News Maple Leafs Team Notes

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Brad Treliving cites depth and familiarity after Maple Leafs claim Cayden Primeau, Sammy Blais

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced their final roster on Monday, and along with the final cuts and roster decisions, the team brought in a couple of new depth pieces via the waiver wire.

Goaltender Cayden Primeau comes in the wake of the Maple Leafs releasing James Reimer from his professional tryout (PTO) and Joseph Woll remaining on a leave of absence. Meanwhile, Blais is a forward with lots of bottom-six experience who will be yet another option to push for playing time on the Maple Leafs forward corps.

General manager Brad Treliving met with the media on Tuesday morning and explained his reasoning for claiming the two players. Regarding Primeau, he said that the team wanted a depth option that would allow prospect Dennis Hildeby to continue playing while Woll is away from the team.

“With Cayden, it was obviously with Joe’s situation, we brought James in and we felt bad for James,” Treliving said. “He really didn’t have a lot of time to get up and go through his camp and get his feet under him. We like the background of Cayden, it gives us more depth. The other piece of that is, Dennis has had a really good camp, but this allows him to keep playing. So, at the end of the day, we felt that it gave us depth at the position.”

Primeau was with the Montreal Canadiens for his whole career until Monday morning. He struggled in limited appearances with Montreal last season, with a 4.70 GAA (goals-against average) and a save percentage (SV%) of .836 in 11 games. These aren’t inspiring numbers, but it will give the Leafs a veteran option who can start a few games here and there until Woll returns.

Blais, meanwhile, has familiarity with head coach Craig Berube after playing for the St. Louis Blues when they won the Stanley Cup in 2018-19, which is precisely why they brought him in, according to Treliving.

“Sammy’s had a history with Chief going back to St. Louis, he won a Cup in St. Louis,” Treliving said. “If you look back, he was a real good player in St. Louis, went to New York, went through a major injury with his knee and sort of had to rebuild himself. He’s a player that spent last year in the American league, and he was a big part of that team’s success, winning the Calder Cup. Our staff has seen him a lot over his career but specifically last year. He had a good chance in Montreal, he gives us some depth, and some history with the coach.”

Blais spent last season with the Abbotsford Canucks, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, where he recorded 40 points in 51 regular season games and 19 points in 23 playoff games. He originally signed a one-year contract with the Canadiens but was claimed on waivers before he had the chance to play in a regular season game for them.

Circling back to the Cayden Primeau note, Treliving was also asked if there was an update on Woll’s status to which he didn’t reveal anything specific but remained optimistic.

“No updates there, we think things are progressing well, but I can’t give you a timeframe. He’s doing well.”

The Maple Leafs will open the season at home against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/bra...familiarity-toronto-maple-leafs-primeau-blais

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Sammy Blais is excited to prove that he still belongs in the NHL

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Sammy Blais is excited to be joining the team and being around some familiar faces, including head coach Craig Berube.

He was claimed off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, alongside goalie Cayden Primeau who was claimed from the Carolina Hurricanes. Blais was registered on the Leafs’ opening night roster, though he was skating as the 13th forward during his first practice with the team.

Blais told reporters after practice on Tuesday that he is eager for the opportunity to prove himself as an NHL player.

“ I was happy,” he said. “I think it’s a good opportunity for me to be here, and knowing some people here too for sure helps.  I thought I had a good camp in Montreal, and just really happy to be here and have that opportunity in front of me.”

He and Berube have known each other since the two were members of the Chicago Wolves, the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues, and the two have usually not gone too many seasons apart from each other. Beyond Berube, Blais said he also already knew defenceman Simon Benoit and assistant coach Mike Van Ryn.

The head coach said that he knows what to expect out of the player and vice versa, which is no doubt something that makes the transition to Toronto easier on Blais.

“We always had a good relationship and he kind of knows the way I play, and he kinda likes that,” he said. “For me, I know what he expects from me, so I think it makes it a little easier to know someone.  I’m just excited to show that I can still play in this league.”

Blais didn’t play in the NHL last year as he spent the entire campaign with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks. He made the most of his time there by scoring 40 points (14 goals and 26 assists) in 51 games played while adding 19 points (six goals and 13 assists) in 23 playoff games to help guide his team to the Calder Cup.

It has also been a grind for him to move past a knee injury he suffered back in 2021 when he was with the New York Rangers. But Blais feels that his time in the AHL made him confident as he was able to bring out some of the qualities that make him effective: heavy on the forecheck and a presence on offence.

“I’m really motivated,” he said. “I thought last year I proved that I was a good player still, and that I still have some gas left in the tank. and I’m just gonna try to prove that here.”

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/sammy-blais-excited-prove-still-belongs-in-nhl

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

What challenge the Canadiens offer the Maple Leafs in 2025-26 season opener

It’s rare that the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs have been good at the same time. And while Toronto might have the edge on them overall heading into the season, the gap has closed considerably over the past 12 months.

Last year, the Canadiens were still in the midst of their rebuild. Nobody expected them to finish in the bottom five again, but most still didn’t believe they were a playoff team. Despite some late-season shenanigans that nearly kept them out, Montreal made it and gave the Washington Capitals a bit of a headache early before eventually suffering a first-round exit.

Now? Nobody’s doubting the team from Quebec anymore. They’re legit.

Toronto will welcome its Original Six rival to Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night to kick off the 2025-26 regular season. The Leafs went 3-1 against the Habs during the season, but it was an incredible 48-save shutout from goaltender Samuel Montembeault that ultimately sunk the Leafs.

Montreal’s top line of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky all had career years in 2024-25, with Suzuki establishing himself as one of the most productive centers in the Atlantic Division. Montreal’s scoring depth looks significantly more dangerous, as well, with Ivan Demidov and Zack Bolduc set to play big roles on the wings. Montreal also has Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine at full health, which helps. Montreal’s forward group is still a work in progress, but it’s as legit a top-nine as the Canadiens have had since they made the Stanley Cup final in 2021 (Toronto was their first-round victim).

Defensively, all eyes will be on Lane Hutson. He’s coming off a Calder Trophy campaign – one of the best by a rookie defenseman over the past decade. If it wasn’t for his second-half play, the Canadiens likely wouldn’t have made the playoffs. You’ll hear a lot about his defensive struggles, but his game evolved to the point last year where it’s no longer a major concern. Noah Dobson had a rough preseason, but he’s still a high-impact defender when he’s at his best. Was the preseason just a weak stretch, or has his game fallen significantly? Betting odds would likely fall in favor of the former, but we’ll find out soon enough.

Montreal’s blueline, as a whole, looks tougher to play against than in previous outings. We know Arber Xhekaj loves to get physical any time he can. Alexandre Carrier is one heck of a third-line defender. Kaiden Guhle really grew into his own last year, and being another year older doesn’t hurt. Mike Matheson is Montreal’s premier veteran presence and can still be a solid two-way defender, even if he’s no longer as consistent as he used to be.

Going back to Xhekaj, who’ll be willing to drop the gloves with him tonight? Max Domi? Dakota Joshua? Simon Benoit? You know the Burlington, Ontario native will challenge just about anyone. That’s a storyline to watch tonight.

And then there’s Montembeault in net. His surface stats might not feel special, but his 30.79 goals saved above expected in all situations last year was third in the NHL (Anthony Stolarz was second at 31.2). Montembeault is expected to be on Canada’s Olympic team, too. He’s a legitimate goaltender and is fully capable of stealing games, as he did last October.

The Maple Leafs have a 10-4-1 record against Montreal dating back to Oct. 13, 2021. That’s rather one-sided. However, those days are likely to disappear soon. Montreal has a solid young core that’s growing into its own, and there are plenty of high-end prospects emerging from the pipeline.

Montreal’s blend of youth, experience, size, and skill makes them tough to deal with. They’ve got four lines that can do damage, and there’s no true weak link on the point. There’s still room for the top-end guys to blossom (watch out for a Slafkovsky breakout season), but the days of drafting near the top are over. And you know they’ll want nothing more than to stun the Leafs on their own turf.

The Canadiens set a new standard last year – it’s playoffs or bust from here on out. They’re likely not going deep this year, but they’re not going to be an easy team to contend with. If you thought Montreal already offered Toronto headaches in the past, get ready for more.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/wha...fer-toronto-maple-leafs-2025-26-season-opener

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Morgan Rielly focused on team growth after game-winning goal in season opener

The Toronto Maple Leafs opened their season with a win Wednesday thanks to a game-winner from Morgan Rielly. The veteran blue liner broke a 2-2 tie midway through the third, with the Leafs adding two empty-net goals to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 5-2.

Speaking to media after the game, Rielly shared his initial thoughts on how the team managed their first match of the season.

“I think it looked like our first game,” he said. “There was some good and some not so good. But I think it’s good the way we stuck together and pulled it out. I thought we played well in the third, and that’s important.”

WELCOME BACK TO THE GOAL COLUMN, MORGAN RIELLY! pic.twitter.com/EIKwaRsynh

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 9, 2025

Emerging as the hero from the season opener, it’s a welcome start to the season offensively for Rielly. In September, Leafs GM Brad Treliving shared that he had a “real honest chat” with Rielly at the end of last season about rising to the best of his abilities going into this year, and that includes showing up on the scoresheet. Finishing the night with a goal and an assist, things are on track in that department for Rielly. But the veteran said it’s no different for him than what everyone on the team is trying to achieve this season.

“I mean we’re all trying to do it,” he said. “I think I’ve been open and honest about all those conversations, but we’re all trying to build off of what we’re doing and improve off last year. I thought there were lots of guys that did that tonight, and lots of guys who will look to do that as we keep going. So it’s a great first win, but lots to work on.”

Touching on that idea a few times in the press conference, Rielly expanded on the good and bad he saw from the team in their first game back.

“It’s kind of early season stuff,” he said. “It’s our first game. I’m not trying to say we sucked, but we’re gonna look to improve and build our game, we have high expectations for our group. I think at times in the middle of the game we didn’t manage the puck that well, and obviously in the third we came up with a goal, so we’re happy with the result.”

Toronto will take the good, take the bad, and take the win, now set to travel to Detroit to face the Red Wings this Saturday.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/morgan-rielly-focused-team-growth-game-winning-goal

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Luke Fox Raves About Morgan Rielly’s Performance in the Leafs’ Season Opener: Leafs Morning Take

What a night for Toronto sports.

It wasn’t pretty but the Leafs took care of business against the rival Montreal Canadiens 5-2 in the season opener. Then, the Blue Jays smothered the Yankees by the same 5-2 score to punch their ticket to the American League Championship Series.

Suffice it is to say, we were fired up to kick off the Thursday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Incredibly, the Blue Jays are just four wins away from advancing to the World Series for the first time since 1993. After we got that out of our system, we did discuss the rest of Wednesday night’s NHL card a bit, too. The Oilers couldn’t get a save when it mattered most. What else is new?

And so, the Leafs are off to a 1-0 start following their opening night victory against the Habs. Most importantly, Morgan Rielly got off to a hot start with one goal – including the winner- and one an assist. If there’s one Leafs player who needed that start, it was Rielly, who’s coming off a tough campaign. Meantime, it was great to see Bobby McMann and Calle Jarnkrok hit the scoresheet, too. Unbelievably, through 50 minutes of that hockey game, neither Auston Matthews nor William Nylander had registered a shot. Speaking of which, we talked about the new look top six – especially the top line, which struggled for most of the night. The power play was hot garbage, although they had just two opportunities with the man advantage. Additionally, Anthony Stolarz made 28 stops, many of which came at important times in the game. It was sloppy and clunky, but they got the job done. Bottom line.

After that, Sportsnet’s Luke Fox stopped by to weigh in on the season opener. He dished on Rielly, the Maccelli fit on the top line, and power play patience. On top of that, we got Luke’s thoughts on what ends up happening with Easton Cowan long term. Joseph Woll and the crease were a topic of conversation, too.

At any rate, join us on Friday (11 AM ET) for a full preview of Saturday night’s tilt in Detroit.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/luk...in-the-leafs-season-opener-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

James Reimer impressed with how Anthony Stolarz, Dennis Hildeby use their size

The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled a surprise move in late September, bring back longtime franchise goaltender James Reimer on a professional tryout contract nearly a decade since he last appeared with the team.

Reimer joined Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill on Leafs Morning Take to break down the past few weeks, sharing his initial reaction when the Leafs reached out.

“I was very interested,” Reimer said. “Obviously I have great memories from Toronto, nothing but good things to say about the city and my time there. When the Toronto Maple Leafs come calling, you pick up the phone. So I was glad that something worked out that made sense for me to go out there.”

Reimer made one preseason appearance back in the blue and white sweater, splitting the net with Dennis Hildeby for the Maple Leafs final tune-up game before the regular season. Two days later, he was released from his PTO, sharing on Wednesday that it just didn’t line up in the end.

“Obviously it’s a unique situation there,” he said. “There were some paths presented going forward, but I think on both sides it just didn’t make sense. So that’s kinda how it ended.”

Regardless, it was a nice blast from the past to have Reimer skating with the team once again as they gear up for the upcoming season. Training with Hildeby and Anthony Stolarz, the longtime Leafs goalie was able to witness the next generation of Toronto’s tendies up close. And he had great things to say about what he saw.

“(Stolarz) is a really good goalie,” Reimer said. “I think that he’s got a great mix of ability, he’s calm in there and uses his size really well. I think that serves him incredibly well. With goalies, sometimes big guys can have holes, it’s sometimes hard to cover different parts of the net or they don’t move well. I think (Stolarz) uses his size really impressively and he’s got good reads to go on top of it.”

With Joseph Woll out indefinitely, Hildeby has also had some extra eyes on him, and Reimer added what he likes about the 24-year-old rising talent.

“The way he moves as a big guy and his technical game,” Reimer said. “I got to practice with him a couple times this week and I meant what I said, he’s got a bright future. He’ll keep developing his game. I think your reads get better and better as you get more experience. With the skillset he has, it’s just a matter of time before it all comes together.”

While Reimer won’t be appearing between the pipes for the Maple Leafs this season, his perspective as a long time tenant of Toronto’s crease is always appreciated. Still an unrestricted free agent, it remains to be seen what’s next for the 37-year-old goaltender.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/james-reimer-impressed-anthony-stolarz-dennis-hildeby-size

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs move Monday’s game vs. Red Wings to 2:00 pm to avoid conflict with Blue Jays

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Friday that they have moved up the start time for Monday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings to 2 pm. EST to avoid conflict with the Toronto Blue Jays.

A birdie just told me our game on Monday is now set for 2pm @BlueJays pic.twitter.com/rPML2kgyBT

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 10, 2025

The move was done because the Blue Jays are scheduled to host Game 2 of the ALCS against either the Detroit Tigers or Seattle Mariners that same day, and the start time would have overlapped with the Leafs’ originally scheduled time of 4 p.m. This results in a doubleheader of sorts, where fans of both teams can watch the two games back-to-back without missing a moment of the action.

The Leafs also announced that they will be hosting a watch party at Scotiabank Arena for the fans who bought tickets to the game, where the Blue Jays game will be aired on the scoreboard above centre ice.

“The Blue Jays playoff excitement has captured the entire city and we want to help make sure that fans don’t miss a pitch,” MLSE CEO Keith Pelley said in a press release. “We greatly appreciate the cooperation by the NHL and Amazon Prime to make this time change possible and we all look forward to cheering on both the Leafs and the Blue Jays on Monday afternoon and evening.”

This marks the latest instance where the Leafs and Jays uniquely crossed paths this week. Many Leafs players were in attendance for Game 2 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees, with photos of them watching on going viral on social media. During the Leafs’ season opener against the Montreal Canadiens, fans got updates of Game 4 on the scoreboard and watch-alongs at various points throughout the night.

At one point during the third period, the arena erupted as the Jays extended their lead to 4-1, prompting fans to start chanting “Let’s Go Blue Jays.”

“ I like that. It’s not the first time I’ve heard them, but I heard them early in my career in a negative way,” defenceman Morgan Rielly joked to reporters after the game. “ 2015, 2016, whatever that was. So it’s cool. We got the game on now, so we’ve got the boys all watching.”

Given the uniqueness of the circumstances where the Leafs are currently playing second fiddle to the Jays in Toronto, you can expect more situations like this to continue as long as the baseball team is in the playoffs. In the meantime, Leafs Nation needs to adjust their Monday plans accordingly because the start time of the hockey game has now moved up two hours.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tor...ed-wings2-pm-to-avoid-conflict-with-blue-jays

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Leafs practice notes: Easton Cowan will not play vs. Red Wings, Anthony Stolarz projected to start

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan will not make his NHL debut against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.

Cowan, Sammy Blais and Philippe Myers are among the Maple Leafs’ healthy scratches for Saturday’s contest. The 20-year-old is Toronto’s top prospect and was used in a fourth line role extensively throughout training camp. It’s unclear when he’ll make his NHL debut but following Toronto’s 5-2 season opening win over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, it appears head coach Craig Berube isn’t ready to tinker with the lineup yet. Cowan is eligible to play with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies this season.

Blais was claimed off waivers on October 6 and was scratched for the season opener. The 29-year-old is reunited with Berube, after winning the Stanley Cup together in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues.

“He knows what I expect out of him, and I know what I’m getting out of him,” Berube said of Blais on October 7. “I think more than anything, I know what type of player he is and what he brings to our team, and he knows what I want, so, it’s good to have him.”

Nick Robertson remains on the third line with Max Domi and Dakota Joshua, while Calle Jarnkrok will be suiting up alongside Steven Lorentz and Nicolas Roy. Robertson earned his place in the lineup after a stellar preseason, where his scoring ability was lauded by the organization. Jarnkrok appears to be back in 2023-24 form and scored against the Canadiens.

Anthony Stolarz is projected to make his second consecutive start. Stolarz made 31 saves during Wednesday’s victory and was cool, calm and composed when called upon. Cayden Primeau will serve as Stolarz’s backup.

Maple Leafs’ projected lineup vs. Canadiens​

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Matias Maccelli

Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander

Dakota Joshua-Max Domi-Nick Robertson

Steven Lorentz-Nicolas Roy-Calle Jarnkrok

Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev

Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo

Simon Benoit-Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Anthony Stolarz (projected starter)

Cayden Primeau

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tor...-play-detroit-red-wings-anthony-stolarz-start

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Nicolas Roy says mental mistakes held Maple Leafs back vs. Red Wings

Nicolas Roy feels the Toronto Maple Leafs beat themselves on Saturday night in Detroit.

The Leafs were up 2-0 to end the first period, thanks in large part to their depth, including Roy, who scored his first as a Leaf, and then the wheels fell off. Costly turnovers, bad defensive reads, and breakdowns in their own zone, it’s still early in the season, but it’s obvious there’s a lot to clean up for the Maple Leafs after dropping game two 6-3.

“I mean, it’s early season, I think the assessment for the defensive zone is mental mistakes there. Leaving guys wide open back door, can’t happen,” stated Roy to reporters postgame.

“I take big responsibility in that as well. We have to do a better job. I think we did in the first period, for a good part in the third period, there. But it got away from us in the second.”

The Maple Leafs gave up three unanswered in the second period, which was easily their worst stretch of hockey we’ve seen to this point in the young season. The ice was tilted, and the Red Wings took advantage, which eventually carried over to the third, and allowed for the Red Wings to finish the job, and take two points from Toronto.

It wasn’t all bad for the Maple Leafs, as goaltender Anthony Stolarz kept his team in the game. Stolarz stopped 29 saves in defeat, in a game that could have been much uglier if he didn’t stand tall, especially in the middle frame. Roy feels that shouldn’t go unnoticed and praised Stolarz’s performance after the game.

“I mean, he kept us in the game. In that second period, if he’s not there, we’re not in the game anymore. He played unreal, and I wish we could battle back and get one more in the third period there, but that’s just how it goes sometimes. But, really good game from him.”

Roy has been one of the Maple Leafs most complete players through two games this season, and has shown early in the year that he can bring a lot to the table for Craig Berube’s hockey club. Roy potted his first as a Leaf on Saturday night, but he’s well aware he needs to be a jack of all trades for his new team.

“It felt good, obviously try to contribute as much as I can in different situations, whether it’s faceoffs, or playing PK, whatever it is. So, it’s nice to contribute offensively as well.”

Both teams will enjoy Thanksgiving Sunday off the ice, and are back at it for an afternoon showdown on Monday. Let’s hope the Maple Leafs can keep the pedal to the floor for a full 60 minutes, and more importantly, limit the mental breakdowns.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/nicolas-roy-says-mental-mistakes-held-toronto-maple-leafs-back

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Report: Toronto will not bid to host 2028 World Cup of Hockey

Although it was a resounding success a decade ago, Toronto will not bid to host the 2028 World Cup of Hockey, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported during Saturday’s broadcast.

Here’s what Friedman said Saturday:

The NHL and the Players’ Association are going through the bidding process for the 2028 World Cup of Hockey. Toronto has decided not to bid. Whenever these tournaments happen, if Toronto wants to be there, they’re usually a very serious contender. But they’re not doing it this time around. I think with the Raptors playing at that time, too, other business that affected it. Toronto won’t be a host city in the World Cup in 2028.

Toronto hosted the 2016 World Cup of Hockey, the first time the tournament was held in 12 years. Canada defeated Team Europe in a best-of-three series, and the tournament was arguably best remembered for Team North America, which boasted Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Morgan Rielly and Nathan MacKinnon among other under-23 stars. It also served as the last best-on-best men’s international hockey tournament, until the 4 Nations Face-Off was held last winter, where Canada emerged victorious over the United States.

“We are moving forward with the World Cup two years after the Olympics in 2028,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said in February. “We will be asking for bids on hosting games. We will have a package that’s just about done that will be done in the next few weeks and we couldn’t be more excited about making a reality Olympics-World Cups-Olympics-World Cups on a regular schedule of the best hockey players in the world representing their countries and we know the full-blown World Cup, of which this (the 4 Nations Face-Off) is simply a sampler, is going to be sensational.”

This is a tough development for hockey fans across Toronto and Southern Ontario, but it may not be a permanent feature. Toronto also hosted the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, and could be back in the mix for future tournaments, with the expectation for it to be held every two years.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/report-toronto-will-not-bid-host-2028-world-cup-of-hockey

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Knee Jerk Reaction: Maple Leafs trade sloppy play for bad bounces in 3-2 loss to Red Wings

On Saturday, the Toronto Maple Leafs let a 2-0 lead slip away from them against the Detroit Red Wings, with the eventual result being a 6-3 loss. The loss was chalked up to sloppy play. The Leafs showed up with better legs on Monday, enough to outshoot the Red Wings by a wide margin, but ill-timed penalties and bad bounces were the story of their second loss of the season.

The Leafs outshot them 13-6 by the end of the first period and had a lead of 12-3 on the shot clock at one point. They found themselves on the penalty kill after a cross-checking penalty to Morgan Rielly (one that he took serious exception to), and Simon Benoit whacked the puck out of bounds with an errant stick. From there, the Red Wings collapsed on them and opened the scoring. Nothing happened on the scoresheet until the third period, when a misplay at the blueline by Brandon Carlo sprung, of course, a former Maple Leaf in James van Riemsdyk on the breakaway to which he converted to make it 2-0.

Bobby McMann displayed great tendencies along the wall and set Matthew Knies up for his first goal of the season, before Knies himself one-upped McMann’s effort to set up Calle Jarnkrok for his third goal of the season and third in as many games. So, there were positives to take away from the result despite the final score and second consecutive loss to a divisional rival. But those positives were heavily diluted by Mason Appleton’s game-winner in the final two minutes. A point shot was blocked by Auston Matthews and landed right on Appleton’s tape, and then in the back of the net.

The loss capped off what was a wholly uninspiring Thanksgiving weekend of hockey. You can argue they didn’t deserve to lose this one, but when you drop the game before in a matchup that you did deserve to lose, you lose the benefit of the doubt for what comes after that.

The Maple Leafs have little time to dwell and will look to flush this one and turn their attention to Tuesday’s game against the Nashville Predators.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/knee-jerk-reaction-toronto-maple-leafs-sloppy-play-red-wings

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Auston Matthews felt Maple Leafs made progress despite late loss to Red Wings

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was encouraged by the improvements his team made despite falling short against the Detroit Red Wings on Monday.

Coming off a disappointing effort on Saturday against the same team, the Leafs responded with their best effort to begin the year as they thoroughly outshot the Red Wings 40-15. The difference in the game was an outstanding showing from Cam Talbot and a Mason Appleton goal in the final minute of regulation.

Matthews told reporters after the game that his team’s performance was a step in the right direction, even though it was all in vain.

“I  thought it was a good game. I think that’s definitely more the style to play and the way we want to compete through 60 minutes,” he said. “ It was a good hockey game, I thought we played well. There’s just gonna be nights like that where you just come up on the wrong side of it, but I think there’s lots that we can take from this game and build on.”

The captain was once again solid with a team-high eight shots on the afternoon, including a few glorious chances that Talbot denied. While he went scoreless in the contest, he did help start the play that led to Calle Jarnkrok’s tying goal by disrupting the clearing attempt enough for Matthew Knies to intercept.

A key factor in why Matthews looked sharp was the showing of Easton Cowan, who put together a promising NHL debut.

“ I thought he was great,” he said. “I think he just carries himself with such a good confidence in himself and in the way that he can play and compete. I thought he played really well tonight, easy guy to play with. He made smart plays with the puck, and when plays were to be made, he made ’em. When the simple play was there to just get the puck deeper, or whatnot, I thought he made it. Thought he was really good tonight.”

While there were some positives to take away from a frustrating loss, Matthews knew there were some areas that could be improved upon. He felt that the power play (which went 0-2 and no shots recorded on Monday) has been inconsistent so far this season, and the team could do better at drawing penalties to get into a rhythm.

One person who Matthews thinks doesn’t need any critiques is Calle Jarnkrok, who has come alive to start the season with goals in each of the first three games.

“I  just think he’s come in, he is healthy, and he’s skating well,” he said. “ He is always gonna be one of the hardest working guys on the ice and puts himself in some good shots.  He’s got a really good shot, really good release. When he’s got a little bit of time to get it off, he’s gonna make you pay and he’s been doing that.  I think that line’s been playing really well for us, just keeping it simple and grinding out the other team.”

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/auston-matthews-toronto-maple-leafs-progress-despite-loss-red-wings

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs’ Easton Cowan registers first NHL point vs. Predators

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan picked up his first NHL point on Tuesday night against the Nashville Predators, notching a secondary assist on Auston Matthews’ third period goal.

AUSTON MATTHEWS

Wicked passing play with Knies! Cowan has his first NHL point! pic.twitter.com/fxWeLn0bBe

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 15, 2025

Cowan fed Matthew Knies on the rush, who completed a filthy passing play on a 2-on-1 to complete the sequence and extend Toronto’s lead to 5-2. Matthews immediately acknowledged Cowan for his effort on the goal and gave him head taps with the rest of his teammates on the bench.

Cowan’s first point came in his second career game following his debut on Monday night vs. the Detroit Red Wings. He looked more and more comfortable as the game went on in his debut, and he earned praise from his teammates for his performance.

“I thought he was solid. I think they were trying to run him out a couple of times, and he stood his ground,” goaltender Anthony Stolarz said of Cowan on Monday. “Made some smart decisions with the puck and created some offence. Huge congratulations to him, it’s obviously a big moment. Hopefully he starts getting his feet under him, get a little more confidence. We all know the potential is there, but I thought he looked pretty good tonight.”

Cowan’s confidence has been on display since the start of training camp, with multiple teammates noting as such throughout the ramp-up to camp.

“I feel confident. I feel like I’m ready for this, so I’m just gonna take it all in, enjoy it and have some fun,” Cowan said Sunday ahead of his debut.”

While Cowan’s spot safe as long as Steven Lorentz is out, the Leafs will have a serious decision to make if he keeps playing the way he is, especially when Scott Laughton returns from his injury. It’s a good problem to have and one the Maple Leafs seem to be content with letting him dictate what they do with the final roster spot.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-easton-cowan-registers-first-nhl-point-predators

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Hal Gill sees a tougher, more playoff-true Leafs blue line: Leafs Morning Take

It took less than 24 hours for the temperature to calm considerably in Toronto.

They’re back on track, folks. You can exhale.

Just what the doctor ordered.

That’s where the conversation started on the Wednesday edition of Leafs Morning Take. William Nylander responded accordingly with a goal and two helpers after being called out by Craig Berube. Additionally, Auston Matthews scored twice, and Easton Cowan picked up his first NHL point (assist). Toronto smothered Nashville 7-4.

It was far from a complete effort, but bottom line, it was the type of bounce-back effort that the Leafs needed following an ugly two game showing against Detroit. We talked about the top six, and how by far, there was their best effort of the early season. The Maccelli, Tavares, Nylander trio was outstanding. Not only were they engaged, but they worked their bags off. Meantime, Cayden Primeau did his job. That’s all you can ask for. The 26-year-old made 26 stops to notch the victory in his Maple Leafs debut. As expected, Craig Berube was much more pleased with his team’s effort in this one. He was very complimentary of his star players. And rightfully so.

After that, former Leafs blue liner and current Nashville Predators analyst, Hal Gill, stopped by the show. The 2009 Stanley Cup champion weighed in on Tuesday night’s game. He thinks the turning point in the game was Toronto’s star players elevating their play. The Predators, especially with their back-up goalie in there, had no answer. On top of all that, Gill dished on Cowan, handling young players, and what the Leafs need to do to get over the top. Lastly, he was very opinionated about the media scrutiny in Toronto and what it’s like to play in this market.

Lastly, we got to the Ninja Crispi HOT TAKE OF THE WEEK. Producer Vick thinks Easton Cowan will stick with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies for the rest of the season.

The next edition of Leafs Morning Take will come your way on Thursday at 11 AM ET. Join us as we preview Thursday night’s tilt on home ice against the New York Rangers.

You can subscribe to TheLeafsNation (TLN) YouTube channel HERE. Additionally, we’re available in podcast form, too —wherever you get your podcasts. While you’re at it, be sure to leave us a 5-star review!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/hal...ayoff-true-leafs-blue-line-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Auston Matthews passes Dave Keon on Maple Leafs all-time game-winning goal list

When the dust settled on a wild 7-4 defeat of the Nashville Predators on Thursday, it was Auston Matthews who had the game-winning goal. Assisted by Matthew Knies and Easton Cowan, Matthews’ first past a goalie this season put the Leafs up 5-2 midway through the third, eventually securing the win.

With the goal, Matthews moved into sole possession of second place in the Leafs all-time list of most career game-winners. The American centreman now has 64 in his career, one ahead of Dave Keon’s tally of 63. He now sits 15 back from tying Mats Sundin’s franchise leading total of 79.

In a season Auston Matthews is chasing down Mats Sundin's all-time @MapleLeafs goals record, he passed another franchise legend on the club's all-time game-winning goals list. #NHLFaceOff #NHLStats: https://t.co/ZfKxYiiiCG pic.twitter.com/YFNZnUuqMa

— NHL Public Relations (@NHLPR) October 15, 2025

While 15 more game-winning goals might be a tall order to get done this season, but it’s well within Matthews’ reach over the next years of his career. And of course, it’s not the only record he’s chasing down this season. Toronto’s captain is just 16 goals behind Sundin’s franchise-leading goal total of 420 through his career. Most impressively, Sundin tallied that figure through 981 games played, while Matthews is at 404 through just 633 appearances. It’s not hard to imagine he’ll break that record sometime in the near future.

Matthews’ goalscoring numbers suffered last season as he played through an undisclosed injury, netting just 33 on the year. This season, he’s reportedly back at full strength and aiming to find those big numbers again. While it’s taking him a bit of time to get back in his groove, if he can find his scoring touch soon, it might just be weeks until he break Sundin’s record. In the meantime, Matthews is also 11 points from passing Mitch Marner for fourth all-time in total career points amongst Maple Leafs, which should be an easy feat.

Joining Matthews on the all-time Leafs game-winning goals list is William Nylander, who has 47 up to this point in his Toronto career. If he can find four more this season, he’ll pass Ron Ellis for fifth on the list. John Tavares sits ninth with 40, behind George Armstrong and Darryl Sittler, who had 43 and 42 in their career, respectively.

Of course, the focus for Toronto’s offensive leaders is not on breaking records this season, as they look to build a stronger structure overall to compete deep into the playoffs. Still, if the points rack up while they’re doing that, it’s certainly a nice bonus.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/aus...ve-keon-toronto-maple-leafs-game-winning-list

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Bryan Berard believes the Leafs are built for the playoffs: Leafs Morning Take

Once again, the Leafs and Blue Jays are set to play a game in October on the same day.

The bats showed up in a big way on Wednesday night as the Blue Jays clobbered Seattle in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series to cut their series deficit to 2-1. 41-year-old Max Scherzer, who guested on Leafs Morning Take this past spring, will get the ball in Game 4.

That’s where the conversation started on the Thursday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Additionally, we discussed Ottawa’s ugly new third jerseys and the state of play around the NHL through the first week of the regular season.

After that, we previewed the third of five in a row at Scotiabank Arena for the Maple Leafs. Igor Shesterkin and the New York Rangers are in town. Toronto went 2-1-0 against New York last season. All in all, we billed this one as a potential goalie duel with Anthony Stolarz countering Igor Shesterkin. Steven Lorentz will be a healthy scratch as Craig Berube will go with the same lineup that smothered Nashville back on Tuesday night. Meantime, William Nylander missed the morning skate due to maintenance, but according to the head coach, everything’s a-okay and the star winger will play in this game. We’re looking for the power play to get cooking. Through four outings, the Leafs are a dreadful 0-for-8 with the man-advantage.

Then, former Maple Leaf Bryan Berard stopped by the show. To start, he dished on Easton Cowan and what advice he would give the 20-year-old. Of course, Berard went first overall in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, so suffice it is to say, he knows a thing or two about having to deal with high expectations. On top of that, Berard gave his thoughts on the current team. Spoiler: He really likes Chief, and what the Leafs managed to do this past summer. Lastly, he talked about the Pat Quinn era Maple Leafs before teeing up his work with the NHL alumni/fantasy camp fundraiser happening in Aspen in mid-December.

To wrap, we talked about the latest surrounding Nick Robertson and a potential deal out of Toronto. According to Darren Dreger, the Leafs have remained engaged with interested parties over the last little while. We’ll see where it all goes. The saga continues.

The next edition of Leafs Morning Take will come your way on Friday at 11 AM ET. We’ll recap Leafs/Rangers as well as look ahead to Saturday night’s home date with Lane Lambert and the Kraken. Plus, ESPN SportsCentre anchor Linda Cohn will drop by the show.

You can subscribe to TheLeafsNation (TLN) YouTube channel HERE. Additionally, we’re available in podcast form, too —wherever you get your podcasts. While you’re at it, be sure to leave us a 5-star review!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/bry...are-built-for-the-playoffs-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Knee Jerk Reaction: Anthony Stolarz masterclass leads Maple Leafs to 2-1 OT win vs. Rangers

The Toronto Maple Leafs squeaked out a 2-1 win in overtime against the offence-deprived New York Rangers, and Anthony Stolarz was the objective first star.

His 28 saves on 29 shots is an indicator of a good start, but you had to have watched the game to appreciate his role in this game (if you were watching the Blue Jays, I don’t blame you. If you were dual-screening like me, welcome to the crazy club!). If you don’t have time to watch the full game, here’s a sneak peek at what you missed .

https://t.co/Wf1BPJz5sd pic.twitter.com/GNis90qATW

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 17, 2025

That’s a maskless Stolarz continuing to track play while knowing full well he faced a risk goalies haven’t had seen since the 1970s. Okay, maybe I embellished a little bit, but it was an impressive display and one of many high-danger chances that kept the Leafs in the game despite relentless pressure from the Rangers.

Okay, here’s one more look at another impressive Stolarz stopped.

what a night pic.twitter.com/lZ771fwZqX

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 17, 2025

After a couple of games to start the season that saw the depth scoring carry the mail, the Leafs’ star players have started to pick it up lately. Matthew Knies scored the first goal of the game by doing what he does best, driving to the net on the power play, and his knee deflected a William Nylander shot to open things up. In overtime, the Rangers won the opening faceoff but didn’t get a clean look, which resulted in a 2-on-1 for Auston Matthews and William Nylander. You can probably predict the rest.

WILLIAM NYLANDER.
AUSTON MATTHEWS.
OVERTIME WINNER!!!@OREO | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/6mkMRuC4Sk

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 17, 2025

One last note on Stolarz, who will undoubtedly get his flowers from his teammates and coach. The goal he allowed had some arguable goaltender interference. The Maple Leafs opted not to challenge, and it probably wasn’t enough to call a penalty on, but the point here is that you’re going to be cut some slack when you’ve been messed with in the crease and then have to face a shot from beyond traffic. It didn’t shake him, and the Leafs came out victorious.

The Leafs will be back in action on Saturday night when they host the Seattle Kraken.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/kne...y-stolarz-masterclass-toronto-maple-leafs-win

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Linda Cohn pumps Anthony Stolarz’s tires: Leafs Morning Take

The Leafs and the Blue Jays have life —what a time to be alive!

Suffice it is to say, it was a successful Thursday night for Toronto sports fans. Firstly, thanks to Auston Matthews’ OT winner, the Leafs dusted off the New York Rangers. Then, behind a gutsy performance from 41-year-old Max Scherzer, the Blue Jays hammered the Mariners to tie their series 2-2 and set up a best-of-3 to decide the American League Championship Series.

That’s where the conversation started on the Friday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Max Scherzer is the definition of a gamer. What a performance. In addition to all that, we briefly discussed Keith Pelley’s recent comment with TSN/The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun. Essentially, Pelley initiated a green light for Brad Treliving to take a swing here prior to the March trade deadline. What else was he going to see, though. The timing on this one was weird. The deadline’s month away.

At any rate, after that, we dove into Toronto 2-1 OT win over the Rangers. As expected, it turned out to be a goalie duel between Anthony Stolarz and Igor Shesterkin. Both goalies were dialled in. Furthermore, Stolarz even made a save in the third period on J.T. Miller with no mask on. What an absolute stud and legend. Meantime, William Nylander continues to play better and better. The new YouTuber set up both Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews for tap ins. You love to see it. Again, it was a far from complete effort, but the Leafs grinded out a victory.

Then, we were joined by ESPN’s Linda Cohn. The legendary American sportscaster, who played goalie in college, broke down the Stolarz/Shesterkin duel. Additionally, she weighed in on Matthews’ solid offensive start, Toronto’s post-season hopes, and what she thinks of Craig Berube. Linda likes the direction that this Leafs team is headed, which has been a consistent theme with many of our guests so far in the early season. That said, unfortunately, she did disclose that she picked Vegas to win the Stanley Cup this season. Ugh.

Lastly, we offered a quick preview of Saturday night’s tilt at Scotiabank Arena as Lane Lambert will make his return to Toronto. Of course, the new Kraken head coach spent last season as Associate Coach on Berube’s bench. Seattle’s off to a very respectable 2-0-2 start. It should be another strong goalie matchup between Stolarz and Joey Daccord.

David Pagnotta will fill in for Jay Rosehill as co-host on the Monday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Join us at 11 AM ET for a full recap of Leafs/Kraken. Plus, we’ll look ahead to Toronto’s three game week.

You can subscribe to TheLeafsNation (TLN) YouTube channel HERE. Additionally, we’re available in podcast form, too —wherever you get your podcasts. While you’re at it, be sure to leave us a 5-star review!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/linda-cohn-pumps-anthony-stolarzs-tires-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Craig Berube touts Easton Cowan’s hockey IQ in learning patience, simplicity at NHL level

In Scott Laughton’s absence, top Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Easton Cowan has been thrown right into the fire, working his way up to the top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. Speaking at morning skate on Friday, head coach Craig Berube talked about how he’s helping Cowan while the 20-year-old learns on the job.

“You gotta have patience,” he said. “It’s managing them and managing what’s going on in the game, working with him on things he can do better, that’s a coach’s job. He understands it too, he’s a smart guy. He knows things he can do better and things he’s done well.”

At practice Friday, Cowan shared that he felt good about how he played through the first two periods on Thursday, but felt the game slip away from him in the third. While Cowan works on learning to play a full 60-minute game at the NHL level, Berube shared the direct advice he’s giving the young forward.

“Simplify,” Berube said. “When you’re up 1-0 in the game, understanding that you gotta be patient and take what’s given to you in a game like that. It’s a tight game, you don’t wanna give anything up or make a bad puck play, especially in the neutral zone or out of your own zone. It’s doing the simple things and being patient, and then an opportunity might pop up 10 or 12 minutes down the period. I think (Cowan) pushed in the third period a little bit too much. I talked to him today and he’ll see it on video too. Like I said, he’s a smart kid, he understands.”

At his post-practice presser, Berube was also asked about captain Auston Matthews after his huge overtime goal on Thursday. While Toronto’s coach has maintained he never saw Matthews’ all-around game dip, he added it’s nice to see his confidence come back along with his goalscoring.

“He’s been pretty solid,” Berube said. “Again, we’re all going to look at the goalscoring, I look at the whole game. But you know, he is scoring. He’s healthy, feels good, he’s been a good player in all aspects of the game for me.”

Matthews and the Leafs will look to keep building on Saturday night, as they continue their homestand, facing off against the Seattle Kraken.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/cra...key-iq-learning-patience-simplicity-nhl-level

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Auston Matthews’ shot creation and gravity effect are on full display through October

Through the opening stages of the season, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews has answered the $13.25-million question: will Matthews return to the elite goal-scoring form that he’s displayed throughout his career, after an upper-body injury held him to 33 goals in 67 games last year?

Matthews is being rewarded for his elite shot creation through five games. Prior to Saturday’s slate, Matthews ranked tied for fourth with 16 shots at 5-on-5 and 22 in all situations via Natural Stat Trick. He ranks first in the NHL with 3.86 individual expected goals generated in all situations, and fourth at 5-on-5 with 1.93 individual expected goals.

So what does this mean in practical terms? Matthews is being rewarded for his elite ability to push to high-danger areas, getting to the net-front with ease, and we could see an incoming goal barrage this year. The 28-year-old has recorded four goals and five points through the first five games, with two empty-netters, as he pushes towards a 50-goal plus pace.

“He’s been pretty solid,” Berube said of Matthews following Friday’s practice at the Ford Performance Centre. “Again, we’re all going to look at the goalscoring, I look at the whole game. But you know, he is scoring. He’s healthy, feels good, he’s been a good player in all aspects of the game for me.”

Matthews is driving Toronto’s first line, with Matthew Knies on the left wing, and rookie Easton Cowan on the right. Knies and Cowan are the Maple Leafs’ two most important under-25 pieces, and they’re the clear pillars of the future, while Matthews is firmly in his prime, trying to lead the team to an elusive Stanley Cup victory. In the short-term, Matthews is making strong reads for his teammates, and the threat of his shot opens up space for his teammates — the gravity effect, if you will.

“I think it creates a lot,” Cowan said. “Obviously, he’s got a lethal shot. I just try to get open and do my thing, give him the puck so he can score.”

Knies-Matthews-Cowan have dominated their minutes through three games. In a small sample: Knies-Matthews-Cowan are outshooting opponents 21-7, with a 74.75 percent share of the expected goals. That’s really damn good, and it’s a testament to Knies’ forechecking abilities as a power forward, Cowan’s ability to extend possessions within the offensive zone with smart puck touches, and Matthews’ all-around ability to take over games, with the threat of his shoot always looming on the defender’s mind.

And here’s an easy example of Matthews shooting with the intention of creating chances for his linemates. During Monday’s loss to the Detroit Red Wings, Matthews works in tandem to seal off Red Wings winger Emmitt Finnie, and he strips him of the puck. Matthews then surveys the ice and fires the puck off Cam Talbot’s pad, with the idea of creating a rebound for either Knies, or Oliver Ekman-Larsson to seize. Ekman-Larsson fires a dangerous second shot attempt on goal, but nothing comes of it. The process is still correct.

Leafs are wracking up chances off turnovers pic.twitter.com/bwNhOnPlPJ

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 13, 2025

There’s another smaller example from Toronto’s 7-4 win against the Nashville Predators, where Matthews spins and shoots, creating a huge rebound opportunity for Jake McCabe. Toronto’s defencemen are making a more concerted effort to enter the rush as well, and there’s a genuine five-man approach to generate goals this year.

Matthews creates a huge rebound

McCabe could've had another one pic.twitter.com/V4ou1Zck5D

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 14, 2025

There’s been a notable effort from the Maple Leafs’ wings to attempt short-area passes off the rush over to Matthews, who enters the offensive zone with some pace. Cowan slipped a five-foot pass to Matthews during Thursday’s win against the New York Rangers, during a delayed penalty. It allows Matthews to receive the puck with some momentum as he surveys the ice before getting into his patented curl-and-drag release.

Bobby McMann has occasionally operated as Matthews’ left wing from the 2023-24 season onwards, playing 121:25 at 5-on-5 cumulatively over the past two years. McMann’s elite speed is always an asset when paired with Matthews, and he spoke about how the omnipresent threat of his shot.

“It’s cool, because it comes from him working on it,” McMann told The Leafs Nation on Friday, about Matthews’ ability to generate shots at an elite level. “You see that he’s poured a lot of hours into doing that. A lot of reps and changing angles and that’s why he’s able to do it. He’s able to change the angle so well, shoot from an extended stick to right into where his feet are. If you can do that, you can shoot around defenders and get lots of opportunities.”

Matthews can get his shot from anywhere, which has made him an elite player throughout his career. Last season, Matthews struggled with this aspect of the game. His long-range shooting and short-range accuracy were both affected by this injury and he wasn’t ripping pucks with the same velocity that we’ve been accustomed to. And while there’s a tendency to rush to declarations about whether he’s back to Hart Trophy form, Matthews is shooting with better velocity than he had last season. All the masses need to see now is a puck ping off the bar and in, perhaps.

“He’s always a threat on the ice,” McMann said of Matthews. “He always has awareness, and the attention of the other team, and that opens up guys around him. It creates spaces outside of that. You see it on the power play, it’s the most obvious time you see it: guys shading towards him, they don’t want to give him that one-timer because they know he can pick a spot once he gets it in his wheelhouse. I think it’s always opening up space for other guys.”

Prior to Saturday’s game against the Seattle Kraken, Toronto has registered just one power play goal. And yet, on Matthew Knies’ goal against the Rangers, you can see Matthews’ gravity effect taking place. William Nylander is the primary reason why Knies scored, to be abundantly clear, after surveying the ice and delivering a sharp shot-pass to the back post. Before the puck gets back to Oliver Ekman-Larsson at the point, Matthews rotates to the faceoff circle, then slides back down to the slot, occupying the attention of two Rangers defenders, who should be paying attention to Knies at the back post. All eyes on Toronto’s No. 34 opens up lanes for everyone else.

A POWER PLAY GOAL FOR THE BUDS!!!!

: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/LCTSDYrfyO

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) October 16, 2025

Matthews is also being rewarded for his ability off the rush, and he’s skating with more force and intentionality than last season. Toronto’s top line excelled in transition in Tuesday’s win. In this example, Cowan wins the puck back and immediately finds Matthews cutting up the ice for a 2-on-1 with Knies. Matthews fakes out Predators defenceman Justin Barron with a great fake, slipping the puck over to Knies, who returns it to Matthews for a tap-in.

“He’s getting looks,” Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz said of Matthews on Friday. “He’s got a few goals, and I think he could have some more. I think it’s only a matter of time for some of them to go in, even more. He’s going to the net hard. He’s been playing with a few different guys. He’s been playing with Cowboy a little bit, I know that’s not easy for him. He’s going to find his areas of the ice and get the puck in those dangerous spots. He’s dangerous in a lot more areas than most guys.”

THERE'S PAPI!!!!!

: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/kQCKBhOjyl

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) October 15, 2025

And of course, Matthews’ overtime winner over the Rangers is one of the highlights of the young season. At the end of a lengthy shift, Matthews is sprung on a 2-on-1 with Nylander and you can hear the energy from the Scotiabank Arena rise as he races down the ice. Nylander waltzed around the Rangers’ defence before finding Matthews standing at the back post for a game-winning tap-in. You create your own luck in the NHL, and Matthews is being richly rewarded for the quality of shot and opportunism in the early stages of the year.

CAPTAIN CLUTCH!!!!!!!

: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/rnBCSTB5DK

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) October 17, 2025

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

Love baseball? Don’t miss The 6ix Inning Stretch — the brand new podcast from The Nation Network, presented by Betway. Hosted by Toronto sports reporter Lindsay Dunn and 3-time MLB All-Star Whit Merrifield, this weekly show delivers insider stories, unfiltered Jays talk, player interviews, and expert analysis from around the majors. New episodes drop every Wednesday — listen on your favourite podcast platform or watch on the Bluejaysnation YouTube channel.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/auston-matthews-shot-creation-gravity-effect-full-display-october