The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that Marshall Rifai has been called up from the minors on Wednesday, and have assigned Henry Thrun and Dakota Mermis. Marshall Rifai season with the Leafs and Marlies Marshall Rifai has been up and down with the Maple Leafs this season, since recovering from his injury that was suffered during preseason. Rifai had a strong preseason with the Maple Leafs and was projected to be with the top club to begin the season, but dealt with an injury that set back his season. Rifai has not played a game with the Leafs this season and has two NHL contests on his resume dating back to 2023-24. Rifai can finally get his chance with the NHL club, as the Maple Leafs continue to struggle and are in dire need of urgency. Dakota Mermis and Henry Thrun are assigned to the Marlies Dakota Mermis has not been with the Maple Leafs since dealing with a lower-body injury that he suffered on December 10th in a knee-on-knee collision with Gage Goncalves of the Tampa Bay Lightning. Henry Thrun has been seen in four games this season for the Maple Leafs. Over the course of four games, Thrun has notched a -1. Thrun was acquired during the summer that sent Ryan Reaves to the San Jose Sharks. Reaves was used as a cap dump, and luckily, Treliving was able to acquire a defensive prospect. Dakota Mermis was sent on a conditioning stint with the Marlies earlier this month before returning to the NHL squad. In 11 games this season, Mermis has tallied one goal while being a -3. By recalling Marshall Rifai, the Maple Leafs are looking for a change in their lineup and someone who may be able to provide a spark. Marshall Rifai will likely not play on Thursday night against the Kraken, but can be seen later on the teams roadtrip.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have found themselves in a bad situation with little time remaining in the season. Unless the Maple Leafs win 8 of their final 10 games before the March 6th trade deadline, they have a lot of tough decisions to make. The team Brad Treliving produced clearly did not work. Treliving will have to either think about retooling or rebuilding the team for the future. The Maple Leafs may have to look to wave the white flag for the remainder of the season. On paper, and from the eye test, this team is nowhere near a Stanley Cup contender. They don't have the depth or the firepower to go on a deep playoff run. Losing Marner was a big loss for the Maple Leafs, but I believe it goes much further than that. Many applauded Brad Treliving for his work this offseason, but the players he brought in have not made a significant impact as many expected. Nobody excelled like the management staff expected, and when the team has dealt with injuries on offence and defence all season, you need some of your acquisitions to make a difference. While the simple answer to this would be to go out and make a trade, the Leafs don't have the assets to do this. Following the steps of the Boston Bruins and Vegas Golden Knights The Maple Leafs are going to need to look to do something the Boston Bruins did last season, they finished second to last in the Eastern Conference and are now a favourite to qualify for the postseason. The Vegas Golden Knights found themselves in a similar position during the 2021-22 season; they failed to qualify for the playoffs, and later ended up winning the Stanley Cup the following season. Both of these teams were able to find ways to improve their roster by retooling. This would be the best option for the Maple Leafs heading towards the trade deadline and the offseason. Instead of trying to dig yourself in a deeper hole, they need to become sellers by clearing out some players while looking to improve on these gaps in the offseason. The Maple Leafs have several players on expiring deals, including Scott Laughton, Calle Jarnkrok, Bobby McMann, and Troy Stecher. Both Matias Maccelli and Nicholas Robertson are restricted free agents, meaning the Maple Leafs will retain their rights past this season. Hard decisions that need to be made It may also be time to move on from Craig Berube. While he was able to deliver the Leafs their longest playoff run in the Matthews era, he has lost the room. The message he is trying to get across to the players, especially the leadership staff, is going in one ear and out the other. Many believe years two to four of coaching a team are the hardest because of the fact that the message may become repetitive, which makes it harder for the players to listen. While this is not an excuse the players get to use, it is just human nature and something everybody goes through at any level of sports. Another issue that has seemed to arise with Berube and Treliving is the number of players who are the same. When looking at the lineup, it seems their bottom six are virtually two good fourth lines. They don't have a player who pushes their line and can be productive in the top six if given the chance. Players like Max Domi, Matias Maccelli, Nicholas Robertson, and Easton Cowan play the same way. To be a successful team, you can't have four third liners that don't contribute and make a difference. This doesn't fall directly on Berube, but you have to set each player with a different role and a different way in which they contribute to the lineup. Moving towards the trade deadline, some of these players may begin to gain interest. Bobby McMann is towards the top of that list if moved towards the trade block. He is a hard-working, physical forward who can play in all different areas of the ice, while nearing a 30-goal season. He is an effective middle-six forward on a cheap deal that any team could afford at this point in the season. Scott Laughton is another player who will gain the interest of other teams. He is a player who deserves a bigger role than the one he has in Toronto. Laughton won't produce you a lot of goals, but will go into the hard areas of the ice and play crucial minutes on the penalty kill and against other teams' top players. Lastly, Brandon Carlo should be another player the Maple Leafs should attempt to move. Carlo simply did not work in Toronto; he had a great career in Boston that didn't translate to Toronto. It could be the fact that his defence partner, Morgan Rielly, hasn't been good at all, but when you give up your top prospect and a first-round pick for him, you expect a lot better. Carlo has two years remaining on his deal with a cap hit of $3.485 per season. Upcoming for the Maple Leafs When you look towards the trade deadline and offseason, the Leafs will have hard decisions to make. I think they need to look deeper into figuring out the player's role throughout the season and the type of team they want to become. It would be hard to predict at this point who may become available; however, the Maple Leafs should look for different players in their lineup, because the core they have no cleary doesn't work. The Maple Leafs will have an interesting next stretch of hockey before the Olympic break, as well as moving towards the trade deadline. The Leafs are set to hit the road and face the Seattle Kraken on Thursday night.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have had a very disappointing season to say the least, they sit well outside a playoff spot with just under 30 games remaining. If the Maple Leafs look to trend towards selling, Jacob Quillan is a player who needs to get a chance within the Leafs' lineup. Jacob Quillan deserves his shot after developing in AHL Quillan has split time between the Maple Leafs and Marlies this season, but has not been able to get a real opportunity with the NHL squad. Quillan is a player who has dominated the AHL, posting eight goals and 19 assists for 27 points in 28 games. Quillan has suited up for the Maple Leafs four times this season but has not registered a point to date. If the Maple Leafs look to sell ahead of the March 6th trade deadline, this could open a very good opportunity for Quillan to make his mark in the NHL. Jacob Quillan is a player many Leafs fans should be excited for. He is a responsible two-way centre with proven scoring touch in the minor league. Quillan had a strong season in the NCAA at Quinnipiac University. Quillan was an undrafted prospect who was signed with the Maple Leafs back in April of 2024. If Quillan is able to continue his development with the Marlies, we could see him transition into a bottom-six center as early as next season. The Maple Leafs will likely have a lot of gaps to fill within their lineup next season, and relying on internal help will be the Maple Leafs best bet. Craig Berube's liking of Quillan Berube has spoken of his liking for Quillan, mentioning "He's a real strong skater, works extremely hard. Those are his traits that - he's going to be an NHL player here and over the years coming. And it's his skating and those types of things that are going to make him a good player." The Maple Leafs should begin to use Quillan more throughout the lineup for this season, while building momentum heading into next season. With the trade deadline upcoming and the Leafs looking to become sellers, this could open some doors for Quillan to move up and down the lineup and gain some valuable time with the Maple Leafs.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a position they haven’t been in a decade. Heading to the March 6th NHL trade deadline, the Maple Leafs will face the question of whether they are buyers or sellers. General manager Brad Treliving has mentioned that he still believes that this team can win and will do everything in his power to make them better. However, there is one player who stands above the rest in needing a change of scenery. That player is Calle Jarnkrok Calle Jarnkrok’s Recent Timeline With the Maple Leafs Calle Jarnkrok is a player who has fallen off the Maple Leafs depth chart . He has struggled to stay within the Leafs’ lineup and can’t seem to find chemistry with the Maple Leafs’ bottom six. Calle Jarnkrok, early in his Maple Leafs tenure, was a player that many loved. When he signed a $2 million average annual value deal during the summer of 2022, many applauded the Leafs, and it was one of their better contracts for a team that has been up against the cap. This contract did not end up working the way fans expected, as the past two seasons have been nothing short of disappointing. Over the past two seasons, Jarnkrok has struggled with injuries, most notably undergoing surgery due to his sports hernia and groin. The Maple Leafs are now in a stage where they should not be holding on and playing a player like Calle Jarnkrok. It seems that the Maple Leafs have found their replacement within the minors, as Jacob Quillian will become a solid depth player for the Maple Leafs in the years to come. It’s Time to Move on From Jarnkrok The Maple Leafs need to seriously consider moving on from Jarnkrok and clearing up his cap space to acquire a player of value. If Treliving is serious about improving their roster, the Leafs will need more cap space. The Leafs currently have $1M to work with, which is not nearly enough to add someone to a team that needs help desperately. This season with the Maple Leafs, Jarnkrok has produced six goals and one assist in 32 games. Jarnkrok seemed to only come into the lineup when the Leafs wanted to shake it up, or when an injury occurred. The Maple Leafs will likely not be able to receive much value for Jarnkrok. Many team view him as a cap dump. The Leafs will likely be able to salvage a low-round pick from a team that is towards the bottom of the league. The Swede may also be used a finishing piece of a trade. Sad Ending to His Maple Leafs Career Jarnkrok being a player that many fans want to move on from, is a massive turnaround from just a couple of seasons ago. Once a fan favourite to now being a player that the Leafs are targeting to move on from. Jarnkrok is not a player who will show up on the stat sheet, or will take over games. But instead is a player that won’t do anything wrong. He is a player that is trusted when called upon but the Leafs unfortunately do not have room for his services anymore. Look for the Maple Leafs to move on from Jarnkrok in the near future.

The Toronto Maple Leafs end their five-game homestand with a brutal and embarrassing 7-4 loss to the Buffalo Sabres. The Maple Leafs came back home following a very successful road trip then came back home to play the worst hockey of the season and one of the most important times of the season. The Maple Leafs and Sabres had a back-and-forth game until the Sabres took over heading into the third period and rode that lead all the way to the end. The Maple Leafs got off to a hot start, taking an early lead, something Leafs fans haven't seen on this homestand. The Maple Leafs were able to regain the lead following a Sabres tying goal. This lead did not last long for the Maple Leafs as the Sabres struck to tie the game just three minutes later. The Sabres were then able to get a late goal in the first to take a 3-2 lead heading into the second. The Maple Leafs got off to a good start in the second period, with a goal from Bobby McMann to tie the game once again. The rest of the second period was tight and tense, but a late deflection goal gave the Sabres the lead heading into the third. This is where the Maple Leafs fell apart. Just 15 seconds in the third, Alex Tuch ripped one past Joseph Woll to extend the Sabres' lead to two. From there, the Sabres never looked back, adding another goal to give them a three-goal lead. The Maple Leafs showed some fight at the end of the third, making it a two-goal game, but it was ultimately not enough. What went wrong for the Leafs The Maple Leafs did not play a 60-minute effort during Tuesday night's game, which led to the final score. The Leafs were a step slow at times throughout the game, which came back to bite them. This was shown at the beginning of the third period with the Sabres scoring just 15 seconds into the third. The Leafs were not ready to go, and let the Sabres take control of the game. When the Maple Leafs needed big moments down the stretch, they weren't able to get an answer. While this game is not solely on Joseph Woll, you need your starting netminder to be better. Allowing six goals in a must-win is not acceptable. At some point, you need some saves to keep you in the game. I don't believe anyone in particular played a terrible game, but nobody played a great game. To win in the NHL, you need players to take control and take over the game, and the Leafs have not gotten that as of late. The Maple Leafs not meeting the challenge This game meant a lot to the Toronto Maple Leafs, and they simply did not meet the challenge. The Leafs need a miracle, going down the final stretch of the season. The projection to make the playoffs is 97 points. To achieve this, the Maple Leafs are going to win their next 20 of 29 games. At this point in the season, it seems highly unlikely the Maple Leafs can do this. The Maple Leafs need to find some magic on their upcoming road trip. Leafs need to find ways to win The Maple Leafs' leadership core and Craig Berube need to find new ways to win because what they are currently doing is definitely not working. Berube had a conversation with the Maple Leafs leadership core, but it seemed to go in one ear and out the other. This showed during Tuesday night's loss against the Sabres. The Maple Leafs, who went into the third period, had their worst period of the game. With the circumstances of the season, it may have been one of the worst periods of the entire season. Inconsistency is killing the Maple Leafs The Leafs are widely inconsistent. They went on a stretch just three weeks ago, where they went 8-0-2, and just finished a homestand 0-4-1. This type of consistent play will not be acceptable coming down the stretch, or else they will keep digging themselves into a deeper hole. At this point in the season, the Maple Leafs can't be buyers; they need to start thinking towards the future and retooling for years to come. Brad Treliving has said that they want to buy, but I'm not sure how you can justify this at this point in the season. The Maple Leafs will need to look at themselves in the mirror and have one-on-one conversations with each other to figure out where they need to go from here. This season is far from over, but it could come to an end relatively soon. Expect the Maple Leafs to come out with urgency from here on out, because every game holds a significant value to the standings.

William Nylander had received a $5,000 fine for giving the middle finger during the Toronto Maple Leafs broadcast on Sunday. The NHL Department of Player Safety fined Nylander on Monday the maximum allowed under the CBA. Nylander has apologized for this incident twice, once via social media following the Maple Leafs Sunday afternoon loss, as well as with the media on Monday. Nylander claimed this incident was due to his frustrations. During the incident, Nylander was alongside Calle Jarnkrok, Chris Tanev, Dakota Joshua, and Philippe Myers in the press box. Leafs' Nylander said he flipped off camera because he's frustrated to be not playing When meeting with the media on Monday, Nylander immediately apologized for the incident. "I just want to apologize for my actions yesterday," the Leafs star winger said. "It was out of frustration, so I'm sorry about that. ... I just want to be out there with the guys. Just frustrated." William Nylander has been out of the lineup with a groin injury and has not played since January 15. The Maple Leafs began struggling once Nylander was re-injured. Over this past stretch with Nylander, the Maple Leafs have a record of 1-3-1, falling five points out of the final wild card spot. Before Nylander's injury, the Maple Leafs were rolling, looking like one of the top teams in the NHL, showing signs of the team that won the Atlantic Division just one season ago. The driving force of the Maple Leafs offence Nylander has been the driving force of the Maple Leafs' lineup all season long. Nylander leads the Maple Leafs in scoring with 17 goals and 31 assists for 48 points in 37 games. Nylander has missed time on three different occasions this season. The Maple Leafs tend to do well when Nylander is playing well. Over their previous stretch of good hockey, Nylander was taking over games and single-handedly winning games for the Maple Leafs and being the most dominant force in many of those efforts. Nylander was right to receive the fine, he did, but the Maple Leafs should not overthink this. It shows he is a player who cares about the team's recent struggles and is dealing with the fact that he isn't battling night in and night out. The Maple Leafs are hoping for a quick recovery as they have desperately needed him as of late.

Since returning from injury, Connor Bedard has struggled to say the least. Bedard recently suffered a shoulder injury during a face-off against Brayden Schenn of the St. Louis Blues. This would ultimately force Bedard to miss 12 games. Over the past eight games, he has been back for Bedard and has registered one goal (an empty-net goal) and three assists. Bedard has also received recent criticism from head coach Jeff Blashill for his play. Blashill comments on Bedard's game Following a recent game, Jeff Blashill touched upon Connor Bedard's play, mentioning “Maybe that’s hurt him, not having consistency there,” Blashill said on Sunday night. “Sometimes you’re trying to help spark guys, and you end up hurting them by making too many changes. But again, you can’t fault the work ethic, can’t fault the care. It just hasn’t gone the way that it had prior to him getting hurt.” Injury concern for Bedard What is scarier for Bedard and the Blackhawks is that Bedard has not been taking faceoffs since returning. This could imply that Bedard is not fully healed and rushed back into action. The Blackhawks remain in the playoff fight, trailing the last wild card spot by a mere five points. This could very well be why Bedard rushed back. Bedard has been the driving force of the Hawks' offense, and his absence has made a noticeable decline in production. Bedard has had a strong season with the Blackhawks, producing 48 points in 39 games. The Blackhawks have dealt with key injuries to their forward core, with young star Frank Nazar also missing time. Adding both of these guys back into the lineup nearly at the same time will throw off the offense. Players over the past stretch have gotten used to playing with their lines and built chemistry, and switching the lineup will definitely mess up players more than expected. There is no doubt in anyone's mind that Bedard will be back to full strength soon. He has improved very much from his first two seasons in the NHL and will only get better from here. Expect Bedard to be back to himself over the next stretch of games.

The Toronto Maple Leafs can finally take a breath of fresh air after what has been a tough week for the Maple Leafs. William Nylander and Dakota Joshua have returned to practice on Saturday. While there is no timeline on either player's return, this is a step in the right direction. William Nylander has missed the past four games after suffering a groin injury against the Vegas Golden Knights during a road trip a few weeks back. Dakota Joshua has not been seen after suffering a kidney injury on December 28th. Joshua can be expected to be a ways away still, while the severity of Nylander's injury has never been revealed. Offensive struggle without Nylander Recent Maple Leafs' struggles could be attributed to the absence of these players throughout the lineup. Adding Nylander, especially back in the lineup, will be the boost the Maple Leafs need. The Maple Leafs have not been able to take over games, and when they do, they are not able to sustain pressure in their opponents' offensive zone. Adding Nylander back into the lineup can help with this and will return to being the driving force in the Leafs' lineup. Any team that loses a star forward, specifically a player of the calibre of Nylander, will struggle, but the best teams can work around this and find ways to win, something the Maple Leafs have been struggling with. A key contributor in Joshua Dakota Joshua has had an up-and-down season with the Maple Leafs. Joshua struggled to find his footing at the beginning of the season, but as the season progressed, he has been able to elevate his game to a new level. Joshua has found a home on the Maple Leafs' third line, playing a physical, hard style of hockey, the kind that fits the Craig Berube mould. The Maple Leafs' third line was one that teams hated to play against. Further than their physicality, they were able to provide some depth scoring and swing momentum back in the Leafs' favour. While Joshua's stat line with six goals in 36 games, anyone watching Maple Leafs hockey knows that his value goes further than just his production. The significance of the latest injury update If Dakota Joshua and William Nylander can return from injury soon, it could prove to be critical. They both play significant roles within the Leafs' lineup. Inserting them back into the lineup can help them stop the bleeding. The Maple Leafs, heading into Sunday's game against the Avalanche, have lost the past three games in a row. For a team on the outside looking in, these kinds of setbacks can't happen. Nylander and Joshua may be able to provide a much-needed spark. Nylander is arguably the most important player in the Maple Leafs lineup. He drives the offence night in and night out, and when Nylander is out of the lineup, there is a significant drop off, and it is visibly obvious that something is missing. Joshua provides physicality as well and is willing to put his body on the line, unlike any player on the Maple Leafs. Their presence is needed, and the Maple Leafs could continue to struggle in their absence. The Maple Leafs are hoping that Nylander and Joshua keep progressing well, as they are in the heart of a tough schedule, while trying to get back in the playoff circle. The Maple Leafs continue their homestand with a matchup against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. The Maple Leafs will need to survive this next stretch of games without Nylander and Joshua.

The Toronto Maple Leafs continued their homestand on Sunday afternoon against the Colorado Avalanche. Like the rest of the homestand, this game did not go in Toronto's way. The Leafs were dominated and outplayed throughout the entirety of the game losing of a final score of 4-1. This game was the Maple Leafs' most important all season long. Coming off a disappointing 6-3 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday night, many expected the Maple Leafs to play one of their stronger games of the season, similar to their win in mid January against the Avs. This game stood as a test to the Maple Leafs and questioned whether they would be able to compete with the top teams in the league. They very clearly did not pass the test and continue to slide down the standings. Maple Leafs suffered another slow start out the gate The Maple Leafs have constantly been burned by their slow starts. The Maple Leafs have a problem starting the game on time; for some reason, throughout the season, the Leafs always seem to be behind the 8-ball. Just eight minutes into the game, the Leafs were already losing 2-0 and calling a timeout to regroup for the remainder of the game. The beginning portion of the game is where the Maple Leafs lost this one. Joseph Woll played solidly in his 100th career start outside of the first goals he had given up, especially the first goal of the game. A main reason for the Maple Leafs' struggles is how slow they look from the get-go. This was evident in Sunday afternoon's loss as Colorado looked much faster and dictated the play for the first ten minutes of the game. The Leafs need to begin getting off to better starts if they want to compete with the best teams in the NHL. The Maple Leafs need to work harder and play with more intent Craig Berube said following the game, "Confidence comes from working hard." This implies the Maple Leafs did not put in enough effort and didn't have the desire to win this hockey game. This has nothing to do with skill, talent, or structure; this is simply not caring or putting your heart into the hockey game. This has been a constant trend with the Maple Leafs over the years, and it's very disappointing from a management perspective, but more for the fans. The Leafs look like they didn't want to compete on Sunday. They weren't willing to do whatever it takes to win, and until they start playing their hearts out, nothing will change within this group. The Maple Leafs are an extremely talented team, but talent never beats hard work and the care to win. What's upcoming for the Maple Leafs The Maple Leafs next hit the ice on Tuesday night in a massive must-win game against the Buffalo Sabres. If the Maple Leafs do not show up on time and pour their hearts into this game, you may as well call the season quits. The Maple Leafs are still five points out of the final wild card spot, and if there was ever a chance to start playing your best hockey, that would be right now, Toronto.

The St. Louis Blues have begun to consider moving on from their superstar Robert Thomas, as they are heading into a rebuild, according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman. Elliotte Friedman mentioned during 32 Thoughts the Podcast that the Blues top center could be available but it has to be for a very high price. "Robert Thomas, that’s an interesting one," he said. "I’ve spent a few days looking into that. He’s 26 years old, he’ll be 27 in July. What it sounds like, if the Blues really wanted to do this … you make them say there’s no way we can say no.” Elliotte Friedman also mentioned during t he podcast that the Blues are looking to acquire a younger forward within the range of 22 to 24 years old. Getting a trade done for Thomas will not be easy for anyone who attempts to bring him in; however, he would be worth the price that a team would pay, as it could push their lineup over the edge. The Blues also seem to be interested in acquiring a young prospect. The Maple Leafs have the opportunity to acquire a Toronto native to bolster their roster. Leafs GM Brad Treliving looking to be aggressive Brad Treliving has mentioned throughout the season that he is not looking to throw in the white towel and is attempting to make their team better, as the Leafs' management staff still believes they are in a position to win despite being on the outside looking in. This season, Thomas has produced 11 goals and 33 points, while rocking a -3. Assets that can go the Blues way Bringing Thomas to Toronto won't be easy for the Maple Leafs. The Leafs lack young prospects that they may be willing to move on from. Ben Danford is a player who shines above the rest, as he is the Maple Leafs' top prospect and is projected to become a solid top-four defenceman for the Maple Leafs. Easton Cowan is another player that the Maple Leafs can attempt to move for Thomas. Whether that may not be the smartest move at this stage of the season, it would prove Treliving is confident in their roster and has a set cup window. Cowan is a player who fits exactly what the Blues are looking for. Cowan is a young forward with a ton of skill and speed who can play within your top six. Nicholas Robertson is another player who could be on the move as well. Every team around the NHL should be inquiring about Robert Thomas, and the Maple Leafs should seriously try and pursue bringing him in to bolster the Leafs' top six. The Maple Leafs are a few moves away from becoming a top team in the NHL that can contend for the Stanley Cup. Teams and fans will be interested to see where Thomas ends up and the price the Blues demand.