The Toronto Maple Leafs are in danger of missing the postseason for the first time since 2016-17, which is the longest active streak in the NHL. The Maple Leafs management staff will have many tough decisions about which players to bring back to the roster, as there is no secret that they are heading towards a retool. Troy Stecher's emergence with the Toronto Maple Leafs Troy Stecher has emerged as a player who has bounced around the NHL, but has finally found a home in Toronto, at least for the remainder of this season. He has played the best hockey of his career during his time in Toronto, and he has made it clear he wants to remain a Maple Leaf past this campaign. "It's a privilege to put on the crest every single night and to call yourself a Leaf. I haven't forgotten that. I take a lot of pride in that. Every night you get to put it on, it’s an opportunity to make an impression." Stecher told the Toronto Sun. Stecher and the rest of the Maple Leafs feel that he has revived his career this year after the Maple Leafs picked him up via waivers earlier this season. “In a sense, I’ve kind of revived my career after coming from Edmonton, and I’m thankful for the opportunity.” Stecher said. In 47 games with the Maple Leafs, he has registered three goals and ten assists for 13 points, which, if he spent the entirety of the season with Toronto, he could have set new career highs. "I love being a Leaf," Stecher's comments on his time in Toronto Stecher admitted that if he was not able to be a Maple Leaf next year, it would be tough moving on to a new organization. “I don’t know where it’s going to go from here. I’d love to be back. I love this group, I love the staff, I love the city, and I love the fan support. There are a lot of positives played in Toronto. I love being a Leaf." Moving forward for the organization, it makes sense to re-sign him to an extension. The Leafs will be able to sign him to a cheaper extension, while he is a reliable depth defenceman who can play crucial minutes up and down the lineup. Stecher will play a key role in the Maple Leafs return to the playoff circle if wanted back by the Maple Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have recently been receiving a lot of criticism for their play this season, but none may be higher than when they didn't step up for Auston Matthews after taking a dirty hit from Radko Gudas that ended Auston Matthews season. Brady and Matthew Tkachuk's thoughts on the Auston Matthews injury Brad Tkachuk, captain of the Ottawa Senators, spoke on his podcast Wingmen about this hit, mentioning. "If your captain gets taken out like that, you gotta have a way better response. I know how I'd feel if I got hit like that and nobody really jumped in there. I'd be pretty pissed." The importance of sticking up for your teammates Brady Tkachuk understands the importance of sticking up for your teammates, especially if that player is the best on the team. This is an area the Maple Leafs have improved on over the past few contests. They have played more physically and have stood up for Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz, in particular, when players go near them after the whistle. When none of the players on the ice stick up for your captain, there are reasons for concern, as Tkachuk later added, "Even if he takes a bump, it's like, if you go after our best players, we're going after your best players." "I feel for him. I know he'd stick up for guys if that was the other way around, and at least get in there." The Toronto Maple Leafs will begin to look towards next season, as this season continues to spiral in the wrong direction. Without their captain for the remainder of the season, the load will disperse throughout the lineup, as the coaching staff will begin to give more responsibility to players that may not have gotten a chance earlier in the season. The Maple Leafs are hoping for a smooth recovery regarding Auston Matthews and that he is ready to go for the beginning of next season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost 3-2 in a shutout to the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday. Despite the loss, Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube was pleased with the team's effort and how they were able to play physical, something that has been lacking over time for Toronto. The Maple Leafs have often been labelled a soft team during the Auston Matthews era, frequently criticized for not being willing to sacrifice their bodies when games get tight. Too often, they are outworked physically and outmatched in board battles, allowing opponents to gain the upper hand as the game progresses. Craig Berube's thoughts on their improved physicality During Saturday night's game, that was not the case, according to Craig Berube , "We always try to instill it. We talk about it a lot. I thought we were physical tonight, which was good. We have to be physical. I’ve been preaching it all year, to be honest with you. I want our team to be physical. I know there are different guys who play differently, but it doesn’t mean every player can’t get on the body and take the body. It slows the other team down and creates turnovers. It does a lot of good." The Maple Leafs lack of physicality was on full display during their contest against the Anaheim Ducks, when their captain sustained a season-ending injury. When Matthews went down following a dirty hit from Radko Gudas, nobody went in to defend their teammate and step up for him. Everyone who was on the ice skated the other direction from Gudas and just let it happen. Saturday night was a massive improvement in this area. Going into the game, everyone knew it was going to be a physical, hard checking batlle as it always is between the Sabres and Leafs, and Toronto answered the call. While the game didn't go as they liked, they need to continue this, especially heading into next season. The Toronto Maple Leafs are back in action on Sunday as they face off against the Minnesota Wild. With the Maple Leafs well outside of a playoff spot and without Auston Matthews, they will need to continue to grind through the remainder of the season and build momentum heading into next year.

Bobby McMann made his long-awaited debut with the Seattle Kraken on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks, and it is safe to say he did not disappoint. McMann led the Kraken to a dominant 5-2 win, with two goals and an assist. McMann, who was dealt from the Toronto Maple Leafs during the trade deadline on March 6th, took his time getting into the Kraken lineup as he struggled with obtaining his visa, but showed all hockey fans why Seattle pushed to get him within the dire moments of the deadline. The former Maple Leafs fit right in on the Kraken's first line alongside Matthew Beniers and Jordan Eberle. Bobby McMann on first game with the Seattle Kraken McMann spoke postgame about playing in his first game for the Kraken, and what his first impression means moving forward: “It almost resembles, in a way, your first game,” he said. “You’ve got an entirely new group, new organization, new fans. You want to make a great first impression.” “Sometimes things go your way a little bit more than other nights, and, luckily, that was tonight for me. “That was a fun one. It’s always nice to get the win, and then when you contribute, it makes it that much better.” The Kraken acquired McMann from the Maple Leafs in exchange for a second and fourth-round pick, proving the cost was worth buying. While the Maple Leafs originally set their price at a first-round pick, the market did not present itself that way, leaving the Maple Leafs no choice but to take what was given to them before losing him for nothing in free agency. The Maple Leafs are hoping to try to bring McMann back this summer, if he hits the open market on July 1st. Lane Lambert's thoughts on McMann's game Saturday McMann will add a lot of versatility to the Kraken lineup moving forward, as they push to reach the postseason for the second time in the franchise's history. Lane Lambert, former Maple Leafs assistant coach, added to this, mentioning, “You saw it right away, first shift when he’s tracking the puck and he’s got a ton of speed, and it’s a welcome addition for us from that standpoint,” Lambert said. "Obviously, the goals he scored, he had a real good chance to make it three as well. I think it went off the knob of the goalie there. But he played well.” The remainder of the regular season will prove to be crucial for McMann's future, whether he remains with the Kraken or opts to test free agency. However, the Kraken's decision to acquire McMann from the Maple Leafs has proved to be critical in their team's success just one game in.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are set to head down the QEW to face off against the Buffalo Sabres on Saturday night. Without Auston Matthews in the lineup, after suffering a season-ending injury in the last game against the Anaheim Ducks, they have made several key lineup changes. Key changes in the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup without Auston Matthews Dakota Joshua will draw back into the lineup after sitting as a healthy scratch in the last game. It is looking as if Joshua will slide onto the third line alongside Bo Groulx and Nicholas Robertson. The Maple Leafs have seen success when pairing Joshua with Robertson. This was a line before Joshua had to take time off due to a kidney injury that pushed the play and acted like a spark plug for the then-desperate Maple Leafs team. Joshua will bring a physical, hard-checking game to the Leafs' lineup, which was sometimes missing against the Ducks. The Maple Leafs will also slide some forwards up or down the lineup without Matthews. John Tavares will join William Nylander and Matias Maccelli on the first line, as Maccelli continues his strong play as of late. This will give the Maple Leafs' forward core a completely different look. Against the Ducks, Nylander was the only player of the three on the first line, as Easton Cowan will now shift down to the second line alongside Max Domi at centre and Matthew Knies on the other wing. Domi has struggled as a centre, but the depleted Maple Leafs leave Craig Berube and the rest of the coaching staff with little to no other options. The fourth line will remain the same with Jacob Quillan centring Michael Pezzetta and Calle Jarnkrok on the wings. Joseph Woll remains the goalie between the pipes Joseph Woll will remain behind the pipes for the third consecutive game as the Maple Leafs gear up for Saturday. Woll's 36-save performance on Thursday led the Maple Leafs to their first win since returning from the Olympic break. Despite the Maple Leafs' struggles this season, Woll has maintained a strong .905 save percentage and a 3.13 goals-against average. He has clearly been the best netminder the Maple Leafs have had all season, as Anthony Stolarz has struggled with injuries and, since returning, Dennis Hildeby has been the number one goalie with the Toronto Marlies. The Maple Leafs will be an interesting watch for the remainder of the season without Auston Matthews. Missing such a big piece in their forward core may lead to offensive struggles and overall depth issues throughout the team. The Maple Leafs currently sit 25th in the NHL standings and may fall to 27th to give them the best overall odds of keeping their first-round pick in the upcoming draft.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a new prospect emerge this season: Luke Haymes. The undrafted prospect out of Dartmouth College has exceeded expectations with the Toronto Marlies and may look to get his chance with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season. Last season, Haymes signed a two-year deal with the Maple Leafs in March and played solidly in nine contests, registering six points, including two goals. His solid play has carried over into the season, as he has tallied 26 points, including 15 goals. He has earned an opportunity within the Maple Leafs lineup, as they have traded three important pieces to their forward core. We have already seen players making their Maple Leafs debut, as the team is nearing a 10-game losing streak. Does it make sense at this point in the season to give Haymes a chance, or have him keep developing at the minor league stage? Can Luke Haymes fit within the Toronto Maple Leafs lineup? The Maple Leafs and the coaching staff, especially early on in the season, did not do a great job with developing their prospects and giving them a true chance to keep their spot in the lineup. Easton Cowan has been a perfect example of this, as he has gone from a lock in the lineup to sitting out for multiple games at a time. Looking at the current state of the forward core, there are a lot of places where he can slot in. If you want Haymes to get a good chance to see how he fits within the Maple Leafs lineup, Berube can place him on the second line alongside John Tavares and William Nylander, in place of Max Domi. Berube can also try Haymes on the fourth or third line in place of Calle Jarnkrok, as he provides no value to their lineup at this point. The Maple Leafs may opt to keep him where he has been thriving in the minors, but as the Leafs are in full tank mode, it may be worth giving him the chance to succeed at the highest level. Time will tell until Luke Haymes makes his NHL debut, and if it's not this season, it will be for sure next season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had new additions to their lineup since trading Bobby McMann, Nicolas Roy, and Scott Laughton at the trade deadline. This has opened doors to players who now have the chance to make their Maple Leafs debuts, and from what we have seen so far, they have all exceeded expectations, including Michael Pezzetta in just his first game as a Maple Leaf. Pezzetta's impact was felt right from the beginning of the contest with his hometown team. Just one second into his Maple Leafs debut, he dropped the gloves with Jeffrey Viel in the Maple Leafs 6-4 win over the Anaheim Ducks. Both landed strong punches before Pezzetta fired up the crowd on the way to the penalty box. The 28-year-old provided the bigger spark that the Maple Leafs have seen in over a month. Craig Berube's thoughts on Michael Pezzetta's game Craig Berube spoke on Pezzetta's fight and how he was able to fire up the crowd, mentioning , "I wasn’t sure if he was going to or not, but he wants to make a statement. I know his minutes were limited because of the penalties, but every time he was out there, he made an impact, I thought. He was physical. He got into a fight. He did a good job. I’m very happy for him and proud of him." Berube was clearly pleased with how he contributed to the lineup, and we can see him staying within the lineup for the remainder of the season. Pezzetta spoke to the media following the Maple Leafs morning skate, speaking on how he was feeling . “Super stoked. Being from Toronto, growing up, all these moments when I was young. It’s super exciting. I could barely sleep last night.” Pezzetta has appeared in 201 NHL games, all with the Montreal Canadiens. The Maple Leafs signed Pezzetta to a two-year deal over the summer with an average annual value of $812,000 thousand. With the Maple Leafs feeling lifeless over the past few weeks since the NHL season resumed, it is likely to assume he will remain in the lineup on the team's fourth line.

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost their ninth straight contest to the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday night, 3-1. While it proved to be another night of disappointing hockey, there was one singular bright spot that stood out to fans, as well as head coach Craig Berube. Craig Berube's thoughts on Benoit-Olivier Groulx Maple Leafs debut Benoit-Olivier Groulx made his Toronto Maple Leafs debut on Tuesday in Montreal in front of many of his family and friends. While he did not record a point during the game, he caught the attention of the coaching staff, as Berube said postgame, "I thought he played a very good game." "I was very happy with him, Quillan, and Cowboy. They all played well tonight. This rink can be a pretty hostile environment and tough to play in, but I thought all three of them were very good tonight." Dominant force with the Toronto Marlies This has been a long time coming for Groulx as he has been a dominant force with the Maple Leafs AHL squad, the Toronto Marlies. The former second-round pick has produced 50 points in 54 games, which includes 27 goals. Due to the trades the Maple Leafs made at the deadline, Groulx finally received his chance as the Maple Leafs' third-line centre. Berube touched upon his play with the Marlies and how he has progressed, mentioning, "In the minors, Groulx has put up some really good numbers. I was pretty impressed with a couple of plays he made tonight. He challenged defensemen and beat them. He had a couple of good scoring chances." Groulx has had his chance in the NHL in the past with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring one goal and four assists in 66 contests. The French native is looking to revive his career at 26 years old. If he continues on this path, he may look to have a spot in the Maple Leafs lineup depending on the players are the holes they fill heading into next season.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the verge of missing the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time in a decade. Their cornerstone centre, Auston Matthews, has struggled this season and simply can't carry the load offensively for the Maple Leafs anymore. This leaves the question of who the player is for the Maple Leafs to look to build their future around. William Nylander dominate offensive season William Nylander, despite all of the Maple Leafs recent struggles, has still played solidly. In his last 17 games, Nylander has registered 24 points while dealing with injuries and inconsistent play from linemates. The Swedish forward leads the Maple Leafs, while playing only 48 games this season. Nylander is able to pick up players around him and make them better while allowing them to produce. At this point in Auston Matthews' career, you can't say the same. Matthews has always elevated his game around top players, being able to score in pressure moments and scoring at ease. When forced to carry a line and be the player to produce, he has fallen to just 26 goals this season. Nylander's long-term The Maple Leafs have a lot of leverage around William Nylander, being able to have a clear timeline on when they are able to be a true contender. Nylander is just in the second year of an eight-year contract with an average annual value of $11.5 million. He will consistently take up a chunk of their money, forcing the Maple Leafs to work around Nylander and find players who will complement him. Auston Matthews, on the other hand, signed a short-term deal with two years remaining at $13.25 million following this season. Matthews' future with the Maple Leafs has been in jeopardy as of late, as the management staff is going to sit down with the American forward this summer, speaking on both their plans. The Toronto Maple Leafs will have a lot to determine this summer, but one thing that has already been answered is who the Maple Leafs need to build their future around. William Nylander has established himself as the man in Toronto, whether that is leading the team on offence, or being a player that picks people up around him. The future in Toronto is unclear, but Nylander becoming their new cornerstone piece shouldn't be.

The Toronto Maple Leafs over their recent seven-game stretch, feels as if they have had no desire to win and are just going through the motions until the season comes to an end. Since becoming sellers, the Maple Leafs have been lifeless, which includes games where they have a chance at coming back or even when they have had the lead in a close contest. From an outside perspective, this could be completely different in the locker room, but it seems as if they don't care to win, or even don't hate to lose. Obviously, the Maple Leafs go out there to win and beat the other team; however, it just doesn't look like that. It looks as though they are just there because they need to be, and with no playoffs on the horizon, they just don't play together and feel as though what's the point? The Leafs are playing as if they are scared to win, and not afraid to lose. The common trend behind the Toronto Maple Leafs failures This has been a common occurrence with this group, but has been far more prominent since returning from the Olympic break. Looking back at all the major Maple Leafs losses in the playoffs, they all have a similar trend. When it comes down to crunch time or to even make a play to move on to the next round, they crumble. The narrative around this group and the top players in particular is that they don't have what it takes to win. If you are blocking out simply just the mental part of hockey and have looked at their rosters since making the postseason for the first time in 2016-17, many would say how many times have they won, and how many deep playoff runs this team has gone on? The true answer would be zero. The Toronto Maple Leafs could become a threat in the NHL because of all the skill they have and the star power that should be able to push them over the hunt, dominate games, and win games they shouldn't, but it doesn't look that way, and it never has. At the end of every season interview, the Maple Leafs management staff, whether that has been Brad Treliving or Kyle Dubas, has always gotten the question, do these players have what it takes to win. The answer was always yes, but there has been no proven evidence of them being able to rise to the occasion and play solid hockey when it matters. Can this core of Maple Leafs players win? I do believe the Maple Leafs' current core has what it takes to win, but heading into next season, they have to begin playing like it is life or death. Every time they touch that ice, it doesn't matter if they are playing the worst or the best; it needs to be, I want to kill my opponents, I hate to lose. There is a famous quote in sports, and the Maple Leafs need to adopt it. "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." The Maple Leafs have the talent, but do they have the desire to win? That will be the real question.