason for the Toronto Maple Leafs will prove to be crucial, as there are a lot of questions regarding this current group due to their lack of playoff success over the past decade, while not even clinching a spot in this season's playoffs. Many people have debated what the Maple Leafs have been missing over the past years, whether that is a reliable defenceman, scoring upfront or grit in the bottom six; however, according to TSN NHL insider Darren Dreger, Auston Matthews and William Nylander have sat down with head coach Craig Berube and the rest of the management staff on where they believe the Maple Leafs need to go from here. Darren Dreger's report on what the Maple Leafs could be eyeing "What I was told...William Nylander and Auston Matthews told both coach and management, look, we believe in this team...we gotta add some players, we gotta bring in a couple dogs up front...and we need two mobile defensemen." Dreger said on the Barn Burner Podcast. The Maple Leafs have a lot of options when it comes to finding players who fit within this mould. Heading into the offseason, the Maple Leafs are expected to have just north of $22 million to work with. For a team that has no major players coming off the books, this is seen as a lot of money to work with, especially with the players they can potentially target. With what Matthews and Nylander are looking to bring in, there are a few names that stand out above the rest. Dougie Hamilton: Mobile defenceman the Maple Leafs lack Dougie Hamilton is a player the Maple Leafs can look to acquire this summer. The Toronto native has been rumoured to be with the Maple Leafs throughout the entirety of the 2025-26 season; however, a trade never came to fruition. The Devils have made it known they are looking to move the player as the fit in New Jersey is no longer apparent on both ends. The 32-year-old has struggled the past few seasons, but a new situation and new look in Toronto could be what Hamilton needs. Hamilton has two seasons remaining at $9 million per season, and with the cap going up, and if the Maple Leafs can get the Devils to retain cap space on the puck-moving defenceman, this could be a potential target for the Maple Leafs moving forward. Hamilton has had strong offensive seasons in the past, and I believe a string of good hockey can get Hamilton back to the level he once was. Darren Raddysh: Offensive production the Maple Leafs don't have on the blue line Darren Raddysh is another player the Maple Leafs could target heading into free agency. Raddysh is in the final year of his contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning and has burst onto the scene this season. The Toronto native, at 30 years old, has had his most productive season by far, being the anchor on the Lightning's blue line and a big reason for their success during the regular season. The Toronto native has surpassed 30 points on multiple occasions throughout his career, but has broken out for 70 points this season. Raddysh, who came into the season as a reliable depth puck-moving defenceman, overtook JJ Moser and Viktor Hedman's spot on the team's top power-play unit. In four postseason contests this season, Raddysh hasn't looked to slow down as he has registered two points in four games. Vincent Trocheck: Reliable depth the Maple Leafs need upfront Vincent Trocheck is a centre the Maple Leafs need to target moving forward. The New York Rangers centre is signed through the 2028-29 season at just $5.625 million per season. With both teams struggling mightily this season, it is safe to assume they are both looking for a change. While it won't be easy to acquire a player of the likes of Trochek, the Maple Leafs can certainly find a way to make the deal work for both parties. What makes Trocheck such a standout player is his ability to play on all ends of the puck. He has been an important piece to the Rangers' penalty kill since being acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes, and he provides a scoring touch that many two-way centres lack. Despite the Rangers' struggles, Trocheck produced 53 points in 67 games, where he missed time due to an injury. The fit in Toronto would seem seamless, as he has experience playing with Matthews at the 2026 Olympics as well as last season's Four Nations Face-Off. The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a lot of questions to answer heading into the offseason; however, making a splash and acquiring a player or two of this calibre can help their retool get on the right track.

The Ottawa Senators have found themselves down 3-0 in their series against a tough Carolina Hurricanes team. The Senators have found numerous problems with their games; however, one stands above the rest. During the Sens’ first three games of the postseason, they have scored a total of three goals, the fewest of any playoff team. The Senators’ lack of scoring has consistently cost them games, as they have lost close contests while giving up only seven. The team’s struggles scoring in the postseason date back to last season’s run, as they lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs in six games. Senators Need Their Best Players to Begin Playing at Their Best Throughout the Senators’ lineup, they have received contributions from only two players, with Drake Batherson having a strong playoff series, scoring two of the three goals. The Senators’ top players, Tim Stützle and Brady Tkachuk, have not been nearly as productive as they were in the regular season, which has seriously cost the Senators and has pushed them to the edge of elimination. If the Senators want any chance of getting back into this series, they need their top players to begin acting like them, while capitalizing on the solid goaltending they haven’t received all season long. Missed Opportunities in Game Three This was a true eye-opener, as the Senators were unable to score on a glorious five-on-three opportunity in game three. The Senators had a tough time generating any scoring chances, leading to time being wasted off the clock. When the Senators gained any life in the second period of Thursday’s contest with Batherson tying the game, it was erased just over a minute later as Logan Stankoven regained the lead for the Hurricanes, heading into the third frame, sucking the air out of the Canadian Tire Centre. Moving into Game 4, the Senators need to regain confidence and for their best players to take over games. Linus Ullmark has been far from the problem during the beginning stages of their series; however, Frederik Andersen, on the other side, has been equally as good. Time will tell whether the Senators can get back into this series or, for the second year in a row, experience an early playoff exit.