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[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Around the NHL: Trade talks heating up around Oilers, Predators, Red Wings despite Olympic roster freeze

Welcome back to an Olympic roster freeze edition of around the NHL. It’s great to have NHL players back playing in the Olympics, as nothing beats best-on-best hockey on the biggest stage internationally.

While the best hockey players in the world gather in Italy, general managers and executives around the league are still staying in constant contact, discussion parameters of trades. The NHL’s roster freeze concludes on Feb.22, and teams will have 12 days to sprint to the finish line in any transaction, as the trade deadline is set for Mar.6.

Here’s the very latest from around the NHL:

Edmonton Oilers looking to fill two specific needs via trade​

The Oilers entered the Olympic break with a 28-22-8 record, good for second in the Pacific Division. General manager Stan Bowman is expected to be active ahead of the trade deadline, and according to The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta, Bowman will be trying to add a bottom-six forward and a shutdown defenceman once the freeze is over.

Bowman has $2.8 million in cap space to work, so his hands are a bit tied when it comes to how significant of an impact he can make. The Oilers will be bargain shopping, and that’s one of the many reasons they’ve been linked to the Maple Leafs, as Nicolas Roy, Bobby McMann, Brandon Carlo, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson are likely four trade candidates they’re considering right now.

As far as trade assets go, the Oilers don’t have a ton to work with. They don’t own a first-round pick in 2026, and their current roster isn’t littered with young, upcoming talent with high potential. If Bowman pulls the trigger on a deal it’s likely going to involve a couple of their NHL-ready prospects, who have spent the majority of their seasons in either the American Hockey League, or even college, or junior prospects.

Nashville Predators and Detroit Red Wings linked to blockbuster​

The Predators have had an up-and-down season in 2025-26, and entered the Olympic break with a 26-24-7 record, sitting just five points out of a playoff spot.

Despite the close proximity to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and 25 games to go, the Preds are open to moving out some of their expensive, veteran talent. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, one player that stands out for him is Jonathan Marchessault.

“Another player to add to your trade boards: Jonathan Marchessault,” stated Friedman in his most recent 32 Thoughts blog. “Nashville has the big names and strong complementary players, but I sometimes forget Marchessault and now have been reminded a couple of times. He has control, but there’s a willingness between team and player for something to happen. Unique in his case: his preference is somewhere with good minor hockey infrastructure for his children.”

Marchessault, 35, is signed through the 2029 season at $5.5 million AAV. He owns a full no-movement clause until his final season of his contract, so the pesky winger certainly controls his own destiny. There’s been some chatter the Detroit Red Wings and Montreal Canadiens are interested, and when it comes to the Habs, they could include pending free-agent forward Patrik Laine in the deal.

Moving on from Marchessault, Steven Stamkos and Ryan O’Reilly continue to be two of the biggest fish onlooking teams covet. O’Reilly doesn’t have any trade protection on his current deal, however, the organization has promised him he’ll be kept in the loop on potential destinations and won’t complete the deal unless it can make sense for O’Reilly, and his family. The Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings are two teams who have been heavily linked in O’Reilly trade talks.

As for Stamkos, he’s signed through the 2028 season at $8 million AAV, and his no-movement clause gives the future hall-of-famer all the say in the matter. The Carolina Hurricanes are one team to keep an eye on, and the same can be said about the Red Wings, as Steve Yzerman and Stamkos are very close, and the Red Wings will be looking to add a top-six forward, and top-four defenceman ahead of the deadline.

The Red Wings are having a fantastic season, entering the Olympic break with a 33-19-6 record, sitting third in the Atlantic Division. Last season Yzerman didn’t make a move ahead of the deadline, despite decent playoff odds, and was ridiculed by captain Dylan Larkin in the media. This year will be a very different story, so expect to see a couple of big names make their way to Motown ahead of Mar.6.

Quick hits from around the NHL​

• Team Canada had their first practice on Olympic ice and here’s how the lines were stacked up:

lines at first practice of Milan Olympics

Celebrini – McDavid – Wilson
Marchand – MacKinnon – Suzuki
Stone – Crosby – Marner
Hagel – Horvat – Reinhart
Jarvis, Bennett

Toews – Makar
Morrissey – Parayko
Harley – Doughty
Theodore – Sanheim @TSN_Sports

— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) February 8, 2026

• Meanwhile, Auston Matthews was named captain of Team USA, and is centering the team’s second line in between Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy.
• William Nylander is expected to play on Team Sweden’s top line, centered by Mika Zibanejad.
• There’s been a lot of chatter about the Los Angeles Kings not being close to finished ahead of the trade deadline, and Calgary Flames‘ Nazem Kadri continues to be linked.
• Winnipeg Jets are expected to cash in on pending free-agent defenceman Logan Stanley, who is having a career season, and at 6-foot-7 and a smooth skater, can bring a whole different look to a contending team’s blueline.
• Speaking of bluelines, the San Jose Sharks only have two defencemen signed for next season, and GM Mike Grier is trying to add at least one d-man who is signed through next season via trade.
• As for Kadri, his trade talks appear to be linked to St. Louis Blues’ Robert Thomas, who many teams feel is ‘plan A’, and Kadri is ‘plan B’, when it comes to trade interest.
• The New York Rangers aren’t done making moves and don’t be surprised to see them give former first-overall pick Alexis Lafreniere a change of scenery before Mar.6.
• Seattle Kraken are open to moving Shane Wright, but only for a top-six forward with term. They included Wright in the Artemi Panarin trade talks, but Panarin wasn’t interested in signing a two-year extension in Seattle, despite being offered more money than the Kings.
  

  PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/nhl-trade-rumours-oilers-predators-red-wings-roster-freeze

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs Prospect Roundup: Holinka rising up the ranks, Chadwick continues strong second half

The NHL draft is one of the premier events on the hockey calendar, but for many fans, the interest and excitement are limited to the first couple of rounds, where the names are familiar, and the likelihood of landing an NHL-calibre player is higher. For all but the most hardcore observers, the players selected later in the draft are completely unknown quantities, and their road to the top level is a lot longer and more uncertain.

Even the late-round gems that do hit typically take a while to emerge and build their stock, but once in a while, the early returns on a later pick are hard to ignore. That’s becoming the case for the Toronto Maple Leafs and 2024 fifth-round pick Miroslav Holinka.

Holinka spent most of his draft season lighting up the Czech junior ranks to the tune of 41 points in just 29 games, and he ended up getting into 16 games in Czechia’s top pro league that year as well, notching a goal and two assists in limited action. It’s always a good sign when young players can hold their own in a professional setting, but it’s far from a guarantee of future success.

Rather than continuing his development at home, Holinka signed with the Edmonton Oil Kings when they selected him in the CHL import draft shortly after the NHL draft, and that’s where he has really started to make a name for himself. His rookie season was solid, if unspectacular, lining up as a top-six pivot for the Oil Kings and registering 45 points in 47 games before going cold in the playoffs, and he also put up four points in seven games to help Czechia earn bronze at the World Juniors. He has taken his game to another level this season and has become one of the most dominant players in the WHL.

Playing a pivotal role for one of the best teams in the league, Holinka has filled the scoresheet all season long, while also playing a reliable defensive game. With a pair of goals and an assist in a blowout win over Moose Jaw on Friday, he is up to 30 goals and 35 assists in 43 games, including nine goals in his last 10 games. His 65 points are good for ninth in WHL scoring, but he ranks fourth leaguewide in terms of points per game. Holinka has gotten it done in all situations as well, with 20 points on the man advantage, and he is tied for the league lead with four shorthanded markers.

Miro's got on the season @EdmOilKings | @MapleLeafs | #LeafsForever pic.twitter.com/Q8AteUFEDO

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 7, 2026

There is still a long way to go before Holinka is pushing for NHL minutes, but in two short years, he has gone from a late-round project to establishing himself as a legitimate NHL prospect. He isn’t exactly a burner, but he can get around the rink, and his ability to process the game around him allows him to utilize the rest of his offensive toolkit. He’s got slick hands in tight spaces, great vision to find teammates through defensive coverages, and he can beat goaltenders with clean looks from scoring areas. He does all of that while taking on tough minutes against the opposition’s best players night after night, and with each passing game, he looks more ready to take on the next level.

Already signed to an entry-level contract with the Leafs, Holinka is on track to break into the AHL next season, and he could become a key figure in the Marlies’ lineup right away. Beyond their NHL roster, Toronto isn’t exactly deep down the middle, and Holinka has shown the ability to contribute at both ends of the ice. There are sure to be growing pains as he adjusts to the North American pro game, but Holinka has met every challenge head-on to this point in his career, and he might just become the latest diamond in the rough for a Leafs’ pipeline that desperately needs one.

Notes from the rest of the prospect pool:​

• Last week, I wrote about potentially getting Easton Cowan some reps with the Marlies over the Olympic break, but due to a provision in the CBA regarding games played leading up to the break, Cowan wasn’t eligible to be sent down. One could argue that the Leafs should have planned around that, especially with Cowan’s role with the Leafs becoming less clear over the last couple of weeks, but the reality is that he is a young player who has played a lot of hockey over the last couple of years. Between back-to-back appearances at the World Juniors and back-to-back Memorial Cup runs before making the jump to the NHL as a 20-year-old, the break should be a good thing for Cowan as he figures to have a more consistent role down the stretch as the Leafs prepare to sell off some veteran pieces ahead of the trade deadline.
• Dennis Hildeby made his second start since being sent back to the Marlies when they took on Cleveland this past Tuesday, and he had a strong showing despite losing in a shootout. Hildeby held down the fort through regulation and overtime, stopping 31 of the 33 shots he faced. His numbers in the AHL aren’t quite as impressive as his results in the NHL this season, but that shouldn’t hurt his value should the Leafs decide to dangle him as a trade piece ahead of the deadline.
• The Leafs are expected to punch a more permanent hole into their lineup for Cowan before the trade deadline, and there might be more opportunity for Jacob Quillan down the stretch as well. He’s done just about everything the organization could hope for at the AHL level this season, adding another goal and assist over his last two games to bring him up to 29 points in 30 games, and he has earned a chance to show what he can do with an extended look at the NHL level.

QUILLY CLEANS IT UP! pic.twitter.com/blnznhpksU

— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) February 4, 2026

• Luke Haymes hasn’t been as productive this season as he would have hoped, but he has scored in each of his last two games. Through 42 games in his first full season of pro hockey, he now has seven goals and nine assists. The organization will be hoping he can follow a similar trajectory to that of fellow undrafted signing, Quillan, and put together a breakout season with the Marlies in 2026-27.

Quilly Haymer

Jacob Quillan and Luke Haymes connected for a massive insurance goal to help us to the win today! pic.twitter.com/XS9UM8UmUr

— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) February 8, 2026

• Tyler Hopkins has stepped into the role of first line centre with his new club in Guelph, but the team has struggled of late, and his numbers haven’t exactly jumped off the page. He scored a beautiful breakaway tally this past week, however, helping secure a victory for the Storm over the Erie Otters. In 15 games since being dealt to Guelph, Hopkins has four goals and six assists to add to the 25 points he posted in 29 games with Kingston before the trade.

Tyler Hopkins has today's @AssuredAuto Impact Play of the Game with this highlight reel goal. pic.twitter.com/aCUZdlvdQW

— Guelph Storm (@Storm_City) February 5, 2026

• Artur Akhtyamov‘s playing time has taken a bit of a hit since Hildeby returned to the Marlies, but his numbers haven’t. After stopping 29 of the 30 shots he faced in a 5-1 win over Springfield this past weekend, Akhtyamov owns a record of 16-7-4 to go along with a 2.91 GAA and a .902 SV%. He is quite firmly the fourth netminder on the organizational depth chart, but the progress he has shown over the last two seasons could make the Leafs feel even more secure in dealing from the position of strength that their crease has become.

That's Our All Star pic.twitter.com/d8hWWXHeev

— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) February 7, 2026

• It was another productive weekend in what has been a big bounce-back season for Nick Moldenhauer with the Michigan Wolverines. He scored in each contest of Michigan’s two-game set with rival Michigan State, and now has four goals in his last three games. After posting just three goals and seven assists in 29 games a year ago, Moldenhauer is up to 10 goals and 12 assists through 28 games in his third season with the Wolverines.

Moldy redirects a Schocker shot and we’re tied! pic.twitter.com/CE3zqkMsc6

— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) February 7, 2026

• Another collegiate prospect for the Maple Leafs, Hudson Malinoski, had a big weekend as well. Things haven’t gone his way this season, but Malinoski scored in both games as Providence picked up a pair of 6-1 victories over the weekend. He isn’t likely to match last season’s numbers at this point, but he’s got eight goals and two helpers through 27 games.

Net-front presence

Malinoski tips in the shot from Adams for his 8th of the season and second of the weekend! Martin Masa also earns an assist.https://t.co/x0yxfPwSXW x @ESPNPlus https://t.co/dkXWPKQeaJ pic.twitter.com/WoHU2qZ15W

— PC Men's Hockey (@FriarsHockey) February 8, 2026

• Noah Chadwick continued his productive second half with a pair of assists against Springfield on Saturday. The 2023 sixth-rounder is up to 15 points in 44 games as a rookie for the Marlies, with nine of those points coming in his last 10 games. He is looking more and more comfortable at the pro level, and with another summer working on his mobility, he could be a vital piece for the Marlies in 2026-27.

BANG BANG

Vinni Lettieri goes post and in to get us going early! pic.twitter.com/9Fm7geD4cj

— Toronto Marlies (@TorontoMarlies) February 7, 2026

Statistics from EliteProspects.com & CHL.ca

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-prospect-roundup-holinka-chadwick-strong

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Don’t be surprised if Auston Matthews pops off in Milan: Leafs Morning Take

After years of anticipation, the wait is almost over. The NHL is back at the Olympics.

There were a lot of moving parts to the latest edition of Leafs Morning Take. As mentioned, we’ll be scaling down our programming a bit to take a breather during the Milan Games. With that in mind, Tuesday’s episode came partially from Montego Bay, Jamaica, where I will be situated for the next week. We kicked things off with some conversation around William Nylander. After playing three games in four nights coming off a groin injury heading into the Olympic break, the winger didn’t practice for Sweden on Tuesday due to maintenance. With any injury, there’s always some semblance of concern, especially when taking into account that it’s a groin.

At any rate, we spent a good portion of the podcast previewing the men’s tournament. Both Canada and the United States will get underway on Thursday while Sweden will open on Wednesday against the host Italians. Just like he did at the 4 Nations, Auston Matthews will dawn the captaincy for the U.S. squad as they look to atone for their loss last February. Dissimilar to last year’s best on best tournament, Matthews has looked healthy lately, and we think it could be a big tournament for the Maple Leafs captain. It looks like he will start on a line with Jake Guentzel and Matthew Boldy.

Meantime, Canada has some serious depth. How about rolling McDavid, MacKinnon, and Crosby up the middle? How are ya? Talk about a matchup night. Indisputably, Canada should be looked as favourites to win Gold. That said, everything will stem around their crease and back-end. Can they get some timely saves? How will their d-corps hold up against some of the NHL’s most talented players? It’s up to Jon Cooper to figure out the answers to those questions. Canada kicks things off with Czechia on Thursday.

Further, shoutout to Zack Phillips for hopping aboard to help out after I momentarily lost power here in Jamaica. Zack sticked around for the rest of the show. We got his thoughts on the Milan Games before ultimately transitioning to some Leafs talk. We got what we thinks the Leafs should do prior to the March 6th trade deadline. Also, we debated Darren Raddysh, who’s having a monster season for Tampa. The Toronto native is slated to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, so naturally we discussed the potential of the Leafs becoming a suitor —provided he gets to market.

We’ll be back on Friday for another edition of Leafs Morning Take. Firstly, we recap Canada/Czechia before previewing Canada/Switzerland.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/dont-be-surprised-auston-matthews-pops-off-milan-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Auston Matthews remains with Jake Guentzel, Matt Boldy at USA’s practice

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews remained with Jake Guentzel and Matt Boldy during USA men’s hockey practice Wednesday.

Matthews, who is captaining the United States, will be featuring in a top-six role to start the tournament. The 28-year-old has recorded 26 goals and 48 points in 51 games with the Maple Leafs this season. Matthews recorded three assists in three games for the United States during last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

“It’s obviously a huge honour and privilege to be able to represent your country and go and compete in it,” Matthews said on January 26. “There are a lot of things you’re excited about. I’m looking forward to, first and foremost, the hockey and being able to compete like that. I think everything that else that goes into it, it’s definitely a really special experience.”

Guentzel-Matthews-Boldy could be one of the most potent scoring lines in the entire tournament. Boldy has registered 32 goals and 62 points in 54 games for the Minnesota Wild, tied for 15th in NHL scoring. Guentzel and the Tampa Bay Lightning have caught fire entering the break, and the veteran forward has registered 26 goals and 60 points in 55 contests this season.

Ahead of Thursday’s game against Latvia, United States head coach Mike Sullivan will not name his starting goaltender. Connor Hellebuyck is the presumed starter ahead of the game.

It’s the first time Matthews will be representing the United States at the Olympics, as his team looks to win gold for the first time since 1980.

“I think we feel like we’re up there,” Matthews said. “We should be competing for gold. It’s first Olympics in a while since we’ve been able to consistently be up there. You want to be the best country in the world, and this is a great opportunity.”

United States’ projected lines vs. Latvia​

Brady Tkachuk-Jack Eichel-Matthew Tkachuk

Jake Guentzel-Auston Matthews-Matt Boldy

Kyle Connor-Dylan Larkin-Tage Thompson

Jack Hughes-Brock Nelson-Vincent Trocheck or JT Miller

Quinn Hughes-Charlie McAvoy

Jaccob Slavin-Brock Faber

Jake Sanderson-Zach Werenski

Connor Hellebuyck (projected starter)

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/auston-matthews-jake-guentzel-matthew-boldy-usa-practice

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Olympic Hockey: William Nylander scores game-winner in Team Sweden win over Team Italy

Wednesday afternoon’s Olympic men’s hockey match between Team Sweden and Team Italy was a lot closer than people may have predicted it would be. Despite Sweden outshooting the Italians 59-18, the host country kept things close with an eventual 5-2 win for Sweden. Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander scored the game-winner for Team Sweden, scoring the third goal of the game after Italy took an early 1-0 lead and eventually fought back to tie it 2-2.

Nylander was a game-time decision heading into the tournament-opener for Sweden after missing practice on Tuesday, but he was deemed good to go before the game and ended up with a positive contribution. Sweden’s other goals came from Colorado Avalanche forward Gabriel Landeskog, Florida Panthers defenceman Gustav Forsling, New York Rangers forward Mika Zibanejad, and Tampa Bay Lightning defenceman Victor Hedman (EN). Luca Frigo and Matt Bradley scored for the Italians.

The player of the game for either side was undoubtedly Italy goaltender and Anaheim Ducks prospect Damian Clara, who was single-handedly keeping Italy in it before he was injured while making a save on Vancouver Canucks forward Elias Pettersson’s breakaway attempt. Clara finished the game with 40 saves on 43 shots before leaving the game and being relieved by Davide Fadani.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson was dressed for this game but was the team’s seventh defenceman and logged only one shift in the game, skating for a total of 1:07. Nashville Predators forward Filip Forsberg was the extra forward for the Swedes and didn’t log any ice time.

The men’s hockey facet of the Olympics will continue on Thursday with a full slate of games. Team France will face Team Switzerland to kick off the day, followed by Team Canada against Team Czechia, before Auston Matthews and Team USA take on Team Latvia in the afternoon in correspondence with Team Germany and Team Denmark.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/olympic-hockey-william-nylander-game-winner-sweden-italy

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Olympic Hockey: Canada pounds Czechia 5-0 in their tournament opener

Team Canada’s men’s national team, NHL players included, have returned to the Olympics for the first time since 2014, and boy was it sweet to have them back.

In Canada’s first game of the 2026 Milano-Cortina Olympic Winter Games, they crushed Team Czechia 5-0, appropriate revenge for the way Czechia’s junior teams have handled Canada’s in the past couple of World Junior tournaments. They outshot Czechia 36-26, with St. Louis Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington stopping all 26 shots on goal for the shutout win in the tournament-opener.

Canada kicked off the scoring with five seconds left in the first period, with young San Jose Sharks phenom Macklin Celebrini deflecting a point shot from Colorado Avalanche defenceman Cale Makar to open the game. It was a moment to remember for the 19-year-old Celebrini, who was skating on a line with Connor McDavid and Tom Wilson to kick things off. Canada continued to press in the second period, with Vegas Golden Knights teammates Mitch Marner and Mark Stone connecting on a goal thanks to a nifty backhand saucer pass from Marner for an easy tap-in for Stone. New York Islanders forward Bo Horvat scored a breakaway goal near the end of the second frame to extend the lead to 3-0.

In the third period, Canada put the finishing touches on the game and never gave Czechia a chance to get back into it. McDavid picked up his second and third assists of the game, first on a power play where he sent it across the crease for a back-door tap-in from Nathan MacKinnon. Then, he found Montreal Canadiens forward Nick Suzuki at even strength for the 5-0 goal. It’s no secret that a Canada team that boasts McDavid, MacKinnon, and Sidney Crosby down the middle is going to be a tough customer, but it was somewhat surprising to see a Czechia team featuring the likes of David Pastrnak, Martin Necas, and Tomas Hertl, fail to find the back of the net.

Canada will be back in action on Friday as they look to keep their momentum up against Team Switzerland. From a Toronto Maple Leafs standpoint, Auston Matthews and Team USA will take on Team Latvia on Thursday afternoon, with William Nylander, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Team Sweden back in action early Friday morning against their Scandanavian rivals in Team Finland.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/olympic-hockey-canada-pounds-czechia-5-0-tournament-opener

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Olympic Hockey: Auston Matthews scores in USA’s 5-1 win over Latvia

The United States’ men’s hockey team opened up their tournament on Friday afternoon, handily beating Team Latvia 5-1 to kick things off at the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games.

Toronto Maple Leafs and Team USA captain Auston Matthews wasn’t the most noticeable player on the ice, but he did find the back of the net in the first game of the tournament. Ottawa Senators forward Brady Tkachuk opened things up in the first period, scoring with assists from his brother, Matthew, and Columbus Blue Jackets defenceman Zach Werenski. A little over two minutes later, Latvia evened things up with a goal from Renars Krastenbergs assisted by Tampa Bay Lightning forward Zemgus Girgensons, but that would be the extent of Latvia’s competitiveness in the game.

The States opened things up in the second period, with two goals from Brock Nelson, who is having a career year with the Colorado Avalanche and on pace for 40 goals in 2025-26. The first one was a power play marker, assisted by Jack Hughes and Vincent Trocheck, and the second was at even-strength, also assisted by Hughes and Matthew Tkachuk. Sandwiched in between those two goals was another power play marker from Tage Thompson, assisted by Jack Eichel and Quinn Hughes.

In the third period, Matthews scored under three minutes into the frame on the power play with assists coming from Eichel and Hughes. It was his first goal of the tournament and effectively put the cap on any potential comeback from Team Latvia. Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck got the start in the team’s first game and stopped 17 of 18 shots, with a less pretty but admirable effort coming from Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Arturs Silovs for Latvia, with 31 saves on 36 shots.

Matthews and the States will be back in action on Saturday when they face Denmark, while Canada will square off against Team Switzerland on Friday afternoon. William Nylander, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Team Sweden will duke it out against Team Finland early Friday morning.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/olympic-hockey-auston-matthews-scores-usa-5-1-win-latvia

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Curtis Joseph is a big fan of Jordan Binnington’s swagger: Leafs Morning Take

Team Canada’s off to a tremendous start in Milan.

Jon Cooper’s squad looked extremely connected in their tournament beatdown of Czechia, something that can’t be said about Sweden. There’s a ton of dysfunction surrounding that team early in the tournament. What exactly is their coach doing?

At any rate, we spent the first 25 minutes of the show doing a Milan Games roundtable —featuring our guy Zack Phillips. We broke down Canada’s dissection of Czechia, plus looked ahead to the second half of their back-to-back against Switzerland. Connor McDavid had three apples. He had amazing chemistry with Macklin Celebrini. Canada had different goal scorers, 11 players notched at least one point. Meantime, Jordan Binnington, who’s looking to silence the critics yet again, made 26 stops to kick off his Milan Games with a shutout.

All in all, it’s been a pretty fascinating start to the men’s tournament. Slovakia upset Finland, then Finland beat Sweden. Team USA cruised to a 5-1 win in their opener. Auston Matthews buried in his Olympic debut. William Nylander’s off to a hot start, too, even though he hasn’t been practicing. We did spend some time discussing the potential fallout once he returns to the Maple Leafs. For the past month or so, dating back to the game in Vegas, Nylander’s been dealing with a groin issue. Speaking of the Swedes, their coach has it out for Oliver Ekman-Larsson, which from a Leafs perspective, could be a blessing. OEL dressed for Sweden’s opener, but didn’t take one single shift. He logged just under eight minutes in their loss to Finland. Bizarre stuff, but as expected, the 2024 Stanley Cup champion has handled everything like a pro.

After letting Zack go from the show, 2002 Canadian Olympian and former Maple Leaf great netminder Curtis Joseph stopped by the show for the first time ever. He was awesome. Firstly, Cujo weighed in on Canada’s opener, and most specifically, Binnington’s performance. After that, we got into some Leafs talk. He dished on the crease and what he would do with it. We even turned back the clock to 2002 when Pat Quinn – his coach with the Leafs – was the head coach of Team Canada’s Salt Lake City team. Curtis discussed the politics behind the scenes. Since we were at it, I even asked Cujo about his infamous on-ice clash with legendary NHL referee Mick McGeough in the 2000 Stanley Cup Playoffs. To wrap, looking at the daunting task ahead for Craig Berube and company, Joseph thinks the Leafs have what it takes to get back in the mix. He likes their brand and their style.

Leafs Morning Take will return with two more episodes next week as we continue our coverage of the 2026 Milan Games.

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/cur...jordan-binningtons-swagger-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Olympic Hockey: Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon lead Canada’s rout of Switzerland

A collection of talent that includes Connor McDavid and Nathan MacKinnon can often feel unfair, and the NHL’s leading scorers put on a clinic Friday afternoon.

McDavid and MacKinnon both finished with three points, leading Canada to a 5-1 victory over Switzerland. The pair connected for the game’s opening goal, when MacKinnon found McDavid with a perfect pass, and the Edmonton Oilers captain made no mistake on the power play. McDavid was the most dominant player on the ice for the second consecutive night, and set up Thomas Harley off the rush for an insurance goal later in the first frame.

Pius Suter cut into Canada’s lead on the power play, after Bo Horvat was called for high-sticking. It was all the offence that Switzerland could generate against a loaded Canadian team that rolled four lines with ease.

Macklin Celebrini scored his second goal of the tournament, depositing a quick backhand feed from MacKinnon to extend Canada’s lead to 3-1, four minutes and 14 seconds into the second period. Sidney Crosby added to the lead, deflecting a pass from Mitch Marner, while Mark Stone occupied J.J. Moser in front of the net.

And the story of the game effectively wrote itself, as MacKinnon tacked on another goal 13 minutes into the final frame, assisted by McDavid. MacKinnon was bumped up to the first line alongside Celebrini and McDavid, while Tom Wilson took shifts with Brandon Hagel and Nick Suzuki.

Logan Thompson was stellar when called upon for Canada, but it almost certainly appears that Jordan Binnington will start in goal for the remainder of the tournament.

Switzerland’s Kevin Fiala was taken off the ice on a stretcher with just under three minutes remaining in the third period. Fiala accidentally collided with Tom Wilson and crumpled to the ice.

In other Group A action, Czechia defeated France 6-3. During the early slate, Finland defeated Sweden 4-1, while Slovakia toppled Italy 3-2.

Canada resumes preliminary action against France on Sunday afternoon, sitting atop the group.

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/oly...avid-nathan-mackinnon-canada-rout-switzerland

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

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

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

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

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

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

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

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

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

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

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

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

Here’s the very latest from around the NHL:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Montreal Canadiens could include Patrik Laine in trade offers​

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

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

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

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

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

Quick hits from around the NHL​

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

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

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

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

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

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leafs Morning Take will return with another episode later on this week.

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/aus...afs-need-to-see-more-often-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

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

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

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

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

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

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

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

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

PRESENTED BY DAILY FACEOFF’S OLYMPIC COVERAGE​

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

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

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

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

Mitch Marner did it again for Canada.

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

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

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

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

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

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