RSS Maple Leafs Team Notes

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Jake McCabe avoided fracture during loss to Canadiens, defends Simon Benoit’s start to season

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe is ready to go for Wednesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 32-year-old was ruled out of Saturday’s game against the Montreal Canadiens after taking a puck to the face in the second period and did not return for the third.

McCabe did not participate during Monday’s practice, but head coach Craig Berube already indicated he’s good to go. During Tuesday’s practice, McCabe took reps alongside his usual partner, Simon Benoit.

“Honestly, not really that scary. That happens quite a bit, honestly,” McCabe said about getting hit in the face. “Puck ramps up your stick. This one, my face just blew up right away. They just wanted to make sure there’s no fracture, which there’s not. Got lucky, I guess, on that one.”

McCabe and the Maple Leafs are channeling some positivity, while falling to last place in the Eastern Conference with a 9-10-3 record.

“Our road record hasn’t been great either. We know historically, or since I’ve been here, we’ve been pretty solid on the road.  We would like to get back to that this trip and that’s kind of why I’m saying that’s a good time for it. Around the guys all the time. You start winning some games, you start feeling good.”

McCabe joked that he wished his face looked a lot prettier, but said that his kids are getting used to the battered and bruised look he has going on now after years of stitches.

He is also willing to stick up for his teammates, whether it be through a transgression that occurred on the ice or when they are feeling down on themselves. Benoit told reporters that Monday that he’s been too passive, and McCabe came to his defense Tuesday.

“ I think he’s playing real solid all year.  A couple of games, I feel like that St. Louis game at home, I thought we were both skating real well.  Having two left shots allows us to kind of skate forward a little bit more. Getting in technical terms of like surfing across the ice and replacing each other or whatever it be to continue to have good gaps.  We’re both better when we’re skating, when we’re physical, and the rest of our game kind of takes over after that part is initiated.”

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/jake-mccabe-avoided-fracture-canadiens-defends-simon-benoit

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews returns to lineup after missing 5 games

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews will return to the lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets, David Alter of The Hockey News confirmed.

Matthews missed the past five games with the injury sustained against the Boston Bruins on November 11. The 28-year-old skated throughout the past two weeks and took line rushes alongside Matthew Knies and Nicolas Roy at Tuesday’s practice.

“It’s been a tough couple weeks, but I think over the last four, five days or so, skating, practising, started to feel really good day after day,” Matthews said Wednesday via TSN’s Mark Masters. “Stacked some positive momentum and feel like I’m ready to go.”

Knies and Roy will also return to the lineup on Wednesday. Knies missed the past three games with a lower-body injury and spoke to travelling reporters ahead of the team’s optional skate.

“I feel great. I feel a lot better,” Knies said Wednesday morning via Masters. “I’m just excited to get back in the lineup. It sucks watching. You just want to be out there to help the guys so happy to do that today.”

It’s unclear how Matthews will be deployed in his return, but it’s possible that Berube reunites Matthews with Knies and Roy for Wednesday’s game, while Easton Cowan remains alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. It appears that Dakota Joshua, Matias Maccelli, Sammy Blais and Jacob Quillan will be among the healthy scratches, with Matthews, Knies and Roy returning to action.

Quillan has been removed from the Leafs’ roster page and will likely be sent down to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies with Matthews and Roy returning from IR.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube declined to tell reporters which players would be scratched on Wednesday.

Roy missed three games due to an upper-body injury and was placed on injured reserve retroactive to November 15 on November 20. The 28-year-old declined to speak about the specifics of his injury but confirmed he sustained the ailment during a November 15 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Maple Leafs’ projected lineup vs. Blue Jackets​

Easton Cowan-John Tavares-William Nylander

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Nicolas Roy

Nick Robertson-Max Domi-Calle Jarnkrok

Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Bobby McMann

Morgan Rielly-Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Simon Benoit-Jake McCabe

Dakota Mermis-Troy Stecher

Joseph Woll (projected starter)

Dennis Hildeby

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-auston-matthews-returns-lineup-missing-5-games

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Instant Reaction: Joseph Woll stars as Leafs grind out OT victory in Columbus

There hasn’t been a lot that’s gone the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ way through the first two months of the season. They’ve grinded through injuries and poor play, and though there have been some encouraging signs as of late, the club has been unable to pull itself out of the gutter. The message from the coaching staff has been that they need to be more consistent with their effort, but that mantra can grow tiresome when the effort doesn’t lead to positive results. Despite their recent struggles, the Leafs continued to grind it out on the road in Columbus on Wednesday night, and their goaltender led the way as they were finally rewarded with a crucial two points.

The return of Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, and Nicolas Roy was a welcome spark for the Leafs, but the reinforcements were unable to get going early in the game as the Leafs were forced to kill off three penalties in the opening frame. The Blue Jackets’ power play ranks near the bottom of the league, and the Leafs did well to withstand the early disadvantage, but it led to a disjointed bench for head coach Craig Berube, making it difficult for the Leafs to generate much in the way of momentum.

To their credit, the Leafs did their best to stick with it through the early penalty troubles, and they came out strong in the second period, as Max Domi looked to be finding some chemistry with Matthews. The newly formed third line of Roy, Nick Robertson, and Bobby McMann created pressure on the forecheck before John Tavares, William Nylander, and Easton Cowan came over the boards to generate a couple of quality chances of their own. The Leafs were unable to cash in on those chances, and it wasn’t long before the Blue Jackets went back the other way, with Zach Werenski jumping into the rush to beat Joseph Woll. The Leafs would catch a much-needed break, however, as Kent Johnson was ahead of the play by an inch, taking the goal off the board.

The two teams traded chances to begin the third, with both Woll and Jet Greaves holding their ground. Woll, in particular, was forced to make a number of highlight reel saves to keep the game tied before he was finally beaten by Werenski once again as Columbus took the first lead of the game with less than seven minutes remaining in the third period. It was a deflating blow for the Leafs, who had generated their share of chances while their own goaltender stood on his head in a game they desperately needed to have.

But adversity is nothing new for the 2025-26 Leafs, and they continued to push as the third period was winding down. With just over three minutes left on the clock, Tavares made a great second effort to keep a puck alive for Nylander behind the net, and Nylander found Cowan at the side of the net to tie the game. It was a pretty finish for the rookie forward, but the goal was the result of yet another hardworking play by Tavares.

It wasn’t smooth sailing from there, either, and Woll needed to come up big once again with a pair of clutch stops immediately after his club had drawn even. He was tested again in overtime, and his final stop of the game was his 35th of the night, before Nylander found some space at the end of a long shift and fired home the game-winner.

Woll robs Wood twice back-to-back after the Leafs tie the game pic.twitter.com/8875yE8Ig9

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 27, 2025

It was far from a picture-perfect performance by the Leafs on Wednesday night, but this is the exact type of win that can help a team pull itself out of a difficult stretch. There was a lot to like about the way they were able to create quality looks around the opposing net, and though Woll had to be their best player, the Leafs also did a good job of keeping a lot of shots to the outside.

When a team has struggled as much as the Leafs have so far this season, sometimes they just need an ugly one to right the ship. They still have a long way to go to get where they want to be, but they just needed something to feel good about at this point.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/ins...toronto-maple-leafs-overtime-victory-columbus

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Canadiens claim Sammy Blais off waivers from Maple Leafs

Sammy Blais was claimed off waivers by the Montreal Canadiens from the Toronto Maple Leafs, The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reports.

Blais recorded a goal and three points in 18 games with the Maple Leafs. He was placed on waivers on November 26, in order to make room for Auston Matthews and Nicolas Roy returning from injured reserve.

“I think it’s a good opportunity for me to be here, and knowing some people here too for sure helps,” Blais said on October 7.  ”I thought I had a good camp in Montreal, and just really happy to be here and have that opportunity in front of me.”

Blais was originally claimed by the Maple Leafs off waivers from the Canadiens on October 6. The 29-year-old signed a one-year deal with the Canadiens on July 1, but was waived before playing a game with his hometown team. He spent the majority of last season with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks, recording 14 goals and 40 points in 51 games.

“He knows what I expect out of him, and I know what I’m getting out of him,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Blais, upon joining the team. “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.”

“Sammy’s had a history with Chief going back to St. Louis, he won a Cup in St. Louis,” Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving said of Blais on October 7. “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.”

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/canadiens-claim-sammy-blais-waivers-toronto-maple-leafs

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Leafs practice notes: Nylander granted maintenance day, will play vs. Capitals

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander was granted a maintenance day and did not participate in Thursday’s practice. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube confirmed that Nylander will play in Friday’s game against the Washington Capitals.

Nylander scored the game-winning goal in Wednesday’s 2-1 overtime victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 29-year-old has recorded 11 goals and 31 points, tied for 5th in NHL scoring prior to Thursday’s games.

Nick Robertson joined Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies on the top line, while John Tavares centred Max Domi and Easton Cowan on the second line. Matthews, Knies and Nicolas Roy all returned from injury-related multi-game absences on Wednesday.

It appears that Matias Maccelli will be a healthy scratch for the second consecutive game, operating as an alternate during practice, via lines posted by TSN’s Mark Masters. Maccelli has recorded four goals and nine points in 21 games, and hasn’t met preseason expectations, while primarily operating in top-six roles. Dakota Joshua was also among the scratches Wednesday, but he will be back in the lineup. Joshua was paired with Roy and Bobby McMann during practice.

Berube elected to run a five-forward power play on Wednesday, and continued with this format during Thursday’s practice. Matthews, Knies, Tavares, Cowan were part of the first unit, with Domi and Maccelli alternating on the flank. Toronto’s second unit consisted of Robertson, Roy, McMann, along with defencemen Morgan Rielly and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.

Joseph Woll may be in line to start his sixth consecutive game. Woll was outstanding for the Maple Leafs in Wednesday’s victory, making 35 stops. Dennis Hildeby is operating as the Maple Leafs’ backup, and if Woll starts Friday, Hildeby will be expected to start Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Maple Leafs’ practice lines​

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Nick Robertson

Max Domi-John Tavares-Easton Cowan

Dakota Joshua-Nicolas Roy-Bobby McMann

Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok

Morgan Rielly-Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Simon Benoit-Jake McCabe

Dakota Mermis-Troy Stecher

Joseph Woll (projected starter)

Dennis Hildeby

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[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs’ William Nylander will not play vs. Capitals due to illness

Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander will not play in Friday’s game against the Washington Capitals due to illness.

Nylander was granted a maintenance day on Thursday and did not participate in practice. The illness is not related to the issue that Nylander required maintenance for on Thursday. Nylander leads the Maple Leafs in scoring with 11 goals and 31 points in 20 games, notching the overtime winner in Wednesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Dakota Joshua will re-enter the lineup as a result. Joshua was a healthy scratch for Wednesday’s game and was projected to miss a second consecutive contest, prior to Nylander’s illness. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube expanded on what he wants to see out of Joshua following Thursday’s practice.

“Getting to his identity,” Berube said. “He is a big guy. He has to be a physical and hard player to play against. He is going to make and score his goals around the net, right? A little more puck touches in the offensive zone from the forecheck, and then getting to the net front and winning those battles there and tipping pucks. He has good hand-eye. He has the capability of putting the puck in the net.”

Joshua was placed on a line alongside Nicolas Roy and Bobby McMann during Thursday’s practice.

Joseph Woll will make his sixth consecutive start. Woll was outstanding during Wednesday’s victory and was the primary reason why the Maple Leafs secured two points. The 27-year-old is off to a 2-2-1 start with a .921 save percentage. Dennis Hildeby will operate as Woll’s backup on Friday, and will almost certainly start Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Maple Leafs’ projected lineup vs. Capitals​

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Nick Robertson

Max Domi-John Tavares-Easton Cowan

Dakota Joshua-Nicolas Roy-Bobby McMann

Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok

Morgan Rielly-Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Simon Benoit-Jake McCabe

Dakota Mermis-Troy Stecher

Joseph Woll (confirmed starter)

Dennis Hildeby

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-william-nylander-will-not-play-capitals-illness

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Instant Reaction: Another Leafs’ 3rd-period collapse spoils Joseph Woll’s heroics

The Toronto Maple Leafs clearly still have a lot of work to do if they want to overcome their sluggish start, as the issues plaguing the team all season long reared their ugly head on Friday in 4-2 loss against the Washington Capitals.

A first period that saw a rare instance of no commercial breaks was also one that the Leafs needed to hang on and survive, since the majority of it was spent in their own end. That’s not to say they didn’t get their looks, but Joseph Woll was clearly the only reason they were able to get out of it with a lead. Morgan Rielly scored on the Leafs’ first shot of the game, which also marked the first time the Leafs opened the scoring since November 13th.

That trend of having spent far too much time defending followed suit in the second frame, with the added challenge of having to kill off two penalties. The Leafs were not only able to get through them unscathed, but they even got some looks while shorthanded. At the tail end of the first infraction, Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies sprang free on a breakaway and got a scoring chance out of it. Matthews made a nice move along the wall to get around Alex Ovechkin, allowing Knies to find open space in the slot, and he made no mistake on his shot.

The Capitals gained some more extended zone time for much of the second frame, and eventually Connor McMichael cut the deficit to one.

But in the third, things fell apart for the Leafs as they broke after bending for much of the night and saw their lead disintegrate in brutal fashion. Goals from Anthony Beauvillier, Jakob Chychrun, and a Tom Wilson empty-netter flipped the game on its head, even though it was obvious off the jump that Toronto didn’t really deserve to be leading for much of the night. While Woll’s stellar play was commendable and the main reason why the final score wasn’t so lopsided, the team cannot keep banking on their netminders to bail them out and at some point give the goalies a solid showing in front.

The good news is the Leafs won’t have to wait long to get another wipe the slate clean as they head to Western Pennsylvania to take on the Pittsburgh Penguins on Saturday.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/ins...rd-period-collapse-spoils-joseph-woll-heroics

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Daily Faceoff lists Maple Leafs as ‘swing team’ at U.S. Thanksgiving

Is there still room for optimism surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs? Our friends at Daily Faceoff listed the Maple Leafs as one of five key ‘swing’ teams at the U.S. Thanksgiving juncture, a point of demarcation where the playoff picture begins to clear up.

Toronto is off to a 10-11-3 start following Friday’s 4-2 loss to the Washington Capitals, and widespread changes could be on the way imminently. Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin provided the following rationale for why the Maple Leafs are considered a swing team, prior to Friday’s game:

The Leafs have been genuinely bad this season. They’re a big, slow fossil of a hockey team, playing a style that may prove effective in the playoffs but that makes it very difficult to make the playoffs. Their play driving has been bad enough that we could actually call their record lucky so far this season. So does that mean head coach Craig Berube’s seat is hot? And will GM Brad Treliving shuffle his roster and trade underachieving defenseman Brandon Carlo?

It’s just too early to tell, as the Leafs do have an excuse. They’ve been absolutely decimated by injuries, playing one stretch earlier this month minus Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies, Carlo, Chris Tanev and Anthony Stolarz simultaneously. They’ve been bad, yes, but they’ve dressed a glorified AHL team many nights. If they get close to healthy and continue to struggle, it may be time to blow things up. But the Leafs could just as easily return to being an above-average team in a mercurial Eastern Conference. Few clubs have a wider range of outcomes between now and April.

We can’t argue against Larkin’s logic, and we’re choosing to take the glass half-full approach, whenever it’s applicable. Matthews and Knies have returned to the lineup and it’s incumbent on the Maple Leafs’ captain to return to his 2023-24 form, or else the team could miss the playoffs for the first time in his career. Toronto needs to fix a porous defence that hasn’t been able to defend cross-seam passes, or rush attempts at all this season.

It’s an uphill battle entering December, and the Maple Leafs are joined by the New York Islanders, New York Rangers, Pittsburgh Penguins and San Jose Sharks as the teams most likely to be subject to the widest range of outcomes.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/daily-faceoff-toronto-maple-leafs-swing-team-us-thanksgiving

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Instant Reaction: Maple Leafs’ supporting cast finally breaks out in 7-2 victory vs. Penguins

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been waiting for a night like this for weeks. And, while it wasn’t the prettiest 60 minutes of hockey, it was a great sight to see the supporting cast show up in a major way against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Nicolas Roy, Bobby McMann, Dakota Joshua, and Nick Robertson all broke out of lengthy goal slumps, helping lead the Leafs to a 7-2 blowout. The effort was there, they executed on grade-A chances, and they chased Penguins starter Arturs Silovs. However, there’s still plenty to clean up on the defensive end as the structure in the D-zone continues to be a work in progress, but let’s focus on some positives as the convincing victory was one of the Leafs best games of the season.

Easton Cowan was back on the scoresheet against the Pens, showing off some chemistry with William Nylander on a fancy give-and-go. Cowan had another strong game and continues to learn on the fly as a top-six rookie. You can tell with the plays he can make in tight spaces and his hockey IQ that big things are ahead for the former first-round pick.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson stayed hot, extending his point streak to nine games when he opened the scoring in the first period. However, in the third, Ekman-Larsson left the game and did not return, which is polar opposite of what this team needs right now. Ekman-Larsson was having one of his best games of the season before he got hurt. Dennis Hildeby received the start in net for the second half of the back-to-back, and was solid. Hildeby battled and looked very comfortable in the crease, which is also a great site for the Maple Leafs as Anthony Stolarz still isn’t travelling with the team.

Max Domi made his return to the lineup after his first experience being scratched as a Maple Leaf. Domi had some flashes of brilliance in Pittsburgh, including when he pried the puck away in the Penguins crease and made a nice feed to find Roy for a tap-in out front. Domi’s vision isn’t the issue, it’s his consistent effort and discipline, and while it wasn’t his best game of the season, he’s likely earned another look alongside Auston Matthews. With a couple of days off before their next game, a lot could change as trade talks continue around the league.

It was great to see the Maple Leafs get some swagger back in Pittsburgh. They played with a purpose, and the collective effort is a positive sign for a team searching for momentum. The Leafs are now 2-2 on their road trip, and will fly out Sunday and head south to take on the Florida Panthers on Tuesday. A day off on the beach or the golf course Sunday could help sustain this newfound positive momentum.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/ins...inally-breaks-out-victory-pittsburgh-penguins

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs’ Dakota Joshua reflects on ‘confidence booster’ after blowout win vs. Penguins

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Dakota Joshua put together his best game of the season against the Pittsburgh Penguins which felt like a long time coming for both him and the team.

Joshua recorded a goal on the scoresheet, a nice one at that, but he was impactful in all facets the contest and was arguably their most important forward of the night. He led the team with seven hits, along with two blocks, that opened up space for his linemates Bobby McMann and Nicolas Roy to also have productive nights of their own.

After getting a reset as a healthy scratch on Wednesday, Joshua told reporters after Saturday’s game that his performance is something he can build on.

“That can be a confidence booster. We gotta take that momentum and keep it going to string a couple together here,” Joshua said. “I mean, that’s my goal every night, and to finally have a game like that feels nice. And once again, just got to keep it going now.”

It had been a struggle for Joshua before the contest against the Penguins, as he had just two goals and five points at the time of his scratch, while failing to provide plus-defence for a Maple Leafs team that has struggled to keep the puck out of the net.

Joshua took that night off well, and it has been apparent that it lit a fire under him.

“It’s just making an impact in any way possible. Fortunate to get one to go there, but I try to be involved all over the ice,” he said. “I think you got to keep doing your job right and then you will get a result like that. It’s obviously been not ideal to this point, so to get that result means a lot and now the importance of keeping it going is there.”

Joshua knows he has it in him to be impactful in all aspects of the game consistently, and the fact that it has taken this long to get into that groove has no doubt been frustrating for all parties involved. But at the end of the day, you just need one to go your way and it can snowball into other positive results for a good stretch of time, and now he has that in his back pocket.

“I thought he had a lot better game in Washington too,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Joshua. “He had a big hit early, scores his goals in tight, and he got one tonight. So that line was good, big, heavy line. They were good on a forward check. They possessed pucks down low, and they got two goals for us.”

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tor...confidence-booser-blowout-pittsburgh-penguins

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs’ sellers guide: Premium goaltending and serviceable defence

Tis the season for shopping and while there has been plenty of talk about who Brad Treliving has been looking for, the best course of action for the Maple Leafs might be to quickly transition towards a retailer approach, possibly even a wholesaler.

Previously, we took a look at the forwards and who is and isn’t likely to be moved and who potentially has a market for their services. Now we’ll take a look at the Leafs back end.

Goaltending​

Goaltending should be its own category separate of defence as looking at the net as a whole is vital to how the Leafs decide to proceed here. Both Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz being capable goaltenders might have the Leafs too deep at this area when there are so many other aspects of the Leafs roster that needs to be addressed and the luxury of strong tandem isn’t sustainable when there are limited futures to trade.

Joseph Woll (borderline untouchable)– If there is an untouchable goaltender on the Maple Leafs it is Joseph Woll. He has a manageable contract, age on his side, and recency bias says that he will be the go-to option in net this season. All of those things also make it more likely that a team would pay a premium to bring him in and that’s why the “borderline” qualifier is put on him.

Even if the Maple Leafs are blowing up their roster, they will want to do so in a fashion that they will be getting the club back to a competitive status as soon as next season and if that’s the case, trading Woll seems foolish no matter the return.

Anthony Stolarz (better off keeping unless someone overpays)- Next season Stolarz’ no trade clause goes from an 8-team no trade list to a 16-team no trade list. This is also the last chance to deal Stolarz on his $2.5M cap hit which would make him an easy fit onto a new club with cap constraints. And if team’s are looking at Stolarz considering his results last season and his results in Florida and are willing to pay for that goaltender and will pay a premium for him in what is usually a pretty limited goaltender market (might not be that limited if Binnington and Saros are being shopped) then listening to offers on Stolarz makes sense.

Of course, the Leafs sticking with the Stolarz/Woll tandem isn’t a bad outcome for the Leafs either and Stolarz has had setbacks that he’s been able to correct in his career before. It’s too soon to say that bad results to start the season when the entire team is playing bad represents where his career is at.

Dennis Hildeby (better off keeping unless someone overpays)- Dennis Hildeby and Artur Akhtyamov might be attractive futures is the Leafs are wanting to upgrade their roster in season. Whether that is the path they should consider is debatable but goaltending prospects are an organization strength.

If the Leafs like Hildeby and see a future for him with the club, keeping him seems like a no brainer. If the Maple Leafs truly see the next three seasons belonging to the Woll/Stolarz tandem, cashing out on goaltending prospects makes sense.

Defence​

Borderline untouchable (3)​

Morgan Rielly (full no movement clause)– Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure Brad Treliving and Craig Berube are ready to move on from Morgan Rielly, but I’m not sure that Morgan Rielly is ready to move on from the Maple Leafs nor should the Leafs be as motivated as they are to get rid of an offensively gifted puck mover on a team has been sliding back in that regard over the past three years.

Rielly’s footspeed evaporating and his defensive decision making always being questionable makes him an easy target for being pushed out the door, but it’s as complicated as the full no movement clause makes it seem.

Jake McCabe (full no trade clause)- This season is not the best of Jake McCabe. A big part of that is too much is being asked of him. He is perfectly fine when working with Tanev. And he’s perfectly fine without Tanev as long as he’s facing top line competition while playing the right side or having a third pairing defenceman strapped to him.

It’s likely that McCabe is more open to moving on than Rielly is but he has a lot of control on where he would go and given that the Maple Leafs shouldn’t be in any rush to move on from a quality defenceman on a great contract. It would take a whopper of a deal from a team that McCabe wants to play for in order to make a trade happen.

Chris Tanev (full no movement clause)- Like every other Leafs defenceman not named Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Tanev seems to have taken a step back from where he was at last season. Now injured, it’s hard to assess where Tanev is at as a 35-year-old blueliner.

Tanev holds all the cards and his “nudge, nudge, wink, wink” contract mean that it is far more likely that his career ends in Toronto via an extended long term injury reserve assignment when he’s ready to retire than a trade that he’d have to be fully committed to.

Easy Sells (3)​

Oliver Ekman-Larsson (16 team no trade list)– Wouldn’t it be nice if the Maple Leafs sold high for once? Dealing one of their few players that are outplaying their expectations might seem like a bad idea but a big part of why Ekman-Larsson is outplaying expectations is that his 2024-25 season lowered those expectations so much.

If you look at Ekman-Larsson as a puck moving, number four defenceman that can help on the powerplay right now and are happy to be getting that from him, great. That was initial expectation for him and he’s now living up to it. His 17 points in 23 games is certainly exceeding expectations in the offensive category and as a cup winning veteran who can play on either the left or right side, there should be a market for OEL that wasn’t there previously.

If the Maple Leafs are willing to retain salary on Ekman-Larsson, he could yield a helpful return while opening up a roster spot for youthful defensive options like Henry Thrun or William Villeneuve.

Brandon Carlo (8 team no trade list)– It hasn’t worked out well for Carlo in Toronto. On paper he seemed like a potential fit as Morgan Rielly’s partner but that never came to fruition and 40 regular season and 13 post season games into Carlo’s time with the Maple Leafs it seems like he has rightfully landed on pretty much every sports outlet’s trade bait board.

If the intention is to get back what the Maple Leafs gave up for Carlo, good luck. A first round pick and strong prospect isn’t likely and honestly wasn’t warranted at the time either. That said, Carlo is still going to carry a good reputation around the league and if the Maple Leafs use salary retention or take a contract back the Leafs could close the gap in that regard.

Simon Benoit- I have it on good authority that teams will overpay for affordable stay-at-home defencemen. I can recall teams giving up way too much for the likes of Joel Edmundson, Ilya Lyubushkin, Luke Schenn, and even Ryan O’Byrne.

Benoit, as a third pairing defender, is a solid option and for a contender, he’s a nice safety net to pick up as a 7th defenceman. There will be a market for him but if there isn’t, he’s still not a bad third pairing option for Toronto if he dials back the aggressiveness.

The rest (3)​

Troy Stecher– Stecher would require waivers to consider trading him and he would likely be claimed.

Philippe Myers- Myers year hasn’t gone great and will be waived as soon as the Leafs need his roster spot. It’s possible that a bit of time with the Marlies can get him back on track to where he was at the end of last season but he’s unlikely to get claimed.

Dakota Mermis- Mermis has been fine but is another player who will be destined for the Marlies in the coming weeks. It’s hard to envision a market for him.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/map...e-premium-goaltending-and-serviceable-defence

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs’ Brandon Carlo suffers setback in recovery from lower-body injury

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Brandon Carlo has suffered a setback in his recovery from a lower-body injury, head coach Craig Berube confirmed Monday via TSN’s Mark Masters.

The team will likely have more information about Carlo’s progress within the next 24 hours. Carlo has returned to Toronto to consult with a specialist. He was placed on injured reserve retroactive to November 13, and hasn’t played since suiting up against the Los Angeles Kings. It was previously expected that if Carlo was able to undergo a full practice Monday, he could be an option for Tuesday’s game against the Florida Panthers.

Carlo did not participate in Monday’s practice. The 29-year-old recorded two assists in 18 games this season.

It’s a tough loss for the Maple Leafs, who have faced several injuries this season. Auston Matthews, Matthew Knies and Nicolas Roy all returned to the lineup last week after multi-game, injury-related absences. Chris Tanev remains on injured reserve, but the team received some good news Monday, with Oliver Ekman-Larsson returning to practice. Ekman-Larsson left Saturday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins and did not return, due to an upper-body injury. Simon Benoit also returned to practice, after missing Saturday’s game to attend a funeral.

Carlo is a veteran presence for the Maple Leafs, capable of playing extended minutes and he resumed skating with the team on November 26. He was acquired from the Boston Bruins at last year’s trade deadline in exchange for Fraser Minten and a 2026 top-five protected first-round pick.

It doesn’t appear likely that he’ll be able to play in Thursday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes, and the earliest timeline for his return appears to be December 6, when the Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens.

Toronto squares off against the Florida Panthers on Tuesday, a pivotal Atlantic Division clash.

The Leafs Nation will update this story as more details emerge.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tor...lo-suffers-setback-recovery-lower-body-injury

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Anna Dua on the Leafs’ Rocky Start — and Why She Isn’t Panicking: Leafs Morning Take

It was more of the same for the inconsistent Maple Leafs as their road trip continued this past weekend.

They blew a 2-0 lead on Friday night in Washington, before ultimately, falling 4-2. That said, they rebounded very nicely on Saturday night in Pittsburgh with an impressive 7-2 beatdown of the Penguins.

Incredibly, they’ve now hit the 25-game mark, which means, they have 57 games left on their slate. They’re currently four points out of a playoff spot.

That’s where the conversation essentially started on the Monday edition of Leafs Morning Take as David Pagnotta once again filled in for Jay Rosehill. Despite all the turbulence, somehow, some way, the Leafs are still within striking distance of a playoff spot.

All in all, we spent a good chunk of the episode breaking down the roller-coaster weekend. After a strong start in Washington, the wheels came off, even Joseph Woll certainly did his best to keep his team in the game. Having said all that, the Leafs bounced back nicely in Pittsburgh with one of their better efforts of the season. It was great to see the McMann-Roy-Joshua trio find some chemistry. Furthermore, Max Domi tallied two helpers in his return from being a healthy scratch. Dennis Hildeby was awesome in that game, too. Auston Matthews got on the board, so did Easton Cowan. There was a lot to like about the Penguins game. And, how about Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who extended his point streak to nine games. He’s been outstanding lately.

After that, Sportsnet’s Anna Dua joined Nick Alberga and David Pagnotta stopped by the show. She shared her thoughts on the weekend, highlighting the steady play of both goalies. Dua also offered her overall read on the Leafs, saying she remains optimistic that the group can find its rhythm despite the inconsistencies.

She weighed in on OEL’s hot play and the impact he’s had this season, as well as where she believes Easton Cowan fits best in the lineup. Looking ahead, Dua previewed Tuesday night’s matchup in Sunrise — Toronto’s first meeting with the Panthers since last spring’s lopsided Game 7 — and discussed what she expects from the Leafs in their return to Florida.

Speaking of which, Jay Rosehill will be back in the mix for the Tuesday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Join us at 11 AM ET for a full preview of Leafs/Panthers. Big one!

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/ann...and-why-she-isnt-panicking-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Jeff Marek sees no evidence the Leafs are ready to go on a run: Leafs Morning Take

The rematch is finally here.

You never know but maybe this one is what changes the course of the Maple Leafs’ season.

For the first time since their seven-game battle last spring, the Leafs and Panthers are set to clash. Weirdly enough, both teams have the same number of points (25) with Florida having one game in hand. For December 2nd, this is a sneaky big game.

Meantime, it wouldn’t be a Leafs/Panthers match-up without Brad Marchand sharing his latest thoughts on the state of the Toronto Maple Leafs. “If people are thinking they’re out of a playoff spot for the season they got to find a new job …with the media attention & the fan support they have things get blown way out of proportion … They’re still a good contending team,” Marchand told reporters on Monday. Again, when did Brad Marchand become the voice of reason in Toronto? This guy’s an all-time troll, and honestly, he runs this city’s show. It’s wild. If you were to look up the definition of “rent free”, you would find a picture of Marchand. He knows exactly what he’s doing, too.

So, this will be stop No. 5 of 6 on the Leafs’ slate of six in a row away from Scotiabank Arena. Through four contests, they’re 2-2-0. The road record is still very ugly (3-7-0). Toronto has just seven regulation wins in 25 outings. Yeah, it’s been a turbulent start. Having said all that, no one’s talking about the Panthers – for obvious reasons – even though they’re right there with the Leafs. Also, with a point in this one, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who’s currently riding a nine-game point streak, would pull into a tie with Tom Kurvers for the longest point streak by a D in franchise history. He’s been on fire.

Then, The Sheet’s Jeff Marek joined us to weigh in on everything. Firstly, he hit on Marchand’s comments before diving directly into Leafs/Panthers. Marek’s stance on the Leafs hasn’t wavered. He hasn’t seen anything to believe a turnaround is coming anytime soon. And that’s totally fair. Additionally, he hit on where this team’s at, if they can turn things around, and the prospects of bringing in Bruce Boudreau to help out with the power play. Lastly, he weighed in on the “Fire Berube” buzz from over the weekend. For the record, he thinks it’s way too early to think about a move like that.

Be sure to join us for the Wednesday edition of Leafs Morning Take. In addition to offering up a full recap of Leafs/Cats, former Panthers GM and head coach Doug MacLean will stops by the podcast once again.

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/jef...s-are-ready-to-go-on-a-run-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Instant Reaction: Maple Leafs’ bottom six comes alive in 4-1 win vs. Panthers

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been carried by their star players for much of the 2025-26 season, and it’s one of the reasons they’re underperforming as much as they are. Coming off a confidence-boosting 7-2 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Maple Leafs came into a pivotal early-season matchup against the Florida Panthers and grabbed two points thanks to a coming out party from their depth forwards.

The Maple Leafs’ third line accounted for both of the team’s first two goals, with the first being defenceman Troy Stecher’s first goal as a Leaf with assists to Dakota Joshua and Bobby McMann. The second goal was a pretty play in front of the net from Dakota Joshua, with McMann and Stecher grabbing the assists. While Nic Roy didn’t contribute to any of these goals, he provided a pivotal screen in front of Sergei Bobrovsky which helped Stecher beat him through traffic, and he had some big chances later in the game as well.

The third goal of the game came within the last ten minutes of the third period, and it went to a candidate that needed one more than anybody in Scott Laughton. You could see the relief on his face after he cleaned up a rebound in front of Bobrovsky and scored what’s only his third goal since joining the Maple Leafs at the 2025 trade deadline. Laughton has had multiple injury-related bad breaks this season, so to see him finally get rewarded one had to have felt good for the entire bench.

People love to refer to wins like these as ‘a meaningless game in December’, maybe less so in this case because it came against a division rival, but it goes to show that there’s no such thing as a meaningless game. The Leafs haven’t won more than three games in a row yet this season, so the temperature is already higher than normal to get two points and there’s an extra element of pressure doing it against a team like Florida.

Joseph Woll was solid once again en route to a 25-save performance on 26 shots, and it can’t be overstated how much his return and subsequent success has meant to a team that struggled to get a save for the better part of the first month of the year.

The Maple Leafs will look to win their third in a row and continue building some real momentum as they wrap up their road trip against the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/instant-reaction-toronto-maple-leafs-bottom-six-comes-alive-panthers

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Doug MacLean raves about Joseph Woll’s impact in Toronto’s win vs. Panthers: Leafs Morning Take

For the first time in about a month, the Toronto Maple Leafs have won back-to-back games.

But seriously, it was so refreshing to talk about the Leafs in a positive light —for once. No qualifiers needed, Craig Berube’s bunch took care of business on Tuesday night in Sunrise. That’s where the conversation started on the Wednesday edition of Leafs Morning Take.

Through five of six in a row on the road, the Leafs are 3-2-0 as they head to Raleigh to cap off the trip. For the second straight outing, they fired off a solid and complete effort. Once again, Joseph Woll was dialled in making 25 stops. Additionally, the big story was Toronto’s depth pieces. Troy Stecher and Dakota Joshua tallied one goal and one assist while Scott Laughton potted his first of the campaign. Of note, Toronto’s PK – with Woll shutting the door in front of them – has quietly killed off 13 of the past 14 power plays. Laughton’s been a big help with that, too. Meantime, Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s point streak ended at nine games. All in all, the McMann-Roy-Joshua third line was dominant for the second straight outing combining for one goal and three helpers. Unfortunately, the power play still stinks. Just for good measure, the much-maligned five forward set allowed a short-handed tally to Sam Reinhart. Ugly stuff, folks.

At any rate, after that discussion, former NHL GM & head coach Doug MacLean dropped by to weigh in on Toronto’s 4-1 win at Amerant Ban Arena. Right off the bat, he waxed poetically about Woll’s performance. He thinks Woll’s the key to everything. Additionally, he hit on how much stock we can put into this game given how injury ravaged the Panthers are. Also, MacLean was very complimentary of Stecher, the bottom six, and the Leafs finding a way to dig deep and get the job done. Furthermore, he played the role of Brad Treliving and disclosed what he would do if he was the general manager of the Leafs. Lastly, we asked him about Craig Berube’s job security. MacLean thinks he’s a good coach, not a great one. That said, he doesn’t think this turbulent start is on the coach. He pointed the finger directly at the players.

And so, the Leafs are off to Raleigh to tangle with the Carolina Hurricanes. Coming up on the Thursday edition of Leafs Morning Take, we’ll offer up a preview of that one. Plus, Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun will drop by.

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/dou...n-torontos-win-vs-panthers-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Leafs practice notes: No changes to lineup, Maccelli, Jarnkrok, Mermis skate as extras

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

That seems to be the mentality for the Toronto Maple Leafs, coming off a thorough 4-1 victory over the Florida Panthers. Toronto played a full sixty minutes, getting contributions throughout the lineup, and head coach Craig Berube didn’t make any changes during Wednesday’s practice, per lines posted by David Alter of The Hockey News.

Matias Maccelli, Calle Jarnkrok and Dakota Mermis skated among the extras. Although there’s been no confirmation, Maccelli, Jarnkrok and Mermis are likely scratches for Thursday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

Max Domi remains on the right wing with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies on the team’s first line. John Tavares centred Easton Cowan and William Nylander, but the talk of the town is the new-look third line.

Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy and Bobby McMann caught fire over the past two games and submitted an excellent performance in Tuesday’s victory. Joshua scored in consecutive games, Roy added three points over his past three contests, while McMann generated four points in his last two games.

“They get the puck, and when they go down into the offensive zone, whether it is on an attack or they have to forecheck, they are heavy,” Berube said of the Joshua-Roy-McMann line following Tuesday’s win. “They’re doing a good job with their sticks. They’re on people, and then they hang onto pucks in the offensive zone. They’re getting to the net and doing a good job. They’ve been really effective.”

Nick Robertson remained on the fourth line with Steven Lorentz and Scott Laughton. Laughton scored his first goal of the season against the Panthers, which was a complete effort from the line. Robertson sealed the wall against Panthers star defenceman Gustav Forsling, Lorentz fished the puck out and Laughton buried a key insurance goal, winning the team belt in the aftermath.

Maple Leafs’ lines​

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Max Domi

Easton Cowan-John Tavares-William Nylander

Dakota Joshua-Nicolas Roy-Bobby McMann

Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Nick Robertson

Morgan Rielly-Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Jake McCabe-Troy Stecher

Simon Benoit-Philippe Myers

Joseph Woll

Dennis Hildeby

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tor...-lineup-maccelli-jarnkrok-mermis-skate-extras

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs prospect Sam McCue traded from OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs to Ottawa 67’s

Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Sam McCue was traded from the Ontario Hockey League’s Brantford Bulldogs to the Ottawa 67’s on Thursday.

McCue, along with Brantford’s 5th-round pick in the 2029 OHL Priority Selection Draft are heading to Ottawa, in exchange for 2nd and 3rd picks in the 2029 Draft.

The Athletic’s Scott Wheeler was first to report.

McCue was selected by the Maple Leafs in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL entry draft. The 20-year-old forward has already appeared with four OHL teams over the past three seasons, starting with the Peterborough Petes, then the Owen Sound Attack, the Flint Firebirds, and finally the Bulldogs. Now he looks set to continue his major junior career in the nation’s capital.

McCue recorded 10 goals and 16 points in 25 games played with the Bulldogs. Last season, he had 36 goals and 55 points in 45 games played, splitting his season between the Attack and the Firebirds.

In The Leafs Nation’s 2025 summer prospect rankings, McCue landed at #17, with Jon Steitzer writing:

The immediate future for Sam McCue won’t include pro hockey. He’s recently been traded from Flint to Brantford and will continue playing the role of muscle in the top six. As McCue gets older and adds more weight to his frame (Elite Prospects presently lists his weight at 190 lbs.) he’ll face less of a challenge in the OHL and making the jump to pro in 2026-27 or moving to the NCAA would be logical next steps. The Leafs have until June 1st of 2026 to get McCue under contract.
Given that McCue lacks some of the additional skills that you see in players like Matthew Knies or other skilled physical top six players, it is likely that McCue’s role in pro hockey will take on something closer to the role that he initially played in Peterborough, and that is a bottom six physical presence. The challenge for McCue will be that 6’2 and 190 lbs. means a lot less in the pro ranks and while a willingness to hit and to go to the tough areas of the ice is something the Leafs can work with, the questions of how much muscle can be added to McCue and how he’ll perform when opponents can push back need to be answered before getting too excited about McCue as a potential option for the Leafs.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tor...am-mccue-traded-brantford-bulldogs-ottawa-67s

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

4 takeaways from Leafs-Hurricanes: Woll’s injury casts cloud over thorough victory

This was the type of victory that fans and analysts alike were asking for the majority of the season. For the second consecutive game, the Toronto Maple Leafs thoroughly defeated an Eastern Conference power, toppling the Carolina Hurricanes 5-1. Bobby McMann scored twice, as the new-look third line remains on fire, Scott Laughton scored for the second consecutive game, while Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews each scored picturesque goals. Ordinarily, this would be cause for celebration, especially considering it’s their third consecutive win, while closing out a long, arduous road trip.

Unfortunately, starting goaltender Joseph Woll sustained a lower-body injury and did not come out for the third period. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said post-game he did not know the severity of Woll’s injury. It casts a shadow over what was otherwise one of the best games of the season.

Here are four takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ victory over the Hurricanes:

Joseph Woll’s lower-body injury casts shadow over victory​

Woll was in outstanding form for the Maple Leafs, since rejoining the team from a personal leave of absence. Woll posted a .924 save percentage in seven appearances prior to Thursday’s game, and was in great form against the Hurricanes, making 22 saves on 23 shots. Prior to the start of the third period, Woll was ruled out with a lower-body injury, with Dennis Hildeby entering the game in relief.

It came as a complete shock to Leafs reporters and fans alike, as no one saw when Woll sustained the ailment. Woll took on a heavy volume of starts with Anthony Stolarz recovering from an upper-body injury that kept him away from the team’s road trip. Hildeby was excellent in relief, and will almost certainly take on the majority of starts if Woll misses any time at all. Artur Akhtyamov isn’t ready for the NHL quite yet, but he may be forced into a backup role out of necessity, as the Leafs’ greatest position of strength has quickly dwindled.

The hope is that the Leafs were taking precautions about Woll’s injury, but there have been several injuries sustained this year initially listed as day-to-day, that took multiple weeks to recover from. Let’s hope that Woll avoided anything remotely serious.

The quick strike Leafs join the 2021-22 Lightning in the record books ​

If you’re into absurd history, you’re going to love this: the quick strike 2025-26 Maple Leafs became the second team since the 2009-10 season to score on their first shot of the game, in four consecutive contests. This year’s team joins the 2021-22 Tampa Bay Lightning as the other team to reach this milestone during the past 15 years.

Fourth straight game where the Leafs score on their first shot!!!!!!

: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/L3NOau95GO

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) December 5, 2025

It’s a unique factoid, but it also speaks to the Maple Leafs’ offensive production over the past two weeks. Toronto has scored among the elite 5-on-5 teams but it often takes several minutes to get into the contest. This wasn’t the case on Thursday, as the red-hot third line came flying out of the gate, with Bobby McMann beating Frederik Andersen off the rush 53 seconds into the contest.

There may not be a ton of predictive value, but the Maple Leafs are quietly shooting the lights out. Everyone will be standing at attention on Saturday, during their return home against the Montreal Canadiens.

Knies-Matthews-Domi may be the optimal look for 1st line​

It’s not good practice to use a small sample to predict larger trends, but there’s enough to suggest that Matthew Knies, Auston Matthews and Max Domi should remain together. Knies and Matthews are going to be stapled together, while the open right wing has been open to rotation, but it optimizes Domi’s place in the lineup, and he delivered two primary assists in the winning effort.

VERY KNIES!!!!!!

: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/cxnZqW7FZF

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) December 5, 2025

Knies was in terrific form throughout the evening and dragged the Hurricanes, quite literally. He poked the puck free during the second period and raced away past Shayne Gostisbehere, who has been in excellent form all year. Knies was brought to his feet, regained his composure, then sent Sebastian Aho flying, as the Hurricanes’ forward tried to back check in vain. Toronto’s star power forward then tucked the puck home with a gorgeous backhand. When Knies plays like this, there are few players in the league that are more entertaining or impactful.

The Captain delivers!!!!

: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/yqDQ5kqQlY

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) December 5, 2025

Matthews is showing off his elite scoring touch again, and sniped home a Domi feed from a 2-on-1 in the third period. The play started when Knies kept his stick on the ice in the defensive zone, picking off Jordan Martinook, then started the three-man-weave in transition. Knies tied up Hurricanes defenceman Alexander Nikishin, and Domi threaded a lateral pass over to Matthews, who made no mistake. It was an excellent showing from the top line, while Matthews blocked six shots and was tremendous on the penalty kill.

Leafs’ power play still can’t find any answers​

Toronto abandoned the five-forward power play, but still couldn’t find an answer. It wasn’t all bad, as Oliver Ekman-Larsson showed some good command of the unit and fired away on net, but the forwards couldn’t find a way to jam pucks home. Matthew Knies was placed on the second unit, while Easton Cowan remained with the first group, but the Leafs’ power play have converted on 10 of their past 67 chances. Yikes!

If there’s any room for positivity, it’s that the Maple Leafs seem bound for positive regression, and Matthews is showing real velocity on his shot again. And now it’s just a matter of finding room for Matthews and Nylander to get their shots off from the faceoff circles, while letting Ekman-Larsson orchestrate the group. It’s still a work in progress and against a sturdy Hurricanes penalty kill, there weren’t any answers with the man advantage.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/4-t...carolina-hurricanes-woll-injury-cloud-victory

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Scotty Bowman credits improved defensive play for Leafs’ recent turnaround: Leafs Morning Take

For just the second time this season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have won three in a row.

That said, in true Leafs fashion, the mini win streak comes with some alarm bells as Joseph Woll was forced to leave Thursday night’s game due to a lower body injury.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

The 27-year-old was playing so damn well, too. At any rate, that’s where the conversation started on the Friday edition of Leafs Morning Take. What now? That’s the big question. Anthony Stolarz is nowhere to be found. Hell, he’s not even skating. Furthermore, after the game, Craig Berube didn’t have much of an update on Woll, who came up lame on a save late in the second frame. Here we go again, folks. In the HILDEBEAST, we trust.

All in all, losing Woll was the only blemish on an otherwise impressive night for the Maple Leafs, who suddenly are starting to catch fire a bit here. Woll made 22 stops, Hildeby added nine big ones in the third in relief as Toronto smothered Carolina 5-1. In total, 10 different Leafs notched at least one point. Bobby McMann scored twice while Matthew Knies tallied a goal and one assist. Incredibly, for the fourth consecutive, the Leafs scored on their first shot of the game. For context, that’s the first time something like that has happened in 12 years. In addition to potting his ninth goal of the season, Auston Matthews was a force defensively racking up six shot blocks, two more than the entire Hurricanes team. On top of all that, the penalty kill was nails again going 3-for-3. Over the past six contests, Toronto’s killed off 16 of 17 penalties. The shot blocks and goaltending sure help —that’s for sure. The Leafs failed to score on their two power play opportunities. They’re now 10-for-68 on the season. Wild stuff.

After that, 9-time Stanley Cup champion Scotty Bowman stopped by the podcast once again. As per usual, he was candid, sharp, and concise with his analysis on the Maple Leafs. Bowman dished on the Carolina win and how shocked he was to see the Leafs start the season the way they did. That said, he did compliment their depth. He likes the roster —as constructed in the offseason. Most importantly, he thinks the biggest reason for the recent turnaround is their defensive play. Furthermore, Bowman weighed in on Matthews’ shot block party, Toronto’s terrible power play, and the Woll injury. Of note, Rosey asked him if he thinks the Leafs are too tight-lipped with respect to their injury reports.

That’s it, that’s all for another week of Leafs Morning Take. Coming up on the Monday edition, we’ll recap Leafs/Habs, plus also look ahead to Monday night’s divisional tilt against the Tampa Bay Lightning at Scotiabank Arena.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/sco...or-leafs-recent-turnaround-leafs-morning-take