The Toronto Maple Leafs have struggled throughout the season with injuries, and this most recent update does not seem to be promising. Leafs assistant captain John Tavares was absent from the team with the flu. Illness floating around the Maple Leafs It seems that the flu is starting to make its way around the Maple Leafs, as Joseph Woll missed practice last week with an illness. This creates concern around the Maple Leafs as they are preparing to resume their schedule following the Olympic break on Wednesday. Toronto is at a point in its schedule where they are not able to afford players to miss time due to injury or illness. The Leafs sit six points behind the Boston Bruins for the final wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, and have just 25 games remaining on their schedule. Any concerns that arise will be magnified as the Leafs attempt to push their way back. The Oakville native has been a critical piece of the Maple Leafs organization since 2018-19. As he has gotten older and been with the team longer, he has provided stability down the lineup and leadership both on and off the ice. The 35-year-old center has recorded 20 goals and 27 assists through 57 games, continuing to produce offensively while taking on heavy minutes in all situations. The Maple Leafs are hopeful that he can be ready to go on Wednesday as the Leafs are set for a difficult matchup against the Lightning. Encouraging signs around the Maple Leafs Although Tavares took center stage at practice on Wednesday, the Leafs saw some encouraging news as William Nylander returned to practice on Tuesday. There were injury concerns regarding Nylander throughout the Olympic Games, as Nylander dealt with a lingering injury and missed Sweden's practices. Nylander had a good showing for Sweden as he registered two goals and two assists in five games before getting eliminated by Team USA in the quarterfinal matchup. Auston Matthews is yet to return to the Maple Leafs, but he is set to rejoin the team on Wednesday; his availability is yet to be confirmed.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have a lot of difficult decisions ahead of them when the March 6th trade deadline rolls around. Many of the Leafs' pending free agents and depth pieces will gain a lot of traction around the league, but it seems as if there is no bigger fish in the market than Bobby McMann. This most recent report from Darren Dreger shows the Leafs still have the upper hand with McMann and the leverage to do whatever they feel best. The TSN analyst noted on First Up that "Bobby McMann loves playing for the Leafs, he's not taking an enormous hometown discount to stay, but what if he takes $4.5 [million AAV] on a longer term? Those are some of the things Treliving...and hockey operations are wrestling with." This forces Treliving to make a future decision within the next week on what the Leafs want to do with McMann's rights. Bobby McMann's journey to the NHL McMann's journey to the NHL is one that every Maple Leafs fan should appreciate. Unlike many Leafs stars, he wasn’t handed a top-six role or fast-tracked to NHL success. Undrafted and forced to grind through college hockey and the AHL, McMann earned every opportunity he’s received. This season in particular, McMann has developed into one of the more important players on the roster. He has found a home on the Leafs' first line, becoming a massive contributor to Auston Matthews resurgence. This season, we have seen the coaching staff's trust in McMann, which has been shown through his ability to play anywhere in the lineup, as well as McMann being able to play in any situation. The Maple Leafs sit six points out of the final wild-card position, which will make this decision much more difficult. If the Leafs believe there is a good chance they can get back within the playoff circle, moving on from McMann should not be in the cards. However, this roster has proved that it is nowhere near good enough to go on a deep playoff run, and retooling the roster could be the best choice as they move towards the future. What is upcoming for the Maple Leafs Toronto has a very important schedule ahead of itself when the season resumes. The Leafs are in South Florida for a two-game swing, followed by Eastern Conference matchups against important teams that can decide their season within the next few weeks. It will be interesting to see where the Maple Leafs go from here and what they ultimately decide with Bobby McMann.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly is feeling good and is ready to get back into the action on Wednesday as the Leafs matchup against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Rielly was able to get the rest needed throughout the Olympic break as he was dealing with a lingering injury. Rielly has been skating with the main group alongside Brandon Carlo since the Leafs resumed practice. Rielly missed the last two games with a lower-body injury. Over this stretch, the Leafs went 2-0 on a dominant Western Canada swing. The Vancouver native expressed how the break was good for him and how he was able to get back into action. “ I feel good. “I was dealing with something, and it just got to a point where I just needed some time off. The break was good, and I think I was able to come back ready to go.” Rielly noted. Rielly was able to use the time off as both a mental and physical reset. It is no secret that Rielly has struggled with the Leafs this season. He has been viewed as a liability on the defensive side of the puck, as he is on pace for the worst plus/minus of his career. The Leafs have struggled this season, and if there is any chance of them getting back within a playoff spot, Toronto is going to need Rielly at his best and healthy. Rielly believes the Leafs are ready for a playoff push, with this recent quote: “ It’s great. I think we’ll have lots of time to get back together here as a group and get some time on the ice, and work on some things.” “We have a challenge ahead of us that we need to get ready to meet. That’s gonna be our focus here for the next little bit.” Craig Berube has recently backed up Morgan Rielly on how he has looked since returning from injury post Olympic break. “Before,  he was actually out that had been lingering for a while. So this rest helps him amongst other guys for sure,” he said. “Watching him out here, looks like he’s in a lot better place than he was, mentally for sure.” The Maple Leafs are excited to have back their longest tenured player in the lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Lightning. With trade rumours picking up regarding Rielly's future, this will be a very important stretch for his career.

The debate over who the greatest American hockey player is has surfaced and gained some more traction over the past couple of decades. Players such as Mike Modano and Patrick Kane have largely dominated that answer; however, after a stellar international performance at the 2026 Olympics, Auston Matthews is forcing hockey fans to reconsider who truly belongs at the top. Auston Matthews delivers for Team USA Team USA heading into the Olympics had a lot of expectations to accomplish something they haven't since the "Miracle on Ice" in 1980. This roster, captained by Matthews, was the deepest team they had seen in decades. After losing to Team Canada in the Four Nations Face-Off, many criticized Matthews for wearing the "C" despite other options available. It is safe to believe that with the Americans winning the gold medal, the narrative around the Scottsdale native has changed. Matthews has also gotten supportment by his teammates for his performance, especially from their top players. Anything short of a gold medal would have been seen as a disappointment. At the NHL level, Matthews, despite winning a Stanley Cup, has had a great career. Matthews has produced multiple elite-level scoring seasons, while having the awards to back him up. Matthews won the 2017 Calder Cup Trophy, the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy on three separate occasions, the Ted Lindsay Award in 2022, and the Hart Trophy as the league's MVP in 2022. The 28-year-old is the greatest goal scorer of this most recent generation and has now developed into a far more well-rounded player, due to the arrival of Craig Berube. Matthews' ability to play on all ends of the ice Matthews, over the past few months, has learned the ability to be effective on both sides. He has adopted a defensive style of game, while it took some time to understand how to play well on both ends, his most recent stretch of hockey suggests he is on the right path and has found his goal-scoring ability. This was present at the Olympics as well, as he led the Americans to a dominant 5-1 win over the Germans, while being under the spotlight. He registered two goals and was noticeable for the entirety of the game. The Maple Leafs are hoping that this gold medal win can change the narrative around his leadership, and he can bring a winning culture to the remainder of their season. Ever since Matthews has been in the NHL, the Maple Leafs have never able to get past the hump and go on a deep playoff run. Matthews, because of this, has received a lot of criticism and has been the centre of attention when speaking about this topic. As captain of Team USA, Matthews has looked calm, composed, and fully in control. The debate may not last much longer What separates Matthews from becoming the greatest American hockey player of all time is his lack of production in the postseason. Patrick Kane has won multiple Stanley Cups, which include a Conn Smythe trophy. Modono, on the other hand, has always been a part of a championship roster. If Olympic success is followed by postseason success in Toronto, the debate may not last much longer.

The NHL regular season may have come to a pause, but the injury bug hasn’t seemed to take a break, especially for the Dallas Stars. Stars superstar Mikko Rantanen is now facing an uncertain timeline after suffering a lower-body injury during the 2026 Winter Olympics. On Monday, the team announced the injury and has been placed on injury reserve. The move has been labelled retroactive to February 20th , as he sustained the injury against Team Canada during the semi-final game, which led to his absence against Slovakia. Finland has no issue winning the bronze medal, as they steamrolled through Team Slovakia 6-1, even without Rantanen’s presence on the ice. In five contests, Ranatanen produced six points, which included a goal in the semi-final game against Canada, before the injury occurred. The Timing of the Injury for the Dallas Stars The injury could not have come at a worse time for the Stars. They currently sit comfortably within a playoff spot, but they are battling for home ice. The Avalanche may be a team that is out of reach at this stage of the season, with 25 games remaining, but they sit just one point behind the Minnesota Wild for second in the Central Division. Rantanen has been one of Dallas’ most important offensive drivers this season. In 54 games this season, the Finnish forward has produced 69 points, including 20 goals, while averaging over 20 minutes of ice time. Throughout his career, he has produced at offence at an elite level, incorporating playmaking, goal scoring, and playing heavy minutes within the top line, as well as the top power-play unit. His absence now leaves a massive hole in a lineup preparing for the playoff push. The Stars Identity Dallas has built their identity on the ability to switch a game at any moment, and relying on offence and puck possession. Without Rantanen over the next stretch of hockey, the Stars will need to find new line combinations and find new ways to generate offence at a high level. Rantanen provides Dallas with the rarity of size, elite puck protection, and high-end offensive creativity. The Stars will need to rely on their depth scoring past just Wyatt Johnson and Jason Robertson. While a timeline has not been released yet, the severity of the injury does not look good for the stars. “I don’t have a full update,” “I would say to you that we are going to miss him for a little bit here, but I don’t know quite the extent. He’s going to see the doctor today, but I wouldn’t expect him for the first game or maybe even the first two.” Stars coach Glen Gulutzan said on Monday. What’s Upcoming for the Stars and Mikko Rantanen The Stars return to action on Wednesday against the Seattle Kraken, followed by the Nashville Predators to wrap up the week. Their first biggest test comes on Friday, March 6th, as they face off against the Colorado Avalanche at home. The Stars will be hopeful for Rantanen’s return, but they will have to wait on the diagnosis and the severity of the injury.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have spent most of the season searching for consistency. Injuries have left the team chasing a playoff spot rather than comfortably sitting in one, like years past. But heading into the final stretch of the season, there are signs the Leafs may finally be discovering what kind of team they need to be. Toronto currently sits outside the playoff picture, trailing the Boston Bruins by 6 points for the final wild-card position. Every game heading down the stretch will have a playoff-type feel. The pressure has forced head coach Craig Berube to find new ways to win and work on his system with the lineup, which will need to be in full shape, as the season resumes on Wednesday. The Maple Leafs have finally seen the emergence of secondary scoring. Players like Bobby McMann and Matias Maccelli have provided depth scoring, easing the offensive pressure of Auston Matthews and William Nylander. Earlier in the season, Toronto relied heavily on its stars to carry the offence, but if they want a chance coming down the stretch, they will need to present a far more balanced lineup. Maccelli, in particular, has turned his season around after a difficult start that saw him spend time as a healthy scratch. Since being placed alongside Nylander and John Tavares, he has shown strong chemistry and playmaking ability, giving Toronto a legitimate second scoring line. That type of depth is something the Leafs have lacked throughout the season. Goaltending has also played a crucial role. Joseph Woll stepped up when the team was not playing at its best, especially with injuries affecting the net earlier in the season. His stability has allowed Toronto to stay competitive during a stretch when the playoffs seemed unachievable. However, questions remain as the trade deadline approaches. Brad Treliving must decide whether their recent stretch shows a change in their game, or if it was just an unsustainable push. The Leafs have several pending free agents, as well as players that will gain the attention of contenders if they choose to become sellers. If the Maple Leafs have a bad two-game swing in Florida upcoming, it could signal the end of their season. Toronto will need to find its identity, and find it quickly; time is running out if the Maple Leafs want to make a playoff push. The Leafs have time to save their season, but it will take a deeper and more responsible defensive style of hockey to climb back into a playoff spot.

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Matthew Hlacar has received a one-game suspension from the Ontario Hockey League. Hlacar returned to the Kitchener Rangers lineup from his four-game suspension. This is the third time this season that Hlacar has been suspended, and it may be beginning to signal a problem. In the first period of a game against the Ottawa 67's, the Maple Leafs draft pick received a two-minute minor for grazing Teddy Spitznagel in the face with his elbow. Although he only got penalized for two minutes, the OHL determined the intent was to injure the player. The OHL's statement included "Hlacar has been suspended for one game as a result of actions (Exceeding Check to the Head Threshold)." Matthew Hlacar's suspensions this season Hlacar has been suspended on two different occasions this season. Earlier in February, Hlacar was suspended for four games after boarding London Knights defenceman Caleb Mitchell. Hlacar was suspended for six games in October for a late hit on Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds defenceman Jakub Winklehofer. While it is safe to say that Hlacar enjoys playing a hard, physical type of game, he is not playing the correct way. He is set to miss his 11th game of the season, which is far too many for a player attempting to progress and develop. In 38 games with the Rangers, he has produced eight points, which include five goals. Hlacar was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NHL Draft by the Maple Leafs. If Hlacar is not able to change the way he plays, it will be a difficult road ahead for the Maple Leafs prospect. Even if Hlcar can progress well in the future, the Leafs may not have the trust in their prospect to play the right way, and he may hinder the team's chances rather than make them better.

The Toronto Maple Leafs were short-handed during Thursday's practice, as Max Domi was sidelined for personal reasons and Joseph Woll was out with an illness. The Maple Leafs have called up Bo Groulx from the Toronto Marlies. The Maple Leafs injury concerns The Maple Leafs have dealt with injuries throughout the entirety of the season, and they can't afford to have players miss anymore time. For Joseph Woll, it is not expected that he will miss any time when the NHL season resumes. Woll still has a week to prepare and get over the illness. Max Domi's reasoning for being away from the team is completely different. The Leafs should not be expected to give a timeline, as there was no release on why he left, which is expected. Joseph Woll has played a critical role with the Leafs this season. The Leafs have dealt with major injuries, specifically in goal. Anthony Stolarz missed a great deal of time due to a nerve injury. If it wasn't for Woll, the Leafs would be in a much worse spot than they are now, which says a lot considering they are six points out of the final wild card spot. Max Domi has struggled at times this season, becoming a healthy scratch in November. Since then, he has turned it around and has found a home alongside Auston Matthews on the first line. Since his slow start, Domi has tallied 31 points, including nine goals, in 55 games. Over the Leafs' most recent stretch, Domi has played a key role in their success. In his last five games, Domi has produced six points. The Leafs have also seen Auston Matthews return to the player we are accustomed to, and Domi's and Matthews chemistry has played a key factor in this. Upcoming for the Maple Leafs The Maple Leafs will return to action on February 25th, as the Leafs head down to Florida for a two-game swing. The Leafs will need full health as they need a comeback heading down the stretch.

Toronto Maple Leafs fans will feel conflicted as their former superstar Mitch Marner scored the overtime winner for Team Canada on Wednesday, against Czechia. Mitch Marner’s goal will be remembered by Canadians for a very long time, but for the opposite reasons many Leafs fans will remember him. The narrative around Marner during his tenure in Toronto was his inability to perform during the biggest moments. When the Maple Leafs faltered in the postseason, Marner was the first player to be targeted, and for good reason. Over 50 playoff games from 2019-20, Marner produced a total of eight goals. Mitch Marner Changing the Narrative in Italy In four games with Canada, Marner has five points, including one goal. Marner’s play is beginning to change the narrative of the player he is. Performing at the Olympic stage, especially in big moments, will do wonders for a player’s career. Canada did not have the smoothest game versus Czechia, to say the least. They went down 3-2 with under seven minutes to go before Nick Suzuki tipped one home past Lukas Dostal to tie the game. Overtime saw, Canada and Czechia traded chances at the beginning, before Marner’s rush ended the contest. Marner’s goal signalled change, he was able to dance around the entirety of Czechia’s group, while roofing it. This is not the first time Marner has had some overtime heroics while repping Team Canada. During last years Four Nations Face-Off Marner scored the overtime winner versus Sweden in the opening matchup. He was also able to set up McDavid for the overtime winner that saw Canada bring home the gold medal. Most of Canada will celebrate the fact that they were not embarrassed on the national stage, while Leafs fans may feel the internal disappointment of Marner scoring the winner. Leafs fans ultimately ran him out of town, leading him to join the Vegas Golden Knights in a trade during the offseason that saw Nicolas Roy coming back the other way for the Maple Leafs. In Marner’s first season with the Golden Knights, he has played well enough to secure a spot on Canada’s Olympic roster. While this did not come as much shock, what he did during Wednesday’s Quarterfinals was. Life Without Marner for the Maple Leafs Toronto’s first season without Marner has not gone as planned. The Leafs sit towards the bottom of the Atlantic Division, while trailing the Boston Bruins by six points for the final wild card spot. Marner’s absence has been felt as the Leafs have dealt with countless injuries to their star players, which has led to the Leafs being in this position. The Leafs have struggled with depth at times this season and have not been able to find a player with the ability to take over games. As the Olympic Games carry on for Team Canada, Leafs fans will cheer for Marner and praise his good deeds. They will have to be able to come to terms with Marner playing a massive role in their chances at gold. He is one of the more dynamic players on their roster alongside Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon. Canada will continue their run to gold on Friday against Team Finland.

The New York Yankees right-handed star pitcher, Gerrit Cole, is giving Yankees fans hope as he is trending in the positive direction and may pitch in a Grapefruit League game before the end of spring training. Cole has been recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he remains on the expected timeline of 14-18 months after his most recent procedure last March. Based on this timeline, we could see the Yankees’ former ace pitch in the majors between June and October. New York has repeated on hoping he can return sometime in June. Gerrit Cole’s Timeline Heading Into 2025-26 “The target has always been between 14 to 18 months.” “That’s what the research says. That’s what the comps that we’ve looked at says and that’s what it’s always been.” Cole said on Friday. Cole took a step forward after throwing in the bullpen on Friday. He performed a modified windup delivery, which saw him bring his hands over his head rather than to his chest. Over the summer, Cole was able to work on this during the summer, stating, “It just felt good.” “Just throwing on the back fields during the summer, I tried it out. I’ve had a few idiosyncrasies that have changed over the years. I think I generally just like the rhythm of it.” Aaron Boone’s Thoughts on Gerrit Coles Progress Aaron Boone believes Cole is making all the right steps to becoming the pitcher we once saw. He said to the media, “He looked like Gerrit Cole.” “Just really efficient, really great command.” “When I think of Gerrit and his greatness, a lot of it ties to his delivery. Everything looks like it’s coming out free and easy. I liken it to a diver that dives off the high board and just goes in the water, making no splash. That’s Gerrit.” Boone expressed the possibility of giving Cole a chance to pitch throughout spring training, but will not rush Cole back into action. “The last thing we want to do is push him early in the season just because he looks like he does now.”  “The reality is he didn’t pitch last year on top of having that surgery, and we want to make sure we give him the proper time to make sure he is good and ready to come back, built up smartly. We won’t rush that with him, even if it continues to go incredibly well.” Yankees Awaiting Cole's Return The Yankees have not seen Cole pitch since Game 5 of the World Series versus the Los Angeles Dodgers back in 2024. That season, Cole had started in 22 games and pitched 124 innings as he sustained an elbow injury during spring training. The Yankees ace did not pitch all of 2025, as the Yankees lost to the Toronto Blue Jays in the American League Divisional Series. Whenever Cole is ready to play this season, there is no doubt he will play a crucial role in the team’s success. As Carlos Rodon and Clarke Schmidt are recovering from injury, the Yankees’ rotation is projected to be Max Fried, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers, and Luis Gil.