RSS Maple Leafs Team Notes

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs prospect checkpoint: How has Luke Haymes fared through 5 months of 2025-26?

Signing players out of the NCAA often goes under the radar, as many players can finish their season and join an organization quietly without receiving much press.

The Toronto Maple Leafs made one of these signings last March, adding forward Luke Haymes on a two-year contract after Haymes finished playing his collegiate hockey with Dartmouth College. Regarded at the time as one of the top NCAA free agents available, Haymes spent three years at Dartmouth, appearing in 83 games, totalling 41 goals and 29 assists.

Haymes’ best season came in his second year with the Big Green, recording 18 goals and 18 assists, across 31 games, good for the team lead in goals, assists and points. After that season, Haymes was named to the 2023-24 NCAA All-Ivy League First Team and the NCAA (ECAC) First All-Star team, while also being selected as a New England All-Star.

In 2024-25, Haymes’ final season before signing the deal with the Maple Leafs the forward posted 12 goals and six assists across 22 games, before joining the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies on an amateur tryout. In nine games with the Marlies, Haymes recorded two goals and four assists.

Through 42 games this season, the 22-year-old has scored seven goals, while chipping in nine assists, tied for the eighth-most points among all Marlies skaters. The 16 points place Haymes in a tie for first with Borya Valis for most points among all Marlies rookies.

After a slow start to the season, Haymes finished strong going into the AHL All-Star break, scoring four goals and adding two assists over the Marlies’ final 11 games, including the game-winning goal in a 5-4 victory over the Iowa Wild on January 17.

Daily Faceoff and The Leafs Nation prospect expert Steven Ellis liked what he saw from Haymes at the time of his signing with the Maple Leafs’ organization.

Haymes possesses a quick, accurate wrister, but he can score in a variety of ways and angles. His confidence with the puck in the offensive zone is among the best we saw from anyone this past year, and his one-timer is truly NHL-caliber. One thing that really improved after his injury was his intensity level. He became more physically engaged and chased pucks more often with purpose. Haymes will never be a punishing hitter, but he looks ready to take on the pro leagues

With Haymes starting to find his game at the pro level and the Maple Leafs having a handful of pending unrestricted free agents that could be traded at the deadline or leave in free agency, Haymes could be in line for a debut at the NHL level this year or next.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-prospect-checkpoint-luke-haymes-2025-26

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Olympic Hockey: Auston Matthews tallies assist in USA victory over Denmark

The United States remain undefeated at the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic games following a 6-3 win over Denmark.

The game was somewhat reminiscent to Sweden’s 5-2 win over Italy earlier in the week, with the States dominating on the shot clock but suffering from some less than stellar goaltending to keep the game tight headed into the final frame. The Danes pushed the States to the point where they trailed 4-3 going into the third period, but the States kept the pressure up and eventually scored two goals to ice the game and take the 6-3 victory.

It was a relatively quiet game for Toronto Maple Leafs and USA captain Auston Matthews, who finished with one assist in the victory for the States. He now has one goal and one assist in two games so far.

Denmark capitalized on their chances early on, carrying a 2-1 lead into the second period. Nick Olesen opened the scoring for the Danes less than two minutes into the game before Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy evened it up less than two minutes after that. Nicholas Jensen scored the second goal for the Danes just over halfway into the period.

The States began to find their groove in the second, with Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk and Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel scoring less than a minute apart to take a 3-2 lead. Golden Knights defenceman Noah Hanifin scored to bring the lead to two goals shortly after that, but Denmark’s Phillip Bruggisser made things interesting with a goal three seconds from the end of the period to make it 4-3.

In the third period, Jake Guentzel scored assisted by Matthews to make it 5-3 before Jack Hughes put the finishing touch on it, scoring off a bank-in to make it 6-3 and eventually ice the game. Boston Bruins goaltender allowed three goals on 21 shots to win the game after a shaky start before tightening things up later in the game to hold on for the victory.

The States will close off round-robin action on Sunday when they face Germany, meanwhile Team Canada will face France before the elimination rounds begin on Monday.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/olympic-hockey-schedule-auston-matthews-assist-usa-denmark

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Olympic Hockey: Canada all but clinches 1-seed in 10-2 rout of France

Barring an 11-goal victory for the United States against Germany later this afternoon, it appears that Canada will enter the Quarter Finals as the top seed in Olympic Men’s Hockey.

Facing a France team with limited NHL talent beyond Montreal Canadiens forward Alexandre Texier and former NHLer Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, it was expected that Canada would win by a sizeable margin. Despite a close game early on, that lasted until just over halfway into the second period before Canada opened the floodgates.

Washington Capitals forward Tom Wilson opened the scoring in the first period before France tied it up 13 seconds later with a goal from Floran Douay. Only 37 seconds after that, Colorado Avalanche defenceman Devon Toews scored to make it a 2-1 game. With four seconds left in the first frame, Vegas Golden Knights forward Mark Stone scored a shorthanded goal to make it 3-1 going into the second period.

The score remained there until 12 minutes into the second period when Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar scored his first goal of the tournament to get Canada on the board again. Soon after that came a penalty shot goal from San Jose Sharks phenom Macklin Celebrini to make it 5-1. Sidney Crosby scored a flukey goal only 19 seconds later to make the game 6-1 in favour of Canada heading into the final frame.

Keeping the implications of goal differential in mind heading into the third period, Canada put the pedal to the metal and began an onslaught of the French. Connor McDavid made it 7-1 before France added another one to the total with a tally from Sacha Treille, but that was the extent of their damage. Goals from Bo Horvat, Brandon Hagel, and Celebrini extended the score to 10-2 where the score would lie until the end of the game.

The game also featured some theatrics, with Wilson getting into a fight with France’s Pierre Crinon in response to a questionable hit to the head of MacKinnon, with both players picking up minor penalties for roughing along with a fighting major and subsequent game misconduct. MacKinnon took a beating in the second half of that final frame, eventually nursing his foot on a separate play which had Canadian fans holding their collective breath, but rest assured it will take something catastrophic to keep MacKinnon out of the lineup for the Quarter Finals and beyond, especially with a day of rest in between.

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews along with Team USA will face off against Germany at 3:40pm eastern time to close out preliminary action.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/olympic-hockey-canada-all-but-clinches-rout-france

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Olympic Hockey: Auston Matthews powers USA to 5-1 win over Germany with two goals, one assist

Toronto Maple Leafs and Team USA captain Auston Matthews had lots of American media questioning everything from his performance to his leadership after two points in his first two games. If there were any critics left, they’ve long logged out for the day following a 2-goal, 1-assist performance in a 5-1 win over Germany to close out preliminary action in men’s hockey.

While securing the 1-seed would have been the tallest task imaginable following Canada’s 10-2 rout of France earlier in the day, the United States slid comfortably into the 2-seed with their performance against Germany. Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski kicked off the scoring with nine seconds left in the period with Matthews picking up an assist.

Matthews extended the lead to 2-0 in the second period with a power play goal after banking in a rebound off a shot from Minnesota Wild defenceman Quinn Hughes. Fellow Wild defenceman Brock Faber then made it 3-0 near the end of the period with assists coming from both Tkachuk brothers to carry the 3-goal advantage into the third period.

Buffalo Sabres forward Tage Thompson wasted little time extending the lead once the third frame began, scoring to make it 4-0 just under two minutes into the final frame. About five minutes later, Matthews added his second goal of the game in a near identical spot to his first goal, redirecting a shot from Ottawa Senators defenceman Jake Sanderson off the crossbar before slapping it home on his second attempt.

A goal from Senators forward Tim Stutzle deprived USA goaltender Connor Hellebuyck of the shutout, but it was too little too late as the States eventually sealed the win. It was a solid response game from Matthews, who now shares the team lead with Matthew Tkachuk with five points in three games.

All teams will now get a rest on Monday before the play-off qualifiers kick off on Tuesday. Matthews and the States will face the winner of Sweden and Latvia on Wednesday, while Team Canada will face the winner of Czechia and Denmark.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/olympic-hockey-auston-matthews-usa-win-germany-two-goals-assist

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Around the NHL: Kings trade talks heat up post Fiala injury, Canadiens could include Laine in offers

Welcome back for another Olympic-break edition of around the NHL. The best-on-best tournament has been nothing short of sensational, as the top players on the planet have done a fantastic job of providing some of the most entertaining hockey in years.

While NHL action may be paused on the ice, the conversations between management teams across the league continues. The roster freeze concludes February 23, and while we’re not expecting to see a flurry of deals immediately after, give it a few days, and expect to see multiple trades completed, as general managers look to upgrade their rosters ahead of the March 6 trade deadline.

Here’s the very latest from around the NHL:

Los Angeles Kings lose Kevin Fiala, trade talks ramp up​

One of the more heartbreaking stories of the Olympic games so far is seeing Switzerland’s Kevin Fiala get tangled up with Canada’s Tom Wilson, resulting in Fiala breaking his leg and requiring season-ending surgery. Fiala had surgery to repair multiple fractures in his lower left leg, the Kings haven’t placed any timetables on Fiala’s recovery and stated they’ll re-evaluate him once the NHL season concludes.

What does this mean for the Kings? After acquiring and extending Artemi Panarin, it’s obvious GM Ken Holland is going for it this season, so losing one of the best offensive weapons up front in Fiala certainly puts a wrinkle in their plans. The Kings entered the Olympic break with a 23-19-14 record, sitting just three points out of the second wild-card position in the Western Conference. Because of the fact Panarin was only open to being dealt to the Kings, Holland was able to use this leverage and hold on to a wealth of his trade assets.

The Kings still have their 2026 first-round pick, two second-rounders, and several high-end prospects which will appeal to other teams. As far as trade targets go, Calgary Flames‘ Nazem Kadri is a prime candidate. The Kings know they’re losing Anze Kopitar to retirement after this season and will need some help down the middle. The ‘in-division tax’ could be too rich for Holland’s blood, as Flames’ GM Craig Conroy would likely work a hard bargain if the Kings were serious on Kadri.

The Nashville Predators could emerge as prime trade partners for the Kings, as the Preds are expected to listen to trade offers on Steven Stamkos, Jonathan Marchessault, and Ryan O’Reilly. All three would be great fits for the Kings top-six, and since Holland has plenty of cap space to work with ahead of the deadline, financially, they are realistic as trade targets.

Both Stamkos and Marchessault have formal no-movement clauses and would have to approve the deal, meanwhile, O’Reilly doesn’t have trade protection on his contract formally, but there’s been a verbal agreement made between management and O’Reilly that the team will keep him informed on any potential trades to ensure he approves the move.

Montreal Canadiens could include Patrik Laine in trade offers​

The Montreal Canadiens are expected to make a significant trade ahead of this season’s deadline, and it’s becoming more likely GM Kent Hughes will include Patrik Laine in the transaction, to not only give Laine a fresh start, but also to balance out any transaction financially.

The Canadiens have just $1.04 million in cap space entering the Olympic break, meanwhile Laine is on the injured reserve, and his timeline to return seems unclear at the moment. Sportsnet’s Eric Engels feels if Laine eventually returns this season, it won’t be in Montreal. ” If the 27-year-old Finn sees any post-Olympics action, we expect it to be for someone other than the Canadiens,” stated Engels. So, where could Laine end up?

The Canadiens have been linked to Kadri this season, so there’s potential for Laine to get a fresh start in Calgary, a team that is desperate for more offence. Laine is a pending unrestricted free agent, so there’s certainly some risk involved if a team is giving up assets for someone who could potentially walk in a few months.

The St. Louis Blues are going to be active ahead of the deadline, the Canadiens could have interest in one of Jordan Kyrou or Robert Thomas, and Laine’s cap hit certainly helps balance out the deal. Both Blues forwards have no-trade clauses, however, joining the up-and-coming Canadiens is going to appeal to almost everyone around the league with trade protection.

Marchessault out of Nashville makes a lot of sense as he’s battled tested in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, brings a ton of energy to the lineup, and being from the area certainly doesn’t hurt. Jake DeBrusk out of Vancouver is an interesting trade candidate for the Canadiens as he’s versatile to play either wing, has plenty of term on his contract and brings an element of size that the Habs could use more of.

Quick hits from around the NHL​

• Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin could make another huge splash on the trade market, and has been linked heavily to New York Rangers’ Vincent Trocheck, and Blues’ Jordan Binnington and Brayden Schenn. Word is Guerin has made goaltender Jesper Wallstedt available in trade talks.
• Toronto Maple Leafs‘ Brad Treliving is expected to wait until right up to deadline day before he pulls the trigger on any moves.
• Winnipeg Jets are listening to trade offers on Luke Schenn, Logan Stanley, and Cole Perfetti, and could approach Jonathan Toews about his desire to join a playoff team.
• Pittsburgh Penguins’ Kyle Dubas is rumored to be looking to add a defenceman with term on his contract ahead of the deadline.
• Edmonton Oilers continue to discuss next steps on an Andrew Mangiapane trade, and while they’ve been linked to Kings forward Warren Foegele, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta doesn’t feel there’s much substance there.
• In the USA/Germany preliminary game Sunday, Matthew Tkachuk was caught on a hot mic chirping Leon Draisaitl – ‘Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.” This of course stems from the Florida Panthers/Edmonton Oilers playoff battles.
• Macklin Celebrini has put on a show at the Olympics for Team Canada, and don’t be surprised to see San Jose Sharks GM Mike Grier be very aggressive ahead of the trade deadline looking for top-four defencemen with term on their contracts.
• Sharks have waived forward Jeff Skinner with the purpose of a contract termination. Skinner will be free to sign with any team as of Tuesday afternoon.
• Carolina Hurricanes extended goaltender Brandon Bussi on a three-year deal worth $1.9 million AAV.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/nhl-trade-rumours-kings-fiala-injury-canadiens-laine

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Jake Guentzel, Matthew Tkachuk rave about Auston Matthews after dynamic game for USA

Auston Matthews showed why he’s one of the best players in the world on Sunday, leading the United States to a 5-1 win over Germany.

Matthews, who captains the United States, recorded two goals and an assist in a clinical performance. The 28-year-old leads the United States in scoring through three games, and his teammates raved about his tournament to date following Sunday’s victory.

“He’s been great all tournament. You guys put a lot of heat on him for no reason,” United States forward Jake Guentzel said following Sunday’s game. “He’s just an unbelievable player and plays in all situations.”

Matthews has been primarily paired with Guentzel and Matt Boldy at 5-on-5. Through the calendar year of 2026, Matthews leads all NHL players in 5-on-5 goal scoring while showing off his improved lateral quickness and acceleration. Although Matthews was subject to plenty of criticism during the first half of the 2025-26 season, he found his form with the Toronto Maple Leafs from Christmas onwards, and it’s carrying into the Olympics.

“He was awesome, he’s our captain, we’re following his lead,” United States forward Matthew Tkachuk said of Matthews post-game.

Matthews and the United States finished second overall in the preliminary round, and now await the winner of Sweden-Latvia. The quarterfinals will take place on Wednesday.

It’s a great showcase for Matthews to reestablish his place among the best players in the world. Matthews is tied for fifth in tournament scoring with two goals and five points, while using his frame and elite shot to keep opponents at bay throughout the preliminary round.

“Auston’s game is building. It’s getting better with every game,” United States head coach Mike Sullivan said via Sportsnet’s Luke Fox. “We’ve exercised some patience with that group, because we feel like those guys are capable, and we try to give them an opportunity to build a little bit of chemistry, and I think it’s unfolding right in front of us.”

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/jake-guentzel-matthew-tkachuk-rave-auston-matthews-usa

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Auston Matthews starting a scrum? That’s the captain the Leafs need to see more often: Leafs Morning Take

Both Canada and the United States are getting some much-needed rest before the medal round gets underway on Wednesday.

To kick off the latest edition of Leafs Morning Take, we discussed the Milan Games and what’s ahead over the next few days. Just like the women, it really feels like Canada and the U.S. are on a collision course to clash in the Gold Medal game. Connor McDavid leads his squad with nine points, Auston Matthews and Matthew Tkachuk have five points apiece to top America’s leaderboard.

Meantime, the hockey world’s still buzzing over the altercation – don’t call it a fight – between Tom Wilson and Pierre Crinon on Sunday. Jay Rosehill broke it all down. What a circus. In case you missed, the French Ice Hockey Federation booted Crinon from the rest of the tournament for “provocative behaviour,” even though the IIHF decided no further discipline was necessary. It was fun to see the gloves come off. Don’t bad they didn’t actually dance. Oh well.

After that, we zoned in on Canada as they prep for quarterfinals. Nathan MacKinnon and Sam Bennett didn’t practice on Tuesday, but according to Jon Cooper, there’s no reason for panic. It was just for maintenance. Over and above all that, Cooper said Brad Marchand is “available” for Wednesday. Josh Morrissey, who hasn’t played since the opener, is trending towards playing on Wednesday, too. This is when it gets fun. Canada’s 3-0-0-0 through three outings, outscoring their opponents 20-3. McDavid’s been McDavid. We’ve been thoroughly impressed with Macklin Celebrini, who was eligible to play for the World Junior squad this past December —if you can believe it.

As mentioned, Leafs captain Auston Matthews is having himself a very solid tournament. In fact, he made some headlines when he initiated a scrum 1-on-4 against Latvia, something we haven’t seen much from in Toronto. Any way you sliced it, we loved to see the fire and passion from him. Furthermore, his teammates have been complimentary of their captain. It’s been nice to see. Of Toronto’s three players in Milan, Matthews hasn’t been the most noticeable. Oliver Ekman-Larsson has barely played, William Nylander has mustered just two points as he continues to deal with the groin injury that forced him to miss several games last month.

Let’s get the party started! Now’s when it gets fun.

Leafs Morning Take will return with another episode later on this 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/aus...afs-need-to-see-more-often-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Olympic Hockey: William Nylander, Sweden to face USA in Quarter Finals after win vs. Latvia

It was perhaps a bit shocking to see Team Sweden participate in the play-off rounds as the seventh-seeded team in the tournament, but after a sizeable loss to Finland and a closer win than they’d probably like over Italy, Sweden finished third in their pool in the name of goal differential and found themselves up against Latvia in the play-offs. They won relatively handily over Latvia, by a score of 5-1, and will immediately have their tallest task to date with a quarter-final matchup against the United States incoming on Wednesday.

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander tallied a goal and an assist in the win, giving him four points through four games so far for Team Sweden. Los Angeles Kings forward Adrian Kempe opened the scoring a little over halfway into the first period, with Nylander picking up an assist on the tally, and 40 seconds later, Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog made it 2-0 with helpers from Lucas Raymond and Mika Zibanejad.

Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg kicked things off for Team Sweden in the second period before Latvia forward Eduards Tralmaks scored to bring them within two as the teams headed into the third period, but Sweden made sure to put the final nail in the coffin. Zibanejad scored to make it 4-1 just under six minutes into the frame, and Nylander scored his second of the tournament with helpers from Raymond and Rasmus Dahlin to ensure that there would be no comeback attempt from Latvia, eventually securing the 5-1 win.

With the win, Sweden will face USA in an earlier-than-expected heavyweight matchup in the quarter finals, which means that one of Nylander/Oliver Ekman-Larsson or Auston Matthews will be going home early. While the States will be favoured in this game, and rightfully so, it could be anybody’s game depending on who has the hotter hands that day. Canada, meanwhile, will face Czechia at 10:40 am eastern time for their quarter-final matchup.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/olympic-hockey-william-nylander-sweden-usa-quarter-finals-latvia

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Mitch Marner leads Canada to overtime victory over Czechia in instant classic

Mitch Marner scored a sensational goal in overtime, leading Canada to a 4-3 overtime victory over Czechia in the men’s hockey quarterfinals.

Ondrej Palat broke a tie during the third period, giving Czechia a 3-2 lead. Palat scored off a 3-on-2 rush for his first goal of the tournament, and Canada’s tournament appeared to be in dire straits. Nick Suzuki equalized for Canada with three minutes remaining, tipping home a point shot from Devon Toews, forcing overtime. Canada appeared to be on the brink of elimination, before Suzuki scored, then Marner emerged as the overtime hero with his first goal of the tournament.

Macklin Celebrini opened the scoring three minutes into the contest, depositing a feed from Connor McDavid for a 1-0 Canada lead. Lukas Sedlak equalized for Czechia, then David Pastrnak added a power play marker just under 15 minutes into the first period, for a 2-1 lead.

Nathan MacKinnon equalized for Canada during the second frame, once again set up by McDavid and Celebrini.

Sidney Crosby suffered a lower-body injury during the second period and did not return. Crosby tried to avoid a hit from Czechia defenceman Radko Gudas, and fell awkwardly. After working with the training staff on the bench for a few minutes, Canada’s captain went to the locker room. Suzuki took over on Crosby’s line, with Marner and Mark Stone on the wings.

Jordan Binnington made a massive stop on a Martin Necas breakaway with 1:10 remaining, to keep the game tied in regulation. Binnington made 20 saves in the winning effort, once again providing his bonafides as Canada’s No. 1 goaltender.

Canada will face Switzerland if it defeats Finland, provided the United States defeats Sweden. If Sweden defeats the United States, and Switzerland holds on for a victory over Finland, Canada will face Sweden in the semifinals.

Exhale, Canada. That was an instant classic, punctuated by the best goal of Mitch Marner’s career.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/mitch-marner-leads-canada-overtime-victory-czechia-instant-classic

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Olympic Hockey: Auston Matthews, USA advance to semi-finals with win over William Nylander, Sweden

And then there were four. Or one, if you’re talking specifically about Toronto Maple Leafs players

While it didn’t quite feature the dramatics of Canada’s 4-3 overtime win against Czechia or Finland’s comeback win over Switzerland, Wednesday afternoon’s final quarter final tilt between Team USA and Team Sweden was the third of the day to go to overtime, and the States prevailed. As a result, Auston Matthews remains the last Leaf still in the tournament, as William Nylander and Oliver Ekman-Larsson will head home following the overtime loss.

Detroit Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin opened the scoring midway into the second period after redirecting a point shot from Jack Hughes, and the score stayed at 1-0 for the majority of the game until some last-minute theatrics. With the net empty and a little under two minutes left in the game, Detroit Red Wings forward Lucas Raymond found New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad for a cross-ice one-timer that made its way past Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to even the game at 1 and send the game to overtime.

In overtime, the two teams traded chances, without many of them materializing into anything high-danger. That is, until Minnesota Wild defenceman Quinn Hughes took advantage of some space on the ice and wired home the overtime winner at 3-on-3. Matthews picked up an assist on the play, bringing him to six points in four games to lead the United States in scoring at the tournament thus far.

With the way the rest of the quarter final games shook out, the United States will now face Slovakia in the semi-finals on Friday, with Team Canada set to take on Finland. The losers of said games will face off for the bronze medal on Saturday afternoon, while the winners of them will duke it out for the gold medal at 8 am eastern time on Sunday morning.

Nylander finished the tournament with four points in five games for Sweden, while Oliver Ekman-Larsson finished with 0 in five games.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/olympic-hockey-auston-matthews-usa-advance-william-nylander-sweden

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

David Pagnotta says he would be surprised if Chris Tanev returned to action: Leafs Morning Take

Mitch Marner did it again for Canada.

The dude’s incredible in 3-on-3 on OT.

The former Leaf netted the OT winner as Canada edged Czechia 4-3 to advance to the semifinals of the Milan Games. As expected, the epic tally caused a storm of anti-Leaf content across the globe. The hockey world’s obsessed with Toronto, Wednesday afternoon was the latest example of it. Obviously, that’s where the conversation started on the latest edition of Leafs Morning Take as Zack Phillips filled in for Jay Rosehill. From Mark Stone to Roberto Luongo to every Bruins/Canadiens fan ever, the Leafs took stray after stray. Simply put, people are missing the point. No one outside of Toronto understands why the fan base and a lot of the media are not big fans of Mitch Marner. It is what it is.

Suffice it is to say, there was a lot to dissect from the Canada game. After the Marner chat, we got into the officiating. How the hell did Czechia get away with having eight men on the ice for the 3-2 goal? Imagine the Czechs went on to win the game? Milan would be burned to the ground. The funny thing about everything is that the Czech coach came out after the game and ripped the refs: “We were basically playing against six players..” Now that’s funny. Jordan Binnington deserves a lot of praise, so does Connor McDavid and Macklin Celebrini. Canada’s depth needs to rise up, or they won’t win this tournament. Meantime, there still isn’t much of an update on Sidney Crosby.

After that, we broke down the latest in Toronto as the Leafs returned to practice. The headliner was seeing Chris Tanev skate. At this point, he’s going to try and give it a go, but it remains to be seen if he will actually be able to play. With that in mind, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta dropped by to dish on Marner’s Magic and Toronto’s deadline plans. We hit on Tanev, Joshua, Rielly, and what happens with the likes of Bobby McMann and Scott Laughton. Pagnotta intimates Toronto’s plans haven’t really changed: They want to be buyers and sellers.

Lastly, we gave our quick thoughts on Friday’s two semi-final games: Canada vs. Finland and U.S.A. vs. Slovakia.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/dav...s-tanev-returned-to-action-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs’ Morgan Rielly feels that Olympic break came at an ideal time after injury, prior struggles

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly says he is feeling good as he gets back into the swing of things following some much-needed rest during the Olympic break.

He was seen skating with the main group during their first practice since the season was paused for the Winter Olympics on Tuesday, skating alongside his usual partner Brandon Carlo. Rielly had missed the Leafs’ last two games before the break due to an upper-body injury he suffered on January 31 against the Vancouver Canucks, and was deemed cleared to return by head coach Craig Berube.

“ I feel good,” Rielly said to reporters after Wednesday’s practice. “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 viewed the time off as a good reset on both a physical and mental level, and as renewed excitement to get back into the swing of things down the stretch. He and the Leafs know they have a difficult challenge ahead if they wish to make the playoffs for a 10th straight year, but he feels the team is ready to rise to the occasion and play their best hockey down the stretch.

That starts with the Leafs taking full advantage of the week of practice, which has been difficult to come by due to the condensed schedule.

“ 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,” Rielly said. “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.”

A lot has been said about Rielly’s play this season, as it has been far from his best offensively and the defensive struggles have been difficult to ignore. While his long-term future with the team beyond this season remains unclear, there is still time for him to rewrite the story on the 2025-26 campaign and play his best hockey at the most critical time of the year, which he has done before.

Berube seemed to notice that the veteran defenceman has had an extra kick in his step during these first set of practices since the Leafs regrouped.

“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.”

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-morgan-rielly-olympic-break-injury-struggles

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Canada advances to gold medal game with 3rd-period rally over Finland

Nathan MacKinnon scored with 36 seconds remaining in regulation, leading Canada to a 3-2 victory over Finland. Canada advanced to the gold medal game of the men’s hockey tournament, where it will face the winner of the United States-Slovakia semifinal.

MacKinnon drew a high-sticking penalty on Finland’s Niko Mikkola and capitalized on the error on the ensuing power play, wiring a shot that trickled past Juuse Saros.

Canada was forced to rally from a 2-0 deficit. Mikko Rantanen opened the scoring on the power play for Finland during the first period, after Sam Bennett took an ill-advised goaltender interference penalty. Sebastian Aho won the ensuing faceoff back to Rantanen, who ripped a shot past Jordan Binnington for the 1-0 lead.

Erik Haula added a short-handed marker in the second period, bursting down the ice on a partial breakaway. Canada couldn’t generate any meaningful offence and appeared to be in dire straits, until Sam Reinhart tipped a shot from Cale Makar on the power play, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Trailing 2-1 entering the third period, Canada was pushed to the brink. Shea Theodore tied the game 10 minutes in the third frame, beating Saros cleanly from the point. There was a possibility of goaltender interference, with Brad Marchand colliding with Saros, but no penalty was called.

Connor McDavid extended his tournament scoring lead with two assists. McDavid operated as Canada’s captain, with Sidney Crosby out of the lineup due to injury. Nick Suzuki took Crosby’s place on the third line, with Mitch Marner and Mark Stone on the wings. It was another standout game from McDavid, and Macklin Celebrini, who lead Canada in shots, and was a force to be reckoned with on every shift.

After a dominant showing in the preliminary round, Canada required a Mitch Marner overtime goal to defeat Czechia in the quarterfinals, before being pushed to the brink against Finland. It should be a thrilling gold medal regardless of opponent, with Auston Matthews looking to steer the United States to a rematch of last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off final.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/canada-advances-gold-medal-game-3rd-period-rally-finland

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Olympic Hockey: Auston Matthews, USA crush Slovakia 6-2 in semi-final, will face Canada in gold medal game

Slovakia have been one of the better stories of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympics from a men’s hockey standpoint. After a long rut where they weren’t overly competitive on the international stage, the surge they’ve gotten in recent years from young players like Juraj Slafkovsky, Simon Nemec, and Dalibor Dvorsky has helped them gain notoriety on an international level once again. They claimed a silver medal at the 2022 olympics (albeit one without NHLers), but they have proven that wasn’t a fluke with their performance in 2026, facing off against the United States in the semi-finals.

Unfortunately for them, the USA showed up and took names in their matchup, sending the Slovaks to the bronze medal game to be played on Saturday and advancing themselves to the gold medal game on Sunday morning. It wasn’t an overly competitive matchup, with the States taking the win 6-2.

Detroit Red Wings forward Dylan Larkin opened the scoring for Team USA a little under five minutes into the game with helpers coming from Zach Werenski and Tage Thompson. They added a power play goal near the end of the first period, with Tage Thompson finding the back of the net off assists from Jack Eichel and Quinn Hughes.

The States continued to pour it on in the second period, with Jack Hughes making it 3-0 a little over halfway into the period. When Eichel made it 4-0 only 19 seconds later, it prompted Slovakia to pull goaltender Samuel Hlavaj and replace him with Stanislav Skorvanek. The States added one more before the period ended, with Jack Hughes finding the back of the net for the second time. Matthew Boldy picked up the assist on the fifth goal.

The Slovaks pushed back a little bit in the third, with both Slafkovsky and Pavol Regenda finding the back of the net, but a Brady Tkachuk breakaway goal effectively sealed the game for the United States. It was a quiet game from Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews, who failed to register a point in a game for the first time in the tournament, but he’ll happily sacrifice that for a shot at a gold medal.

Matthews and the Americans will face rival Canada in a classic gold medal showdown on Sunday morning, while Slovakia and Finland will compete for the bronze medal on Saturday.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/olympic-hockey-auston-matthews-usa-slovakia-canada-gold

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Leafs practice notes: Chris Tanev skates in individual session

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev participated in an individual session during Saturday’s practice. Tanev skated on a separate pad, away from the main group on Saturday.

Head coach Craig Berube previously indicated that Tanev could potentially rejoin the team this season, after assessing how he skates through the week. Tanev was previously believed to be considering season-ending surgery for a groin injury.

“I think it is still early to talk about whether he is joining us here, but he seems pretty good,” Berube said of Tanev following Thursday’s practice. “Again, it will still be a day or two until we figure out if he is going to join us with the team. We’ll see. We’ll talk to him and see if he can get there by the weekend, but I am not sure yet.”

William Nylander and Oliver Ekman-Larsson haven’t returned to practice from the Olympics. Nylander and Ekman-Larsson both played for Sweden, and were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the United States. Auston Matthews will captain the United States in Sunday’s gold medal game against Canada. Matthews and the United States are seeking their first gold medal in Olympic men’s hockey since 1980.

With Matthews, Nylander and Ekman-Larsson all unavailable, the lines at Saturday’s practice operated as placeholders. Easton Cowan primarily skated in place of Matthews with Bobby McMann and Max Domi on the wings, via line rushes posted by David Alter of The Hockey News. Calle Jarnkrok skated in Nylander’s normal place on the second line right wing, alongside Matias Maccelli and John Tavares.

Joseph Woll returned to practice after missing a previous session due to illness.

Toronto resumes its schedule on February 25 against the Atlantic Division-leading Tampa Bay Lightning.

Maple Leafs’ lines​

Bobby McMann-Easton Cowan-Max Domi

Matias Maccelli-John Tavares-Calle Jarnkrok

Matthew Knies-Nicolas Roy-Nick Robertson

Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Dakota Joshua

Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo

Jake McCabe-Troy Stecher

Simon Benoit-Philippe Myers

Joseph Woll

Anthony Stolarz

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tor...e-notes-chris-tanev-skates-individual-session

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs prospect checkpoint: How has Sam McCue fared through 5 months of 2025-26?

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Sam McCue has had quite the interesting past two seasons, to put it lightly.

He was selected 216th overall by the Leafs in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL Draft, a mere nine picks ahead of fellow Leafs prospect and draft “Mr. Irrelevant” Nathan Mayes. Part of the reason he was taken that late was that while he did possess good size (6’2″ and 200 pounds), he did not stand out from an offensive perspective, as he finished 12th on the Owen Sound Attack in scoring during his draft year with 21 points (12 goals and nine assists) in 34 games.

But the Leafs were able to look past what he did and focus more on what he could be: a dependable power-forward who could chip in offensively in a bottom-six role. McCue can roll over his opponents, claim his space in front of the net, open up the ice for his teammates, and battle for position with his frame. If he can start to build his confidence from a scoring standpoint and improve his skating, he has the makings of a hidden gem.

As far as how things have gone since the Leafs took a chance on him in the seventh round, he has been bouncing around the OHL quite a bit. He started the 2024-25 campaign on the Sound before being dealt partway through to the Flint Firebirds, finishing with a combined 55 points (36 goals and 19 assists) in 55 games. This past summer saw him get traded to the Brantford Bulldogs, where he spent only part of the year there before being traded yet again, this time to the Ottawa 67’s.

The constant moving around might have something to do with the fact that his scoring output has taken a step back, registering a combined 25 points (13 goals and 12 assists) in 39 games at the time of filing. McCue has time to turn things around since the 67s are playoff-bound, but the regression has been disappointing nonetheless when this should be the time where he dominates the OHL.

The Leafs have until June 1st of 2026 to get McCue under contract, and right now, it’s unlikely they will indeed get him locked up to an entry-level contract since he clearly needs more seasoning before he is a legitimate option. They could get him signed to an AHL deal and allow him to remain in their system while not counting as one of the contract spots on the 50-man system, or allow him to move to the NCAA and reassess at a later date if he takes strides at the college ranks.

But, make no mistake, McCue was always going to be a project, and that meant having to wait a while before seeing the fruits of their labour. It has not quite gone according to plan this season, but perhaps he can put it all together down the stretch and finish strong.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-prospect-checkpoint-sam-mccue-2025-26

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs prospect checkpoint: How has Cade Webber fared through 5 months of 2025-26?

When it comes to assessing Toronto Maple Leafs defensive prospect Cade Webber, it’s not as simple as looking at the stat sheet.

He has only recorded one assist in 26 games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, which shouldn’t come as too much of a shock for those who recognize that Webber is a defensive defenceman. After all, he mustered up seven points (a goal and six assists) in 60 games the prior year, so it is not too surprising that scoring has been difficult to come by for the 25-year-old.

It’s worth noting that the reason why Webber has only played in 26 games is due to the fact that he has missed quite a bit of time due to various injuries and an illness. In the games that he has played, Webber has been utilized mostly on the second pair alongside Noah Chadwick, but there have been some times when he got a turn on the top pair.

The reason why the Leafs surrendered a sixth-round pick in 2026 to acquire his signing rights from the Carolina Hurricanes in 2024 was because of his shutdown abilities. Webber was named Best Defensive Defenceman in Hockey East for the 2023-24 season, a year in which we spent a lot of time paired up with Lane Hutson. Combine that with the fact that Webber stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 220 pounds, and you can understand why they would be intrigued by his potential and want to work on his development.

Webber isn’t going to throw punishing hits in the open-ice, but he’ll use his frame to cut off forwards entering the offensive zone with real fluency. He also skates well for his size, and it’s his mobility and spatial intelligence that are his strongest traits at this stage of his career.

“I take pride in being that defensive defenceman, blocking shots, doing the unsexy things,” Webber said at Maple Leafs development camp in July 2024. “That’s a big thing here. I know that they’re going to put all they can into developing me. I know this is just the beginning. I have a ton of more work to do. I’m looking forward to that.”

He remains under contract through next season, so there is still plenty of time for him to round out the other aspects of his game and climb up the pecking order for replacement call-ups. The way he can get into pole position is by consistently winning puck battles and the possession share, demonstrating consistently that he possesses NHL-ready traits even without the offensive production.

It certainly won’t be easy since it’s not often that one-trick ponies can make it to the show and stay there these days, but Webber could be that guy who bucks the trend. And who knows, perhaps he finally gets his shot later this season with the prospects of the Leafs reaching the playoffs being slim right now.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-prospect-checkpoint-cade-webber-2025-26

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Auston Matthews, USA teammates honour late Johnny Gaudreau after gold medal win

Canada vs. USA in the gold medal game at the Olympics is always an instant classic, and in a nail-biting affair that saw heavy momentum swings back and forth, the USA prevailed to win their first gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980.

USA and Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews had an assist in the victory, and what followed was a touching moment that even the most heartbroken Canadian fans could find a way to appreciate. Matthews along with Florida Panthers forward Matthew Tkachuk and Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski honoured the late Johnny Gaudreau by parading his jersey around the ice.

Zach Werenski, Auston Matthews & Matthew Tkachuk doing a lap with Johnny Gaudreau’s jersey after winning Gold for Team USA is incredibly touching #Olympics #MilanoCortina2026 pic.twitter.com/wlZbvo7uiY

— Claire Hanna (@clahanna) February 22, 2026

“We felt like he was with us in spirit,” Matthews told TSN’s Ryan Rishaug after the game. “Having his jersey up there meant a lot, a lot of guys on this team grew up with him, played with him in Boston, and he had a big impact on a lot of guys. So, it’s awesome to have his family here, and to have his boys there in the picture with everybody and be able to celebrate that. We’re thinking about him, he definitely played a big part in a lot of guys lives.”

Gaudreau, who was killed in August 2024 after he and his brother, Matthew, were struck by a drunk driver while cycling on a road in Salem County, New Jersey, was an instrumental part of USA Hockey during his career.

USA opened the scoring early after a breakaway goal from Minnesota Wild forward Matt Boldy, before Canada evened things up in the second period after a goal from Colorado Avalanche forward Cale Makar. The third period was sheer chaos, featuring several crucial missed chances from Canada, a 4-minute power play for USA that Canada killed off, and an ensuing USA penalty that they killed off near the end of the period. In the end, New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes scored the golden goal in 3-on-3 overtime to clinch the gold medal.

“It feels good, it feels real good,” Matthews said. “It’s incredible, I don’t even know what to say. Special group of guys. This is the goal, you want to to put yourself in a position to do something like this, and it’s been a long time for the US. I just couldn’t be happier.”

The United States and Canada were the only two undefeated teams remaining, with USA defeating Sweden in the quarter-finals before dismantling Slovakia in the semi-finals and eventually taking the gold medal game against Canada.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

Catch Every Goal from the 2026 Milan Games! The 2026 Milan Games are almost here, and the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey players are ready to battle for gold! The Nation Network is bringing you every game, every jaw-dropping save, and all the drama with live reaction streams and full recaps. Don’t miss a moment of Olympic hockey action—men’s, women’s, and everything in between—on the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel. Subscribe now and stay on top of every play!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/auston-matthews-usa-teammates-honour-johnny-gaudreau-gold-medal-win

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Mike Modano thinks Olympic Gold could prove to be a turning point for Matthews: Leafs Morning Take

Since the hockey world’s obsessed with Toronto, it was only fitting that Jack Hughes, who spent a part of his childhood in the GTA, ended up scoring the golden goal at the Milan Games.

What a game. Someone had to win, someone had to lose.

To kick off the Monday edition of Leafs Morning – as we returned to our full-time schedule – we hit on everything surrounding Sunday’s OT thriller. From Nathan MacKinnon disdain for that stuffed animal to Hughes going five-hole in OT on Jordan Binnington to capture gold for Team USA, we tackled it all. Firstly, congratulations to Auston Matthews, who had a very strong showing in Italy. As expected, it was a tight game. That said, there’s no question that Canada was the better team. That’s the way it goes sometimes, though. Connor Hellebuyck was awesome. That was indisputably the big story. Canada had its chances. That’s life. No need to make excuses. Win with grace, lose with grace. Plain and simple.

At any rate, we dove into the Matthews storyline. As per usual, he had several teammates come to his defence after the game. For the first time in his career, the Leafs captain won the big one, so naturally, we discussed what Olympic gold means for his legacy. Matthews, who tallied a helper in Sunday’s final, finished the tournament with three goals and seven points in six outings. He definitely didn’t hurt his stock, that’s for sure. As mentioned, both Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes were quoted following the win. They wanted the hockey world to know that Matthews is now officially a winner. They wanted that to be celebrated in Toronto. To be fair, we did spend a good portion of the show discussing just that. He did that. He played a huge role in GOLD, too, which was great to see. It’s one thing to be captain of the Maple Leafs, it’s another to lead an entire nation.

The Matthews theme continued into our interview with Hockey Hall of Famer Mike Modano, who’s one of the best American players to ever do it. Unsurprisingly, he was very complimentary of Matthews. Modano did clarify some comments he made on Toronto radio/TV a few weeks ago regarding the market and not wishing the scrutiny on anybody. Furthermore, the 55-year-old thinks there’s no question that Matthews has silenced some of his doubters. He thinks he can springboard this victory into future success, too. Modano also went out of his way to suggest that he thinks Matthews needs more around him in Toronto. He was very fair with his assessment and praise.

Lastly, we touched quickly on the Leafs, who are getting set for Wednesday’s game in Tampa, then Thursday night in Sunrise. At this point, Matthews’ availability is not known for that game. The U.S. team – due to weather – was diverted to Miami. On top of that, they’re expected to be at the White House on Tuesday. Meantime, Dakota Joshua looks like he’s ready to return to the lineup.

At any rate, Zack Phillips will be in for Jay Rosehill on the Tuesday edition of Leafs Morning Take. We’re going to continue with the American theme as Hockey Hall of Famer Jeremy Roenick will drop by the show. Also, we’ll start to look ahead to Wednesday’s return from the Olympics for the Leafs as they visit Jon Cooper’s Bolts.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/mik...turning-point-for-matthews-leafs-morning-take