News Maple Leafs Team Notes

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Craig Berube goes full Nostradamus, correctly predicts 3-2 Team Canada win in 4 Nations Final

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube had a lot on his resume that helped him secure the job in Toronto, most notably a Stanley Cup win with the St. Louis Blues in 2018-19. Apparently his ability to see into the future was left off of that resume.

Following Leafs practice on Thursday, Berube, who hails from Calahoo, Alberta, was asked if he had any predictions for Thursday night’s Canada-USA 4 Nations Championship game. And, well:

Leafs coach Craig Berube predicting a 3-2 win tonight in #4Nations final

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 20, 2025

Team Canada did in fact beat Team USA, thanks to an overtime winner from Connor McDavid and set up by Toronto’s Mitch Marner.

CONNOR MCDAVID!!!! THE GAME WINNER!!! CANADA WINS THE #4NATIONS FACE-OFF pic.twitter.com/QmPPXdj9wz

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) February 21, 2025

Not only does this mean bragging rights for life for Berube, but he got to enjoy the fact that his star winger played an integral part in the win. For a team like the Leafs who are constantly under scrutiny for their tendency to ghost in big games, it had to have been a satisfying feeling to see Marner set up Sam Bennett for the game-tying goal and McDavid for the game-winner.

“These games are intense & playing in a game like this is very good for them both,” Berube said after practice on Wednesday, per TSN’s Mark Masters. Only one of them is going to win, but it’s just getting a taste of what it’s like”

Although Auston Matthews didn’t go home with a win, he was arguably Team USA’s best player in the final, collecting two assists of his own and creating dangerous chances for his team all night. His Leafs teammate, Chris Tanev, spoke about the importance of experiencing an environment like that mid-season and what it could mean for getting the team going when they return.

Chris Tanev on Auston Matthews & Mitch Marner facing off in #4Nations final:

"Hopefully they bring that energy back to us & sort of springboard us to where we want to get the last two months of the season"

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 20, 2025

The Maple Leafs will be back in action on Saturday when they host the Carolina Hurricanes, before heading to Chicago for a Sunday night tilt in the windy city. With the trade deadline looming and the second half of the season in full swing, it will be important for the Leafs to capitalize on the energy brought from Matthews and Marner’s experience and finish the season on a strong note.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/craig-berube-goes-full-nostradamus-correctly-predicts-canada-win

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Marner & Matthews deserve strong praise for the way they played in the 4 Nations Final: Leafs Morning Take

What a win, what a night.

Connor McDavid took a Mitch Marner centering pass and went top shelf on Connor Hellebuyck to a solidify a 3-2 OT win for Canada over the United States as they won the first-ever 4 Nations Face-Off.

Brought to you by Firehouse Subs, we got into a full game recap. Jordan Binnington made 31 stops, and without question, was a huge reason Canada won the game. The Blues netminder made a few big stops in OT before McDavid won it. Understandably so, a lot of our conversation was Toronto focused. Marner had two apples, so did Auston Matthews. Both Leafs players were really good, and quite honestly, that was really encouraging to see. It was a pressure cooker game and they both came to play. You love to see it! Honestly, the best-case scenario played out for Leafs fans. Their two studs played well and Canada won.

Thanks to Charm Diamond Centres, Maple Leafs legend Darryl Sittler dropped by the show. Unfortunately, there were some technical hiccups, but if you would like, go check it out. We asked him about Canada’s victory, Marner’s heroics, and the Leafs as we get closer and closer to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Then, powered by Greta Bar, we did a quick weekend preview as the Leafs return to action. On Saturday night, they will play host to Carolina before visiting Chicago on Sunday night. Do Marner and Matthews play? Who starts in between pipes? Some questions to monitor, for sure.

With all that in mind, join us on Monday at 11 AM ET for a full recap of Toronto’s weekend. Don’t forget, the NHL trade deadline is now just two weeks away.

You can subscribe to TheLeafsNation (TLN) YouTube page 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!

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/mar...yed-in-the-4-nations-final-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Craig Berube will look to manage Matthews and Marner’s minutes as best he can vs. Hurricanes

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube will make sure he doesn’t overexert Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner on Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The two-star forwards are barely 48 hours removed from an emotional tilt between Team USA and Team Canada which ended in the latter winning the 4 Nations Face-Off championship game. With how much effort and pride Matthews and Marner, along with the other players involved, put into the tournament, it is only natural for there to be some growing pains coming out of a playoff-type game.

Berube spoke with reporters following the Leafs’ optional skate where he expressed that while he doesn’t expect any major drop-offs from the two players, he will do his best to manage Matthews and Marner’s minutes.

“They’ve been playing for sure. Timing and things like that are all set for them,” he said. “Just the emotion and the mental and physical toughness that was put into those games, especially the last one. I expect them to be fine tonight. We’ll manage them the best we can, see how they look and how they’re feeling.”

It helps that Matthews and Marner flew in from Boston together yesterday so they have had a bit of a chance to rest up a bit before the Leafs’ first game out of the 4 Nations break. At the same time, the team hits the ground running with three games in four nights, with two consecutive road games beginning on Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks, before taking on the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

Both players are well aware of how taxing the grind of the tournament has taken on their bodies but they are excited to get back into the swing of things with the Leafs and begin the stretch run.

“It’s been great. We flew in yesterday, we just talked about the tournament, how much fun it was, and how taxing it was on the body, and how every game wasn’t an easy one,” Marner said to reporters. “Tension was pretty high the entire competition. We just enjoyed the tournament, and have talked about how much fun it was, and talked about looking forward to getting back to Toronto, and take on bigger things now.”

William Nylander has had more time to rest compared to Matthews and Marner on account of Sweden’s tournament ending on Monday night, but he may have to make some adjustments to the pace of regular season hockey, in contrast to the rest of the team. Matthews, Marner and Nylander surely benefitted from the superior pace, which could accelerate the rest of the Maple Leafs’ season.

For now, they turn their attention to getting back into the swing of things against the Hurricanes with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/cra...hews-marner-minutes-as-best-he-can-hurricanes

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Knee Jerk Reaction: Depth scoring coming out party propels Leafs to win over Hurricanes

Alex Steeves knew that he had to set himself apart from his teammates to make a good impression in his latest NHL stint, and on Saturday night, he did just that.

With Calle Jarnkrok and Connor Dewar both on the cusp of returning from injury, you can make the argument that there’s never been more of an uphill battle for Steeves to make some noise in the lineup and try to earn himself a spot. But, despite all of the looming returns and being limited to fourth-line minutes, the current all-time leading scorer for the Toronto Marlies scored his first NHL goal on his first shift and tallied an assist, as well.

ALEX STEEVES FIRST NHL GOAL pic.twitter.com/wedCO1Wvnu

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 23, 2025

I single out Steeves here, but it wasn’t just him. Pontus Holmberg scored two goals and added an assist for his first multi-point effort of the season, while David Kampf scored his fourth goal of the season with assists from Steeves and Steven Lorentz. Head coach Craig Berube insinuated prior to the team’s first game back since the 4 Nations Face-Off that Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner would have their minutes limited when applicable, and the depth scorers understood the assignment.

“They’ve been playing for sure. Timing and things like that are all set for them,” Berube said. “Just the emotion and the mental and physical toughness that was put into those games, especially the last one. I expect them to be fine tonight. We’ll manage them the best we can, see how they look and how they’re feeling.”

John Tavares scored the fourth goal of the game to get the core players in on the fun, and despite the Hurricanes making things interesting near the end of the game with three goals scored in less than two minutes, to bring them within one goal, Matthews and Holmberg each potted an empty netter. It was a big goal for Matthews specifically, bringing him into second place on the Leafs’ all-time goal list, tied with Darryl Sittler with 389 apiece. He needs 32 more goals to pass Mats Sundin for sole possession of first place on the list, but that’s looking like more of a next-season accomplishment.

Anthony Stolarz’s statline doesn’t look as flattering after that quick outburst of offence from Carolina, but he was rock solid and gave the Leafs no reason to worry, even when Carolina pressed. Their second and third goals came in the form of some lucky bounces, so it shouldn’t shake his confidence at all.

The Leafs will now travel to Chicago to take on the Blackhawks with Joseph Woll projected to start.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/knee-jerk-reaction-depth-scoring-leafs-win-hurricanes

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Craig Berube happy with Alex Steeves’ performance in return: ‘He did a lot of good things’

Head coach Craig Berube was pleased to see Toronto Maple Leafs forward Alex Steeves rewarded with his first NHL goal during Saturday’s game against the Carolina Hurricanes.

The Toronto Marlies’ leading scorer has achieved just about everything you can as an individual player apart from winning the Calder Cup. Steeves has long been a force to be reckoned with in the AHL but never got much of a chance to prove himself at the next level with 11 NHL games played across four seasons prior to Saturday’s contest.

But, early in the first period, Steeves finally found the back of the net after working hard to make a play in the offensive zone. He initiated a strong forecheck that forced the Hurricanes to turn it over to John Tavares who was parked at the side of the net. The alternate captain sent a nice pass back to Steeves who fired home the one-timer from the right faceoff dot to open the scoring.

“He had a good game. That line was good. He did a lot of good things for us tonight. Very happy for him to get his first NHL goal,” Berube said to reporters after the game regarding Steeves. “He was hard on the forecheck. He plays a simple game. It is direct. That is what I like about it. He forechecked well with that line tonight. He worked hard. He did a lot of good things like that. And he has the ability to score a goal.”

Steeves certainly took to heart what his coach asked him to do if he wished to maintain his spot in the Leafs lineup for longer: he made the most of the opportunities he was given and was rewarded for his efforts as a result. The 25-year-old winger has always been confident in his abilities to carry his skill over to the NHL level and finally getting on the scoresheet reaffirms his belief he has what it takes to belong in the best league in the world.

At the very least, Steeves has earned himself another game with the Leafs right back at it on Sunday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

“I mean, I think anytime anyone gets called up, you just want to make an impact,” Steeves said. “Goals are nice, and it’s my first. I am a goal scorer, and I know that. And I know I can be a goal scorer at this level, so, you know, just proved that with a nice one tonight.”

As far as how the rest of the game went, Berube had a lot to be happy with apart from the nearly three minutes in the third period where the 4-0 was nearly evaporated. He did his best to manage the minutes from everyone to ensure they were as fresh as they could be for Sunday’s game. Even though Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner were not far removed from finishing up a fun but taxing 4 Nations Face-Off, Berube trusted them to go out there and do their best to weather the storm with the Hurricanes pushing late.

The only thing the bench boss would have liked to see from his team was to be more assertive when defending the lead so that they don’t make it easy for their opponents to get into the defensive zone.

“I liked a lot of our game. We had a really good first and built the lead. They made a push in the second, but I thought we did a lot of good things,” Berube said. “The third period was a lot of the same. I thought we probably backed up a little bit too much in the third and let them come at us. We get the 4-on-4 situation, and they pull their goalie. They made it interesting there; they are good at that, and we have seen them do it numerous times. They are going to come regardless of the score and put pressure on you. I’d like to see our team a little more aggressive up ice, not backing up so much and letting them come at us.”

Berube and the Leafs will look to carry over the positive momentum into Sunday’s tilt against the Blackhawks, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/craig-berube-happy-alex-steeves-performance-return

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Knee Jerk Reaction: Robertson, Domi lead Maple Leafs over Blackhawks

The Toronto Maple Leafs hadn’t won a game in regulation at United Center in 22 years until tonight. You can fact check it. The last time they came out of the Chicago Blackhawks’ building with a win after 60 minutes was February 12, 2003. The Leafs won 3-1 thanks to goals from Alyn McCauley, Jyrki Lumme, and Tie Domi.

The Leafs have won a few thrillers in overtime since then, including a 7-6 overtime win in 2018 in the game that inspired the signature Matthews hand-to-ear celebration. That said, Sunday night’s 5-2 win over the Hawks was pretty straight forward save for a couple of pesky final-minute goals against in the first and second period. Leading the way for the Leafs were the two guys who have struggled more than anybody to come by consistent offence this season, Nick Robertson and Max Domi.

Robertson could have had three or four goals tonight, but finished the night with a modest two goals, both assisted by Max Domi. The latter is still in pursuit of his first goal since December 20 against Buffalo, which, funny enough, came at the tail end of a three-game goal streak, but he was equally as dangerous with the puck tonight. He found Robertson in more or less the same spot on both goals and fired a howitzer off of the crossbar later in the game.

Deep dishin’
(verb)
• Dishes from deep inside the zone pic.twitter.com/XVqQHN6sEe

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 24, 2025

Talk about giving Max effort!! pic.twitter.com/m0DtZxWVej

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) February 24, 2025

The depth scoring as a whole continued their parade of the weekend, with Pontus Holmberg scoring an empty-net goal for his third in two games, and they got some rare production from the back end as well, with Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev both contributing a tally.

It seems as though, with the trade deadline looming and so much talk about upgrading the forward group circling around the media circles, the depth forwards who are at risk of losing their jobs have found a second gear. It’s a best-case scenario for a Leafs team that will certainly be looking to beef up on both sides of the puck before the deadline, whether these guys end up becoming trade bait or force the Leafs’ hand into keeping them.

Joseph Woll stood tall with 25 stops on 27 shots, continuing the breath of fresh air in the Leafs’ crease with the return of a healthy Anthony Stolarz.

The Leafs are back in action on Tuesday night when they visit the Boston Bruins.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/knee-jerk-reaction-robertson-domi-lead-maple-leafs-over-blackhawks

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

The Leafs are a scary team when they’re getting offence up & down the lineup: Leafs Morning Take

All in all, it was a great post 4 Nations return for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

They won both ends of their back-to-back this past weekend.

Naturally, that’s where the conversation started on the Monday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Additionally, we gave Mitch Marner a shout-out. In case you missed it, he and his wife announced that they’re expecting a baby boy. Future Leaf?

Brought to you by Firehouse Subs, we got into a full recap of the weekend. The big story was the depth pieces and the unlikely sources. When the Leafs are getting secondary scoring, they’re a tough team to beat —plain and simple. Of course, Pontus Holmberg was the star of the show notching three goals and an assist. Meantime, both goalies – Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll – had solid outings. We spent a good chunk of time discussing Toronto’s crease and how it’s amazing to essentially have two No. 1 goalies. Furthermore, it was astonishing to find out that prior to Sunday night, it had been 22 years (2003) since the Leafs had last won a game in regulation in Chicago. That’s some wild stuff.

Additionally, we did talk trade deadline quite a bit. Spearheaded by a comment from our chat, we had a fun debate about Mikko Rantanen, and trying to acquire him if the Canes put him back on the market.

Also, stemming from Elliotte Friedman’s report over the weekend, we did talk about the possibility of Toronto reuniting the Schenn brothers in Toronto. Wishful thinking?

Be sure to join us for the Tuesday edition of Leafs Morning Take (11 AM ET) where we’ll preview another battle with the Boston Bruins.

You can subscribe to TheLeafsNation (TLN) YouTube page 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!

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/the...offence-up-down-the-lineup-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Jason, Nick Robertson become the first pair of brothers to score multiple goals in same day since 2000

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson’s two-goal performance against the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday etched his name in the NHL record books.

Dallas Stars forward Jason Robertson, scored a hat trick against the New York Islanders earlier Sunday and as a result, they became the first pair of brothers since Pavel and Valeri Bure on March 1, 2000, to score multiple goals on the same day.

When reporters asked him how it felt when he and his brother had a big night offensively, Nick said he was most excited for his parents, who got to watch it back at home.

“Yeah, it’s exciting. It’s exciting for my parents,” Robertson said. They have two double TVs so they were jumping off the couch five times tonight. So it’s good to see him do well and it’s nice to have a great game too.”

Robertson added that his parents will often look back and forth at the two TVs on nights when both brothers are playing in different cities so they can catch all of the action. While the thought crossed his mind of trying to match Jason’s hat trick, Nick wasn’t too bummed that he didn’t get his third of the evening and felt he will get another chance someday.

It was the kind of performance that Robertson needed as he went into the game on a nine-game goalless drought with questions about the Leafs’ scoring depth once again being an area of concern. He was able to get on the scoresheet thanks to Max Domi having one of his better games of the season, getting a primary assist on both of Robertson’s goals.

“ Yeah, it’s just speed. We just play predictable,” Robertson said about what makes the line of him, Domi, and Bobby McMann effective. “Dom’s a really good passer, so you gotta be ready to shoot.  I think we complement our game well. We gotta play direct, fast, and be shooters. You know, Doms is well-decorated as a passer but he has a good shot too and Bob has a good shot too. We all have to stick to our strengths.”

Given all of the uncertainty that comes with his and Domi’s spot in the lineup past the trade deadline, Sunday’s performance reinforced the notion that Robertson can be a useful option when he is on his game. He didn’t go into the game against the Blackhawks looking to match a feat previously accomplished nearly 25 years ago, but it could not have come at a better time for him.

“They were really good tonight,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said about the play of the third line in Chicago. “Max was on pucks, making good plays with the puck. Robbie was driving the net and scored a nice goal. They got a power-play goal as well. Bobby was doing what he does: he skates, gets on top of people, and creates turnovers. That line was really good for us.”

Robertson will look to build off his two-goal performance when he and the Leafs face the Boston Bruins on Tuesday with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/jas...t-brothers-score-multiple-goals-same-day-2000

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

John Tavares would prefer to get an extension done with Leafs prior to trade deadline

Toronto Maple Leafs forward John Tavares made it clear that he prefers to get an extension signed before the trade deadline on March 7th.

With the Leafs set to take on the Boston Bruins on Tuesday, Tavares spoke with Sportsnet’s Luke Fox regarding the status of his expiring contract and where his mind is at. While he understands that general manager Brad Treliving currently has a lot on his plate, Tavares would like to finish the business early if possible.

“I certainly would love to get it done. I mean, obviously the club has a lot going on. It’s not just about me,” Tavares said. “I know management will do what they have to do at that time of year and whatnot. So, if we have the opportunity to get it done, I’d love to do that. If not, when that time comes, we’ll get there. So, just looking forward to continuing my journey here as a Leaf — and obviously want it to continue past this season.”

The idea of Tavares wanting to ink an extension with the Leafs has been well-documented throughout the past few months. The Athletic’s Chris Johnston reported on November 28th that the two sides have been talking regularly while adding Tavares has little interest in hitting the open market. On December 17th, Daily Faceoff’s Frank Seravalli mentioned that this deal could get done in the middle of the season. Johnston followed up on January 7th that Tavares and the Leafs were engaged in ongoing discussions, with the idea of deferred salary being seriously considered akin to what defenceman Jake McCabe agreed to.

While the idea of Tavares being re-signed during the season may not be universally agreed upon, it is clear that all signs point to #91 remaining in Toronto beyond this season. Tavares’ comments on Tuesday are noteworthy because it is the first time he has spoken publically about wanting to get a deal done sooner rather than later.

“Not a little bit. He is a pro. He just does his thing,” head coach Craig Berube said on if Tavares’ expiring contract has impacted his day-to-day routine. “It is every day. He comes to work. He does his routine. He has it down. He has played extremely well for us. I don’t think he thinks about it, to be honest with you. I haven’t noticed any of that with him.”

It remains to be seen if Treliving will get a Tavares extension done before the trade deadline given he has other areas to attend to. Apart from trying to improve their depth down the middle and perhaps bring in another defenceman, the Leafs have two other pending free agents in Mitch Marner and Matthew Knies that Treliving will need to prioritize first.

Marner’s decision is the most important of the two given the fact that which direction they choose will dictate the next few years of the team’s contention window. Knies will no doubt be critical as well, though he is an RFA at season’s end and the only real concern they will have to contend with being potential offer sheets coming his way.

Tavares is very likely to be sticking around beyond the 2024-25 season given he has no desire to play elsewhere and has enjoyed his time donning the Blue and White. It also helps that he remains an impactful forward with 48 points (22 goals and 26 assists) in 50 games going into Tuesday’s tilt against the Bruins.

Until the deal gets finalized, Tavares will continue to focus his efforts on doing his best to help the Leafs in their pursuit of finally winning a Stanley Cup.

“Where our focus is, we’re just trying to help the team and get as many wins as we can and earn a spot in the playoffs and obviously try to make a deep run,” he said. “So, when the time comes, be ready for that. And I think I’ve been around long enough, just go out there about my business and try to impact the team as best I can.”

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/joh...-extension-done-leafs-prior-to-trade-deadline

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Mitch Marner on Maple Leafs’ gutsy comeback win vs Bruins: ‘We just believed it’

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Mitch Marner credited his team’s effort in their comeback win over the Boston Bruins on Tuesday.

After playing sluggish through the first half of the game and trailing 3-0, the Leafs stormed their way back to even things up, which included a Pontus Holmberg goal in the dying seconds to tie it at 4-4. Marner led the way with two tallies of his own, including the overtime winner off a nifty move that fooled Bruins goaltender Jeremy Swayman.

When speaking with TSN’s Mark Masters after the game about what led to his team erasing the three-goal deficit, Marner said it was the belief and commitment from the Leafs to rally back in this one.

“Great. I think we’ve talked about this year that we have a lot of belief in our team, regardless of the score of the game” he said on the emotions in the locker room after the win. “Give a lot of kudos out to Stolie and our five D. I mean, we pretty much played five D the whole night and that’s not an easy thing to do against that team. It was a team effort. We never got down, we just believed it.”

Marner was correct in crediting Anthony Stolarz for his heroics as the netminder was the primary reason the Leafs even had a chance to claw their way back despite allowing four goals on the night. He made numerous quality saves throughout the contest – 32 to in total- including in overtime moments before the star forward ended it.

After Marner scored to complete the comeback, he sprinted right over to his goalie to show some appreciation for his efforts.

“Hey, he’s been unreal all year,  I’ve been speaking about it every interview,” he said. “Another unbelievable performance by him. Plays the puck great too, he’s a big help on the three-on-three there as well. He made a couple of massive saves to keep that game how it was and I just wanted to give him some love.”

Marner needed to celly with Stolarz first pic.twitter.com/TQ51mIF3Q5

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 26, 2025

With the Leafs playing shorthanded for much of the night given Chris Tanev got injured early in the first period, the rest of the blueline stepped up in a big way to fill the void left behind. William Nylander was also not available for the team in overtime as he was seen labouring on the bench during the extra frame, yet the rest of the forwards never waivered by pilling on the chances.

Teams of seasons past may have folded over in situations like this one, but this year’s squad deserves full marks for having plenty of nights like Tuesday where they hunkered down and did not get down on themselves. The same applies for Marner and Auston Matthews who gutted out a strong showing after each playing their fourth game in six nights.

“He and Auston have been a little bit tired for me, but I thought they showed a lot of grit tonight. A lot of determination out of them,” head coach Craig Berube said on his two star players. “Mitch had a heck of a game. He played a lot of minutes — I overplayed him, but we killed too many penalties tonight, so he was used on the penalty kill. He was an excellent player tonight, I thought.”

Marner and the Leafs will look to keep the good times rolling when they face the New York Rangers on Friday with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. EST.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/mitch-marner-leafs-gutsy-comeback-win-bruins

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Leafs Practice Notes: Tanev day-to-day, Nylander, Pacioretty could play Friday vs. Rangers

The Toronto Maple Leafs took to the ice for practice Wednesday in Boston without some big names following a gutsy 5-4 OT win at TD Garden Tuesday night.

With the team not set to play until Friday in New York against the Rangers, Chris Tanev, Morgan Rielly, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jake McCabe all missed practice for a maintenance day. This will likely come as a welcome rest for Matthews and Marner especially, both of whom are coming off a busy two weeks with their respective countries at the 4 Nations Face-Off.

Of concern for the Maple Leafs on the injury front right now are Tanev, Nylander, and Max Pacioretty, all of whom Craig Berube has now confirmed are considered day-to-day. Tanev left Tuesday’s game just minutes in after taking a hit from John Beecher and slowly heading to the dressing room. He was assessed as having an upper-body injury and did not return, and was later seen leaving TD Garden with his right arm in a sling. While it’s good news that the injury seems minor, Berube added that he is unlikely to play Friday.

Chris Tanev is day to day and unlikely to play Friday, per Craig Berube.

— Joshua Kloke (@joshuakloke) February 26, 2025

Nylander, meanwhile did not come onto the ice in overtime, and appeared to be in discomfort on the bench, holding his wrist. It’s unclear when an injury may have occurred.

“It was late in the third period. Contact somewhere or something. I don’t really know exactly, because I didn’t really talk to him on the bench about it. At the time, we just said in OT he wasn’t going to go,” Berube said Wednesday via TSN’s Mark Masters.

Nylander’s injury seems minor and Pacioretty is improving.

Both are possibilities to play Friday in NYC.

— luke fox (@lukefoxjukebox) February 26, 2025

Max Pacioretty practiced Wednesday, and Berube indicated that he could likely return to the lineup against the Rangers. The veteran winger hasn’t played since before the 4 Nations break after tweaking something in practice last week, though few details have been given on his status.

Max Pacioretty is on the ice for Leafs practice here in Boston. Has been out with an undisclosed issue since team returned from 4 Nations break. pic.twitter.com/t1r2gorL7q

— David Alter (@dalter) February 26, 2025

Fans will hope to see at least two of the three in action Friday, as they could be big losses right as the team’s injury luck was turning around, with Anthony Stolarz returning, Matthews looking steady, and Calle Järnkrok’s season debut seeming imminent.

Here’s how the team lined up in the absence of some big names at Wednesday’s practice, per David Alter of The Hockey News:

Forwards:

Bobby McMann – John Tavares – Pontus Holmberg

Matthew Knies – Max Domi – Nic Robertson

Steven Lorentz – David Kämpf – Ryan Reaves

Max Pacioretty – Conor Dewar – Alex Steeves

Defence:

Simon Benoit – Conor Timmins

Calle Järnkrok (practicing as D) – Philippe Myers

Goalies:

Anthony Stolarz, Joseph Woll

Absent (maintenance day): Chris Tanev, Morgan Rielly, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jake McCabe.

Sponsored by bet365​

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/lea...ay-nylander-pacioretty-play-friday-vs-rangers

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Why the Maple Leafs need to separate themselves from the rest of the Eastern Conference on this road trip

Everybody knows that the wild card race in the Eastern Conference in the NHL is going to come down to the wire, but what people may not realize is that the top three teams in the Atlantic Division haven’t separated themselves in that race either.

Even the Maple Leafs, who sit atop of the Atlantic right now with 74 pts. And it’s not to say the Leafs haven’t been good, they’re in first place in the Atlantic Division with a 36-20-2 record, good for fifth overall, while also having a .621 winning percentage, good for fourth in the league. But the Eastern Conference this year has been one step better, meaning the Leafs, who have been good to great all season long, still only sit 10 points up on the last wild card spot and 12 points from being out of the playoffs. What seemed to be a little four-game road trip turned crucial, with the chance to separate themselves from the wildcard race and focus on trying to win the Atlantic Division for, shockingly, the first time ever since the division was formed in 2013-14 (unless you count the 2020-21 season where they won under the Canada or North Division title name).

Coming out of the 4 Nations Face-Off the Maple Leafs looked sharp in their lone home game against the Carolina Hurricanes winning 6-3, before packing up and heading on the road. This was shocking considering their superstars like Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner, who had played just 48 hours prior in the biggest game of their careers up to this point not only played but played well. With two games already done on this road trip, the team has taken care of business, beating the Chicago Blackhawks 5-2 before rolling into Boston to beat the Bruins 5-4 to collect all four possible points.

Let’s talk about that Bruins game for a second, because that game may be looked back on as the game the Leafs turned the corner and learned how to really win. Yes, they’ve had comeback wins before, even three-goal comeback wins, but this is different. Usually when the Maple Leafs are trailing against the Bruins, in Boston by three goals, it’s over for this group. Not this year. In four games vs. the Bruins, he has three goals and 12 points, including the overtime winner in their most recent matchup.

To put into context what the Maple Leafs did, per Sportsnet Stats the last time the Toronto Maple Leafs came back from three goals in Boston was Nov. 7, 1963.

That win against the Bruins isn’t just another game, that carries with them… but back to what I was saying, the remaining two games on this road trip against the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins are going to be critical for the Leafs. A chance to collect eight points on this road trip and come out of the break on a five-game win streak is on the line.

Obviously for that to happen you need guys to step up, and they have. Since coming out of the break, all four lines have been on fire with Pontus Holmberg putting up four goals, and five points, Morgan Rielly having a massive game with one goal and three assists and Nick Robertson with three goals and four points over these three games as well. This means one thing, scoring is up. Even though it is a small sample size, in the 55 games prior to the break, the Leafs were averaging 3.07 goals per game, but in the three games out of the break, they’re averaging 5.3 goals per game.

If the Maple Leafs are able to take advantage of the momentum they earned from the Bruins game they will truly be able to separate themselves from the wildcard race and while the rest of the Eastern Conference is beating each other up for two points, trying to make the wildcard spots, the Maple Leafs will be able to play hard, but also keep guys fresh with such a great record.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/why-maple-leafs-need-separate-rest-eastern-conference-road-trip

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Nick Robertson feels his game evolving under Craig Berube, wants to be impactful for Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson has chosen to rescind his trade request and instead wants to be part of the team’s plans long-term.

During the 2024 offseason, questions emerged about Robertson’s future with the team as he requested to be traded before the start of free agency. He ultimately signed a one-year extension with an AAV of $875K prior to the start of training camp, but questions lingered for months regarding whether he could still be dealt before the trade deadline.

Speaking with Sportsnet’s Luke Fox after Leafs practice on Wednesday, Robertson said that he isn’t concerned about the upcoming deadline because he wants to remain with the team beyond this season.

“I want to be here, so I’m fine. Yeah, I don’t think about that stuff,” he said. “I’ve been worried about my day off tomorrow, doing what I got to do.”

This change in mindset is surely a welcomed sight for fans who have long championed for the Leafs not to give up on Robertson because of his offensive talents. But it was not always a sure thing that he would stick it out given all that came before it.

After years of discontent between the two players regarding his development, usage and concerns about his durability, things came to a head during the 2023-24 season. When the campaign began, he was assigned to the Toronto Marlies despite having a productive preseason and expressed his frustrations over not getting a chance to prove himself and the constant shuffling throughout the organization. It didn’t help that he never quite gained the trust of then-head coach Sheldon Keefe, but he also never quite stayed healthy for a full season until the aforementioned one.

This season, there were once again questions about his future even after securing the extension and making the team out of camp for the first time. It took him some time to fully establish himself, had some lengthy goalless droughts, and was unable to earn a spot in the top six for an extended period. Yet he has not waivered his confidence and he feels things are trending in the right direction.

“Last year, the most I played was like 20 games, then I’d get scratched. I’d be in and out. I hate that,” Robertson said. “I made a decision that I want to play every single game. I want to be in the lineup every game. I want to be an impactful player and so far it’s working. ”

“This year as a player, I think I’m better than I was last year. I’m more well-rounded and playing more, not like a rat, but being hard (to play against).”

Life is good for Robertson these days as he has been lights out since the team returned from the 4 Nations break with four points (three goals and an assist) in his last three games. But we are also seeing flashes of a player who is playing with the grittiness he was describing, as was evident during Tuesday’s game against the Boston Bruins.

During the third period, he went hard to the net and tried to poke the puck away from Jeremy Swayman just as the whistle went which drew a crowd. Instead of shying away from the altercation, he gladly got in the middle of things and was even seen barking back at a player.

LOL let's go

Robertson's beakin! pic.twitter.com/ImNiegGMq0

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) February 26, 2025

“We had a conversation about this a while back, and I thought his game got better when he is more involved and is a tenacious player,” head coach Craig Berube said on what has changed for Robertson lately. “I call it tenacious; he doesn’t need to be running around and trying to hit everything in sight, but it is contact on pucks. Get in there with your speed and create contact. Get those loose puck battles. He is doing that.”

Berube added that he believes in Robertson’s abilities and the fact he is starting to get to the inside more could mean more ice time down the line should he keep this up.

The winger stressed that he feels he is at his best when he is playing with desperation because that is what allows him to not only get more into the game but also gives him the confidence to push the pace offensively. It is the kind of elements that he needed to add to his arsenal if he wished to remain with the team and to his credit, Robertson has done that and it is beginning to pay off.

The rest of his team is also beginning to notice this positive development in his game as a more well-rounded player.

“I like his game right now. He’s showed he can be a little hard to play against,” defenceman Simon Benoit said. “I told him that it’s harder to get hit by a smaller guy because they get you right in the ribs. Then you have no breath and can’t get the puck. To see him putting his body out there makes him a great player.”

So while some fans wonder what lies ahead for Robertson past the trade deadline and beyond, he has made a case to not only ride out the season but also ink another extension. He will be an RFA at season’s end and should not cost a lot even with arbitration rights.

Not only does Robertson not want to be traded, but he wants to a difference-maker because he feels he can make an impact beyond the offensive side of the game.

“I think I’ve evolved into a role,” he said. “Last year I was trying to stay (in the NHL) and I stayed up. Now it’s about finding what my identity is within the team to be successful. Through the ups and downs of the season, I’ve found what works for me. It sounds corny, but buying the system, buying into (the idea that) if I’m not creating plays, not shooting the puck, I could get a bump on someone, I could get a stick up, I could clear the puck. I take pride (in that).”

Sponsored by bet365

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/how-nick-robertson-requesting-trade-unlocking-game-craig-berube

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Rankings Maple Leafs trade targets for the centre position

Welcome to what some say is the best time of the year, trade deadline season. The season where every hockey fan is reading every article they can find on trade rumours, wondering who their team will trade for to give them the edge on a deep playoff run and hopefully win the Stanley Cup. All of this is done as a way to pass the time until you see a hockey insider’s X notification with breaking news on the newest blockbuster trades. Let’s be honest, it’s the information we all live for.

While we wait for those X notifications with the actual trades, I’ve taken the trade rumours surrounding the potential centres the Toronto Maple Leafs could target ahead of the trade deadline and rank them 1-7.

Let’s be real, the Maple Leafs are great, but if they want to win the Stanley Cup, they are going to need an upgrade at the centre position, so here are seven guys I think could help them achieve that.

#1: Dylan Cozens​

Current Team: Buffalo Sabres

Position: Centre

Age: 24

Contract: $7.1M AAV, UFA 2030

For me, it’s a no-brainer as to why Cozens should be the number one target for the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline. I’m beyond shocked in the first place that the Buffalo Sabres are willing to give him up in a trade considering what happened the last time they traded a young top first-round pick (cough, Jack Eichel, cough). But here we are again, and the Toronto Maple Leafs should be trying everything they can to get Cozens.

Not only is he only 24 years old, six foot three, but he’s also under contract until 2030 with a team-friendly $7.1M AAV that should become a bargain with the type of player he is and with the salary cap going up by a lot in the coming years. Cozens’ best year so far was in 2022-23 when he recorded 31 goals and 68 points, but since then, he’s been just over a half point per game, including 30 points in 56 games this year.

Cozens’ style of play would fit right into the Maple Leafs while having another massive guy down the middle of the ice in a one-two punch with Auston Matthews for years to come, and with his recent slump, he might be the cheapest he’ll ever be.

#2: Brayden Schenn​

Current Team: St. Louis Blues

Position: Centre

Age: 33

Contract: $6.5M AAV, UFA 2028

If Cozens is out of the question, I think the Brayden Schenn is the next logical trade target for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Schenn, a seasoned veteran, set to play in his 1000th career NHL game is having a solid season once again. With 12 goals and 34 points in 59 games, he would be what the third line is missing in terms of offensive production.

The contract may be daunting at first with Schenn making $6.5M until 2028, taking him to 36 years old, but if the Maple Leafs were able to get the Blues to retain some of the salary or find a third team to take on some salary the contract could become in the $4M AAV, a lot more reasonable. Already having won a cup in 2019 with the Blues, Schenn would have an immediate connection inside the Maple Leafs dressing room with head coach Craig Berube. His relationship and knowing the way that Berube wants to play would pay dividends the rest of the regular season but would really pay off when it counts this spring.

#3: Scott Laughton​

Current Team: Philadelphia Flyers

Position: Centre

Age: 30

Contract: $3M AAV, UFA 2026

Two months ago, Scott Laughton would have been the number one option on this list, partly because he’s that good and partly because there really weren’t a lot of names floating around the Maple Leafs in terms of trade options. With the recent names coming up in trade rumours, I now view Laughton as the third guy on this list. While Laughton may lack some of the qualities I see in Cozens and Schenn, he is still a great player who would fit in with the Maple Leafs squad immediately and would give them the edge they’re missing.

The six-foot-one 30-year-old has already been playing a hard-nosed, physical 200-foot game of hockey under Philadelphia Flyers head coach John Tortorella, something that the Maple Leafs could really use. Having another year with his $3M AAV cap hit is a bonus, but Laughton finds himself third on the list due to the lack of offensive upside. With only 11 goals and 27 points in 56 games this season, four of those goals coming in one game, Laughton lacks the ability to constantly produce on the offensive side of the ice.

#4: Ryan O’Reilly​

Current Team: Nashville Predators

Position: Centre

Age: 34

Contract: $4.5M AAV, UFA 2027

A familiar face could return to the Maple Leafs, one that I think would make a lot of people happy. Ryan O’Reilly realistically could come back to the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 2025 trade deadline after being acquired two years ago at the 2023 deadline. During his time with the Leafs in the 2023 season, he recorded four goals and 11 points in 13 games. You may be asking, if he did that, then why couldn’t he do that now and why shouldn’t he be higher on this list? All fair questions, but even though he may be producing at a second or third-line rate with 14 goals, and 34 points in 54 games, two years later at age 34, the defensive side of his game isn’t the same as it once was. If the three prior options are gone, I think O’Reilly would be the best available and would elevate the Maple Leafs, just not as much as the first three.

#5: Brock Nelson​

Current Team: New York Islanders

Position: Centre

Age: 33

Contract: $6M AAV, UFA 2025

Listen, Brock Nelson could be much higher on this list for multiple reasons, such as his 200-foot game, the ability to be an elite goal scorer and his large six-foot-four frame down the middle of the ice. All things that the Maple Leafs need on their third line to win the Stanley Cup. The problem for me with Nelson is he’s unlikely to be traded in the first place because it’s the New York Islanders and Lou Lamoriello that we’re talking about. Second, with Nelson being a rental I think the price tag will be unrealistic.

#6: Yanni Gourde​

Current Team: Seattle Kraken

Position: Centre

Age: 33

Contract: $5.166M AAV, UFA 2025

Once upon a time, Yanni Gourde was a 64-point player in the NHL with the Tampa Bay Lightning, helping lead them to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021, and if that was the type of player the Maple Leafs would be getting in a trade then he would be the number one option on the list. But we’re talking about 2025 Yanni Gourde, a 33-year-old who hasn’t been healthy all year and only has six goals and 16 points in 35 games this season. If there is no other option available and the Seattle Kraken are willing to put Brandon Tanev or Jamie Oleksiak in the deal then this would make sense, but there are better options at this point.

#7: Ryan Strome​

Current Team: Anaheim Ducks

Position: Centre

Age: 31

Contract: $5M AAV, UFA 2027

I think if the Maple Leafs get a deal done for Ryan Strome and that is their big-ticket item of the 2025 trade deadline, it would be looked at as a disappointment. Strome was great from 2019 to 2022 with the New York Rangers, but since signing in Anaheim in 2022 he just hasn’t been the same, both offensively and defensively. Partly to blame is the time frame of being with the Ducks while going through a rebuild, but partly himself as he was brought in to be a good piece to surround the young guys and produce at a high level, and that just hasn’t happened.

Don’t get me wrong, he would make the Maple Leafs better, but barely.



Get ready, hockey fans! The Daily Faceoff Deadline is happening on March 7th from 11 AM to 4 PM Eastern, and you won’t want to miss it. We’ll be LIVE, breaking down every trade and big move as it happens, with instant reactions and expert analysis from the Daily Faceoff crew. Plus, we’ve got special guests lined up throughout the show, offering exclusive insights from some of the biggest names in the game. From blockbuster trades to surprise moves, we’re covering it all. Tune in to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and follow Daily Faceoff socials on March 7th to catch all the action!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/rankings-maple-leafs-trade-targets-for-centre-position

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Knee Jerk Reaction: Stolarz powers Maple Leafs to close win over Rangers

The Toronto Maple Leafs edged the New York Rangers 3-2 on Friday night thanks to the heroics of Anthony Stolarz.

On a night where the Leafs were playing sloppy at times, it was Stolarz who proved to be the difference maker as he was the sole reason why the team came away from this one with the two points. Much like Tuesday’s game against the Boston Bruins, the contest could have gotten away from them if not for the brilliance of their netminder.

Toronto rewarded Stolarz’s heroics, with goals from Oliver Ekman-Larsson, William Nylander, and Matthew Knies. Ekman-Larsson’s goal came on the power play when Auston Matthews drew a tripping call right off the hop. Nylander received off a stretch pass from Jake McCabe before it was knocked in accidentally by Urho Vaakanainen. The third was the result of Mitch Marner blocking a clearing attempt, which landed on Matthews’ stick, and then right on the stick of the Knies who made no mistake.

New York was in control for the majority of the game and they got their goals by capitalizing on mistakes by Toronto. Mika Zibanejad tipped in a shot from Will Borgen late in the first period, while Will Cuylle took advantage of a Robertson giveaway near the blue line and took it the other way for a shorthanded tally.

Chris Tanev’s absence was felt in this one as there were lengthy stretches that saw the Leafs hemmed in their own end and you could tell they were exhausted by the end of the night. They also didn’t do themselves any favours by missing the empty net multiple times in the closing minutes.

But in the end, the Leafs did just enough to get the win and close out the month of February with a record of 7-1-0 and back atop the Atlantic Division.

It may be reductionist, but Anthony Stolarz and the Leafs' first line won this game. Stolarz saved 2.43 goals above expected in all situations via Natural Stat Trick. Marner was excellent in all facets and helped up set up Knies' game winner. Leafs' bottom six, one shot at 5v5.

— Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) March 1, 2025

Three Stars​

Anthony Stolarz​

He was without question the Leafs’ MVP on the night with 33 saves and many of them being dandies. You can’t really blame him for the two goals he did allow as one was a perfect deflection while the other was a bad turnover in the offensive end turning costly. The rest of his team was playing with heavy legs, especially the bottom-six, and they owe Stolarz a big New York steak for bailing them out countless times.

The top-six forwards​

After the offensive load was carried by the bottom six for three straight games, the main guys were the ones that proved to be difference makers on the score sheet. The John Tavares line was the stronger of the two, but the Matthews line had their fair share of chances as well including with the Rangers’ net empty. This was a night that they needed to come through offensively and they delivered when they got their looks.

Jake McCabe​

Unlike on Tuesday when he had arguably his worst game of the season, McCabe rebounded with one of his better defensive showings and was the main man on the back end. He led all Leafs defencemen in ice time with 23:08 along with three blocks and two takeaways. McCabe has been among the team’s most dependable players throughout the campaign and he reminded fans of what he is capable of on nights when he is on his game.

Up Next​

The Leafs will wrap up their road trip on Sunday afternoon when they take on the Pittsburgh Penguins, with puck drop scheduled for 1 p.m. EST.



Get ready, hockey fans! The Daily Faceoff Deadline is happening on March 7th from 11 AM to 4 PM Eastern, and you won’t want to miss it. We’ll be LIVE, breaking down every trade and big move as it happens, with instant reactions and expert analysis from the Daily Faceoff crew. Plus, we’ve got special guests lined up throughout the show, offering exclusive insights from some of the biggest names in the game. From blockbuster trades to surprise moves, we’re covering it all. Tune in to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and follow Daily Faceoff socials on March 7th to catch all the action!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/knee-jerk-reaction-stolarz-powers-maple-leafs-close-win-over-rangers

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Pending UFA panic, salary retainers, and what about Toews: Leaflets

It’s a rare Saturday night without Leafs hockey. Plan your lives accordingly. Make a big show of taking your partner out on a Hockey Night in Canada evening and with the reminder that they mean more to you than sports. It’s definitely a favourite card of mine to play in this situation.

It might be a tough one to skip though as there will be keen interest in whether any new information about Maple Leafs deadline targets seep out during the second intermission Headlines segment, but usually a quick scan of social media a couple of minutes after the segment airs gives you the highlights anyway. The week is going to be one filled with Leafs PR notifications and stalking insider accounts, so take what might be the last night you can step away from hockey before the trade deadline but don’t blame me if Brad Treliving chooses tonight as the ideal time to trade for Mikko Rantanen and suck us all back in.

Here are the last pre-deadline Leaflets thoughts:

No point to stressing Marner or Tavares’ contract status​

In a time when all eyes are on the Hurricanes and what they will do with Mikko Rantanen, it seems worth pointing out the lack of stress that is coming out of Toronto in regard to Mitch Marner. It seems that everyone has made their peace with the idea that contract talks won’t happen in season, Mitch isn’t looking to get distracted, and maybe even it’s an acknowledgement that a ton of cap space isn’t a terrible consolation prize for the Leafs if things don’t work out.

Tavares comes with less urgency but after another decent season when people were expecting a step back and every Leafs fan becoming overly familiar with how limited the centre market can be, maybe there is a renewed interest in making Tavares a priority. He does seem interested in getting closure on this and if there is a possibility that results in him being more focused on the ice, maybe a deal is a good thing.

Speculating on the psychological pros and cons of the contract status on a player is a fool’s errand, and while there will be plenty of foolish in this post as always, I won’t guess what their intentions are and whether closure would get more out of them. I’ll just say that I genuinely take both Marner and Tavares at their word that they want to be in Toronto and genuinely believe that Brad Treliving will probably go beyond the lengths I would to re-sign them.

The recent agents poll in The Athletic highlighted that the Leafs are a good organization to be a part of and that likely means it would take a lot for two players with firm roots in the city to consider moving on.

Who can throw a lifeline​

Normally I use Leaflets as a space for just throwing my opinion around and seeing what sticks, but I’ll take a break from that this week and do a quick information dump on the teams that are most capable of helping the Leafs retain salary in a trade next week.

Maybe it’s through directly dealing with these teams or maybe they are a third party, but here are teams that Brandon Pridham will be working closely with:

Team	Current Space	Deadline Space (est.)	Retention Spaces
New York Rangers	$12.85M	$15.30M	3
Buffalo Sabres	$24.55M	$29.23M	3
St. Louis Blues	$5.06M	$6.03M	3
Seattle Kraken	$5.70M	$5.70M	3
Boston Bruins	$5.72M	$5.72M	3
New York Islanders	$7.88M	$7.88M	3
Columbus Blue Jackets	$73.50M	$87.50M	3
Utah Hockey Club	$23.96M	$28.52M	2
Nashville Predators	$25.45M	$30.30M	2
Anaheim Ducks	$61.98M	$73.79M	2
Calgary Flames	$68.76M	$81.86M	2
Philadelphia Flyers	$7.08M	$8.43M	2
Chicago Blackhawks	$18.79M	$22.37M	1
Montreal Canadiens	$6.69M	$6.69M	1
Vancouver Canucks	$8.74M	$10.41M	1
Pittsburgh Penguins	$9.15M	$10.90M	1
San Jose Sharks	$27.58M	$32.84M	0
Data from PuckPedia.com

That’s not to say that playoff bound teams won’t use their retention spaces, it’s just unlikely their priority at the deadline and it is a bit strange to do a favour for a team that you potentially face on your path to the Cup.

The fact that Blackhawks and Sharks have such a limited capacity for retention is a bit of a bummer as they have historically been quite willing to help out. They could potentially be great options for taking salary back but with the Leafs having no shortage of no trade lists to deal with, it’s hard to imagine that lottery bound teams aren’t in those agreements.

Still, there look like plenty of options even before expanding the list to include playoff teams. It will just be interesting to see what the going rate is for retention services.

What about Jonathan Toews?​

It seems like it has been a while since there has been any discussion about Jonathan Toews making a comeback this season. Maybe that is no longer in the cards and there is good reason to dismiss it. There’s also plenty of reason to not consider Jonathan Toews the Plan A, B, C, or D for the Leafs third line centre position.

Having established that, I still can’t help but think that Toews could be an interesting option for the Leafs in a reduced role capacity and give him the opportunity to show what he can still do at the NHL level, starting up from a sheltered fourth line capacity.

If things don’t go as planned, no eggs were put in that basket and you just carry on your merry way with Pontus Holmberg or Connor Dewar or one of the other potential fourth line centre options in that role. If there is any gas left in Toews’ tank, the lineup will be beefed up considerably.

There’s probably no shortage of teams that are entertaining this scenario and Toews will likely make his pick from the offers available soon enough. Hopefully the Leafs are still one of the teams actively keeping an eye on this situation, but again, not prioritizing it from a team building perspective.

Sponsored by bet365​

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/pending-ufa-panic-salary-retainers-toews-leaflets

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Tanev, Ekman-Larsson, Domi, Lorentz held out of Leafs’ practice, Jarnkrok on the verge of returning

It was a quick turnaround for the Toronto Maple Leafs following their 3-2 victory over the New York Rangers. Chris Tanev, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Max Domi and Steven Lorentz were all held out of Saturday’s practice, and it’s possible Marshall Rifai makes his season debut Sunday against the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube revealed after practice that it was a maintenance day for Ekman-Larsson, Domi and Lorentz. Tanev will miss the Maple Leafs’ next two games.

Tanev is considered day-to-day with an upper-body injury after leaving Tuesday’s game against the Boston Bruins with his arm in a sling. Ekman-Larsson left Friday’s game during the third period and did not return, so with two regular defencemen out of the lineup, Rifai may be the next man up. Rifai took reps alongside Conor Timmins on Saturday, via TSN’s Mark Masters.

Domi has emerged as a popular trade candidate, although his 13-team no-trade list could be prohibitive ahead of Friday’s trade deadline. The 29-year-old has recorded three goals and 23 points in 51 games this season.

Calle Jarnkrok took reps in Domi’s place on the third line alongside Bobby McMann and Nick Robertson. Jarnkrok is inching closer to a return from groin and sports hernia surgery. Jarnkrok is a versatile piece for the Maple Leafs, who can be moved throughout the lineup and the team initially placed him with Domi and William Nylander, before he suffered an injury in training camp.

“I feel great out there. I’m just waiting for the last medical clearance here. I don’t know if it will be tomorrow or the next day or the day after that, but I’m really close,” Jarnkrok said to Masters.

Alex Steeves and Connor Dewar were the extra forwards on Saturday. Max Pacioretty practiced but he was placed on IR on February 28 and could return next week. Steeves is a potential option to be slotted onto the fourth line for Sunday’s contest as well.

Maple Leafs’ projected lineup vs. Penguins​

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Mitch Marner

Pontus Holmberg-John Tavares-William Nylander

Bobby McMann-Max Domi-Nick Robertson

Steven Lorentz-David Kampf-Ryan Reaves

Morgan Rielly-Philippe Myers

Simon Benoit-Jake McCabe

Marshall Rifai-Conor Timmins

Joseph Woll (confirmed starter)

Anthony Stolarz



Get ready, hockey fans! The Daily Faceoff Deadline is happening on March 7th from 11 AM to 4 PM Eastern, and you won’t want to miss it. We’ll be LIVE, breaking down every trade and big move as it happens, with instant reactions and expert analysis from the Daily Faceoff crew. Plus, we’ve got special guests lined up throughout the show, offering exclusive insights from some of the biggest names in the game. From blockbuster trades to surprise moves, we’re covering it all. Tune in to the Daily Faceoff YouTube channel and follow Daily Faceoff socials on March 7th to catch all the action!

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tan...orentz-out-leafs-practice-jarnkrok-third-line

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Borya Valis will do whatever it takes to help the Maple Leafs organization win

Prince George Cougars forward Borya Valis signed a three-year, entry-level contract on Friday with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Valis is in the midst of a breakout season, and his hard work has officially paid off. Signing his ELC is a moment that capped off a stellar campaign for the 20-year-old.

“It’s unbelievable,” Valis told The Leafs Nation. “The coaching staff and my teammates here have helped me so much along the way. Without them, I wouldn’t be in this position.”

Valis has been a key contributor for the Cougars this season, showcasing his ability to impact the game in multiple ways. The emerging right wing has racked up a career-high 30 goals and 74 points this season.

When asked what he believes he’ll bring to the Maple Leafs organization, his answer was simple—he’s willing to do whatever it takes.

“I think I’ll do whatever I can to help the team win,” Valis told The Leafs Nation. “Whether it’s blocking shots, scoring goals, or even handing out water on the bench—I’ll do whatever I can to contribute.”

Believe it or not, he doesn’t have a favourite Leafs player. “I like them all, even the coaching staff.” Valis told The Leafs Nation with a laugh.

Before his time in Prince George, Valis played with Chicago Blackhawks phenom Connor Bedard. The two were teammates with the Regina Pats, and Valis spoke highly of the experience of playing alongside the generational talent.

“It was unbelievable,” Valis said. “Everyone talks about how special he is, and getting the chance to play with him and be his friend was amazing. He was actually one of the first guys to congratulate me today, which means a lot.”

As for the future, Valis is focused on the present. The Cougars are gearing up for a playoff push, and he believes the team is hitting its stride at the perfect time. “I think we’re heating up at the right time,” Valis said. “The last few games have been great, and this is the best time of year to get hot. We’re going to push for the longest playoff run possible.”

Following his tenure with the Cougars, Valis could find himself with the Toronto Marlies (AHL) as early as this fall.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/borya-valis-whatever-it-takes-maple-leafs-organization-win

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Knee Jerk Reaction: Maple Leafs win chaotic matinee affair against Penguins

If it wasn’t apparent by the fact that the Leafs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead and went into the first intermission trailing 3-2, Sunday afternoon’s tilt in Pittsburgh went about how it feels like every afternoon game goes. High octane, chaotic, optional goaltending, and lots of goals. Thankfully, for all parties involved, the Leafs were never truly out of the game and came out victorious with a 6-5 overtime win. It wasn’t that simple, though.

After Auston Matthews busted a non-empty net goal drought that stretched back to January 22 to not only tie the game at 3, but move him into second on the Leafs’ all-time goals list, Penguins forward Bryan Rust came in and erased it with less than five minutes to play in the frame. Then, John Tavares scored the equalizer with less than a minute to play in the second thanks to a gorgeous breakaway pass from Jake McCabe. And, if that wasn’t chaotic enough, Matthew Knies took advantage of lazy o-zone play from Penguins defenceman Erik Karlsson and scored another breakaway goal to take the lead with 0.1 seconds left in the period.

Knies timing eh pic.twitter.com/47h44JfRuA

— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) March 2, 2025

The third period kicked off in the most chaotic way imaginable (starting to see a trend here?), with Rickard Rakell taking no more than ten seconds to tie the game at 5. The two teams traded high-danger chances for the rest of the period before William Nylander ultimately settled things in overtime.

Matthews wasn’t the only one to bust a slump, either. Max Domi opened the scoring following 25 games without a goal, and Conor Timmins hadn’t scored since November before he put one past the Penguins netminder for the second of the game.

TSN’s Mike Johnson put it beautifully – the players loved the game, the fans loved the game, and the coaches probably hated it. Craig Berube will ultimately want to change some things up following a five-goals-against performance from his team, but in the end, these types of games happen. Joseph Woll wasn’t at his best, but the Leafs bailed him out with some offence, which can be accepted considering how many times they’ve been bailed out by their netminder this season.

Overall, you can have your qualms with the way the team has won some of their games lately, but in the end, they’re winners of eight of their last nine and have two games remaining before the trade deadline. It’s the best time of the season to get a momentum boost, and if they keep showing what they’re capable of, there’s ample reason to believe Brad Treliving will reward them for it.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/knee-jerk-reaction-maple-leafs-chaotic-matinee-affair-penguins

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs recall Dakota Mermis, assign Marshall Rifai to Marlies

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Monday that they called up defenceman Dakota Mermis and sent down Marshall Rifai to the Toronto Marlies.

Maple Leafs D Marshall Rifai has been assigned to the Toronto Marlies (AHL).

D Dakota Mermis has been recalled from the Toronto Marlies (AHL).

— Leafs PR (@LeafsPR) March 3, 2025

This comes in anticipation of Calle Jarnkrok potentially making his season debut against the San Jose Sharks during the Leafs’ brief return home. After Monday’s game, the team heads back on the road for a three-game road trip out West, during which the trade deadline will come and go.

The Leafs are likely doing this to swap around their seventh defenceman since both players would have to go through waivers if they are on the roster for a certain amount of time. With Chris Tanev out with an injury he suffered during Tuesday’s game against the Boston Bruins, who was placed on injured reserve before Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Penguins – this continues to allow the Leafs to have some insurance on the back end in the event of more ailments to the regulars.

Rifai was previously recalled to the NHL squad on Friday when they placed Max Pacioretty on injured reserve due to suffering an injury before a practice. The 26-year-old defenceman has been frequently called up by the Maple Leafs throughout the year but has yet to suit up in an NHL game. Rifai has recorded nine points (three goals and six assists) in 44 games with the Marlies this season and is signed on to a two-year extension that kicks in next season with an AAV of $875K.

Mermis has also not gotten into a game with the Leafs this season but has been through quite a tumultuous campaign to this point. He missed time due to having jaw surgery during the preseason and was lost on waivers to the Utah Hockey Club before then being reclaimed by the Leafs weeks later. He has recorded six assists in 20 AHL games with the Marlies while going scoreless in his lone game with Utah. The 31-year-old blueliner initially joined the Leafs as a Day 2 signing, along with Philippe Myers and Cedric Pare, coming in with an AAV of $775K.

The Leafs are set to take on the Sharks on Monday, with puck drop scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/maple-leafs-recall-dakota-mermis-assign-marshall-rifai-marlies