RSS Maple Leafs Team Notes

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

2025 TLN Maple Leafs Prospect Rankings: #3 Dennis Hildeby

The TLN Maple Leafs prospect rankings were compiled by a panel of seven TLN writers, each ranking our top 20 prospects to form a consensus group ranking.
Rather than hard and fast limits on age or NHL games played to determine “prospect” eligibility, our group decided on a more nuanced approach to include any reasonably young player who is either under contract with the Leafs or on the club’s reserve list, who has not yet established himself as a full-time NHLer.
Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Dennis Hildeby is kind of in a weird spot right now.
The 24-year-old from Jarfalla, Sweden, has now spent two seasons in North America, with varied levels of success. He was instantly one of the AHL’s top goaltenders in 2023-24, earning a spot in the league’s all-star game. But his numbers took a step back (albeit, not a big one) in 2024-25, and his NHL starts were underwhelming at best.
Still, there are plenty of reasons to be excited about Hildeby as a goaltending prospect. Drafted as a triple overager in 2022, Hildeby didn’t get a ton of starts at a young age and had to play a bit of catch-up. But his numbers in the top Swedish league in 2022-23 were promising, and when he continued with his hot play with the Marlies two years ago, people were intrigued.
Hildeby started slow in the AHL, and was even outplayed by rookie Artur Akhtyamov. But things started to turn around in the second half, with the 6-foot-7 monster giving the Leafs something to think about in the long term. Hildeby also outperformed two-time Stanley Cup champion Matt Murray, who served as somewhat of a mentor in the three-goalie rotation.
It was good to see Hildeby get the call-up early in the NHL, learning alongside Joseph Woll while Anthony Stolarz was injured. Sure, Hildeby struggled, but so few don’t when they’re first called up. The fact that Hildeby bounced back to close out the year was important for his development and proving to people that he can get the job done.
It’s hard to find goalies with a 6-foot-7 frame like Hildeby. But he’s more than just a big dude. His ability to push off quickly in his crease with little effort allows him to get himself where he needs to be. Hildeby has active footwork and some quick hands, too. He is prone to some mid-level shots beating him below the glove, but we’ve seen some progress there over the past two years. The size obviously helps cover the top of the net, but he doesn’t rely on it as much as he used to at a younger age in Sweden.
As for the biggest technical improvements? His positioning.
“He’s a big goaltender but often relied too much on reflexes,” one scout said. “He seemed to calm down as the (2024-25) season wore on and let his frame do most of the work. He wasn’t chasing after pucks as frequently.”
Hildeby needs starts, and the Leafs need to prioritize playing time with him at Coca-Cola Coliseum. With Stolarz around for another year, there’s still plenty of time for Hildeby to continue his development at his own pace. But the pressure is truly on for the first time ever. If Stolarz establishes himself as the team’s true No. 1 over Woll, that could lead to the team sticking with the tandem moving forward, and therefore pushing Hildeby out of the equation.
Hildeby will be in his third AHL season. Not many high-profile goaltending prospects last that long. Hildeby isn’t in the upper tier of netminding prospects, but there is genuine upside here.
If Stolarz is just fine, or doesn’t find a way to secure the starter’s gig, it’ll be easier for Hildeby to come in as the backup for 2026-27 and learn alongside Woll. Hildeby is still a restricted free agent – if he signs a multi-year deal, that’s a good sign that the team still thinks he’s capable of becoming an NHL backup.
For now, I have full belief he’ll be the No. 1 with the Marlies. He’ll have to share the net with Akhtyamov again, with 30-year-old Ken Appleby being the designated veteran support option. He had fantastic numbers in Charlotte last year, but he’s not going to be Toronto’s No. 1. That, by all measures, is Hildeby’s to lose.
As Toronto’s top goaltending prospect, plenty of eyes will be on Hildeby this season. He’ll be the first goaltender called up in case of an injury to Stolarz or Woll (something that happened to both goaltenders last year), and he’ll need to thrive right from the get-go. But now that he has the sophomore jitters out of the way, Hildeby will have the best opportunity of his career to show the Leafs’ development brass he’s the real deal. It’s unlikely Hildeby will ever be an NHL starter, but becoming a reliable backup is absolutely priority No. 1.
If all else fails, don’t expect Hildeby to sit this high next summer.



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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/2025-tln-maple-leafs-prospect-rankings-3-dennis-hildeby

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

What does a successful 2025-26 season look like for Joseph Woll?

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Joseph Woll took another step in his growth to become one of the better goalies in the NHL today.

Platooning with Anthony Stolarz could have caused his confidence to take a hit, but Woll instead embraced his new teammate as the two were able to find success splitting the starts. The option was not always available to Craig Berube given that both of his netminders missed time due to injuries, but the Leafs during the regular season felt good about the crease regardless of who was getting the start. Some may argue that Stolarz was the better of the two, but Woll did well in managing a busy stretch mid-campaign and helped guide the Leafs to Game 7 against the Florida Panthers.

Sure, the Leafs were able to reach that decisive game against the eventual Stanley Cup champions, but it was never close in part because Woll was letting five get past him. In fact, Woll had the second-worst Goals Saved Above Expected/60 of any goaltender that played four or more games in the postseason and finished with a .886 playoff save percentage. There will certainly be pressure on him to regain his composure, but Woll is willing to embrace the noise and grow from the experience.

“I’ve had a unique experience of only playing for this team, so I can’t really speak from an experience of playing for a different team,” he said to reporters on May 20. “But I know that there’s nowhere I’d rather play, and I’m happy how much people care. And it really makes you have to focus that much harder and really be in the moment that much more when you have that pressure. The flip side is, you don’t have pressure, and no one cares. I think it’s pretty awesome that everyone cares as much.”

The goal: Stay healthy and continue to grow​

Concerns about Woll’s durability have persisted since he became an NHL regular, and they were not dispelled when he suffered a lower-body injury the day before the opening night of the 2024-25 regular season. He was thankfully able to stay healthy the rest of the way once he returned on October 24th, but there will be some who will need to see him avoid being on the shelf for a long stretch of time before subsiding their concerns.

When Woll was playing, he was quite effective. Only once over the course of the year did he have three consecutive sub-.900 save percentage games, while there was only one instance in the regular season where he was pulled. Yet, he was not the Game 1 starter of the playoffs in part because of the technical issues of overcommitment and adjusting to being a more effective cheater when a pass goes east and west. He struggled with cross-crease passes in proximity of his cage because of his insistence on making the dramatic save instead of calmly adjusting his body to prepare for the subsequent shots.

That will be an area he needs to work on if he wishes to regain trust from parts of the fanbase who are more in favour of Stolarz, the latter of whom is entering the year on an expiring deal. The Leafs have a lot of faith in Woll and his former teammates can attest that he is capable of reaching the next level, but he will have to show he can get there and grow into the player the front office thinks he can be. Doing that while staying healthy will make for a successful campaign for the 27-year-old.

The expectation: Thrive in the goalie rotation alongside Anthony Stolarz

Make no mistake, the Leafs’ goaltending is the best it has been in quite some time and Woll is a big part of why that is the case. The fact that he is the first one since James Reimer to be an impactful player who was drafted and developed by the team is an added bonus. While there is still room to grow for the American netminder, he is coming off a season where his stats were in the upper half of the league.

He and Stolarz should once again be sharing the net and pushing each other to reach new heights. Both will certainly have plenty of motivation to prove that their strong season a year ago was not just a one-time thing but something that can be sustainable for years to come. And assuming Stolarz gets extended in the near future, then there is no reason to believe that the Leafs will set at the position for the foreseeable future with Woll being a big part of it.

Apart from the pressures of shaking off the less-than-ideal showing in the postseason, there will also be increased expectations placed on Woll’s shoulders as his three-year contract with a $3.66 million AAV kicks in beginning this campaign. There is enough evidence before 2025 that suggests Woll is more than capable of elevating his play in the postseason and fans should feel good about his chance of rebounding. Especially now that he has gotten the hang of Berube’s system and the depth in front of him has improved.

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/what-does-successful-2025-26-season-look-like-joseph-woll

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews tied for 5th in NHL 26 centre rankings

One of the National Hockey League’s premier scorers is among the best players in the world, both in real life and in the video game landscape.

On Wednesday, EA Sports released its top 10 highest-rated centres in NHL 26, the 35th edition of the premier hockey video game franchise. Among the stars of the show, Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is tied for fifth with an overall rating of 94.

McDavid sits alone at 97 OVR in #NHL26.
Matthews, MacKinnon, Draisaitl… who’s closing the gap?
See more Ratings: https://t.co/1ZOOUJeVAz pic.twitter.com/tTHi8pov5m

— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 27, 2025

Matthews is tied with longtime Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby and Vegas Golden Knights forward Jack Eichel. All three of them trail Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid, who’s the No. 1 overall player in the new game with a 97 rating. Matthews is also tied with Boston Bruins sniper David Pastrnak, Winnipeg Jets goaltender Connor Hellebuyck and Minnesota Wild forward Kirill Kaprizov for the eighth-highest-rated player in NHL 26.

This year’s score is a slight step down for Matthews, who had an overall rating of 95 in NHL 25.

Among the 27-year-old’s specific attributes, his wrist shot power stands out, as that skill has a 95 rating, with an accuracy of 94. The sniper from Arizona also has a slapshot power of 92, with 93 accuracy. Matthews also has an impressive 94 rating for puck control, with his deking also up to a 93. Along with his offensive gifts, Matthews possesses a defencive awareness rating of 92.

Matthews is one of two Leafs in the top 20 of this year’s game. Forward William Nylander, ranked as the fifth-best right-winger, is tied for 19th with an overall rating of 92.

The 2024-25 season wasn’t an easy one for Matthews. Injuries led the Leafs’ star to miss 15 games during the regular season, scoring a career-low 33 goals, with his 78 points being his lowest production in a “normal season” since the 2018-19 campaign. Matthews managed to score 11 points in 13 appearances during the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

EA Sports player ratings help determine the quality of each player in the league, which in turn affects their abilities on the ice during gameplay, as well as their performance in modes such as Season, Franchise, and Be a Pro.

NHL 26 will be released on Sept. 12 on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. Those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition can gain early access as early as Sept. 5.



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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-auston-matthews-tied-fifth-nhl-26

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Chris Tanev says people have stopped him at airport thinking he’s Blue Jays’ Kevin Gausman

It’s a fun time to be a Toronto sports fan at the moment. More specifically, a Toronto Blue Jays fan.

If you’re a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, there’s a good chance that you direct your attention to the Blue Jays when the season ends, and while the Jays have hit some bumps in the road just like their NHL counterpart, they’re giving their fans a treat in the summer of 2025. They currently own the best record in the AL and are chasing down the division title for the first time since 2015, hoping to capture some of the magic from the playoff run the team had that year.

Summer vacation or not, the Maple Leafs will always find a way to work themselves into news headlines, and this time, it comes in the form of an unexpected cross promotion.

Maple Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev, who was in attendance for the Blue Jays’ thrilling comeback win over the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night, joined Lindsay Dunn and Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman for a chat. He told her that people have stopped him in public thinking he was Gausman.

“People have stopped me at the airport thinking I’m him”: Leafs’ Chris Tanev & Jays’ Pitcher Kevin Gausman on people saying they look alike: #BlueJays #Leafs pic.twitter.com/lAeQqmx1p8

— Lindsay Dunn (@LindsayDunnTV) August 29, 2025

“People are so excited and then they see me and they’re not as excited as if it was Gaus.” Tanev joked.

While Gausman’s never been confused for Tanev in Toronto, he says it’s not the first time he’s heard that he resembles the Maple Leafs’ defenceman.

“When we revealed the City Connects, that was the first time someone had told me that. My first thought was that it’s gotta be the hair.” Gausman added.

While the Maple Leafs and Blue Jays have both had their struggles in recent years, it’s hard to deny that there are few better vibes than the one surrounding Toronto when their sports teams are thriving. A Blue Jays playoff run timed perfectly with the return of the NHL season and Leafs hockey is music to the ears of Toronto sports fans. Gausman and the Blue Jays will look to make that a reality over the final month of the season as the Maple Leafs ramp up training camp activities in the meantime.

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/chr...pped-thinking-toronto-blue-jays-kevin-gausman

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

What does a successful 2025-26 season look like for Scott Laughton?

It seems obvious that both Scott Laughton and Brad Treliving are looking forward to hitting a reset on Laughton’s time as a Toronto Maple Leaf. After dealing a first round pick and an interesting prospect (Nikita Grebenkin) for a half priced Laughton under the assumption that Laughton was the solution to the Leafs’ third line centre woes, Laughton instead slid down to the fourth line for much of his time as a Maple Leaf and put up just four points in 20 regular season games, followed by two points in 13 playoff games. This is Laughton producing at about half his career offensive output rate.

Laughton was brought in to accomplish two things, the first being that he could move the bottom six towards a more physical style of play and replace centres like David Kampf or Pontus Holmberg as the forechecking alternative to the shot suppression approach that dominated the Sheldon Keefe years. Whether that is the right approach or not can be debated but as far as delivering on the physical play asked of a Leafs’ bottom six forward, Laughton met that goal.

The second goal was the provide some offence and allow the Leafs to finally say goodbye to using Max Domi as a centre except when injuries call for him to step in. And while Domi didn’t see much time at centre after Laughton arrived, Laughton was in no way an offensive catalyst and that should have been somewhat expected based on the fact that Laughton’s goals come primarily within a few feet of the goal line and creating plays hasn’t been a strong suit for Laughton either having a career best for assists in 2023-24 with 26.

The Goal: Laughton is a 40-point third line centre

This goal is a relatively simple one because all that it is asking is that Laughton deliver on what his two previous seasons what his past three seasons with the Flyers looked like and if he can hover around the 40-point mark the Leafs will have some strong secondary scoring to help offset the departure of Marner.

The goal is both more and less attainable because of the presence of Nicolas Roy.

Roy should very much be the Leafs third line centre and some optimists out there might even make a case for Roy being able to push for second line responsibilities if Tavares moving to the wing becomes a reality.

From a pure depth chart perspective, Laughton is the Leafs’ fourth line centre but there is a very real possibility that fourth line will look very much like a third line and with the exception of Knies, Matthews, and Nylander, there is a very good chance that most Leafs forwards will see balanced icetime in 5v5 situations anyway. Laughton might not be on the third line as written but expecting him to land in the top nine of Leafs forwards for average time on ice at 5v5 is realistic.

From the offence perspective, Laughton could find himself playing on both sides of special teams as well. With ten career shorthanded goals and the Leafs preferring to play aggressively on the penalty kill, there is a good opportunity for Laughton there, but more notably Laughton has the potential to fill the Matthew Knies type of forechecking/net presence role of the top powerplay unit on the secondary unit.

While the Leafs top unit has and will continue to be Toronto’s bread and butter on the powerplay, Laughton adds to a growing number of secondary options and might be the natural choice for the line’s centre spot.

The Expectation: Kill penalties and hit everything that moves

Laughton didn’t decide what the Leafs would give up for him and shouldn’t carry the burden of a mortgaged future for another failed playoff run. Laughton has been remarkably consistent as a 30-40 point bottom sixer (who can guest star in the top six on the wing) that is defensively reliable throughout his career and there is a good chance he’ll continue to play that way.

If Laughton helps keep the Leafs penalty kill on track, adds to the Leafs ability to roll four responsible lines, and makes Toronto a little more physically imposing in the process he’ll have done his job.

Laughton will be the Leafs’ most physical option up the middle this season and that skill set may establish endear him to his coach and GM.

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/what-does-successful-2025-26-season-look-like-scott-laughton

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

What does a successful 2025-26 season look like for Morgan Rielly?

If it weren’t for Mitch Marner and the way his time in Toronto ended, Morgan Rielly would easily be the most polarizing player among the Maple Leafs’ fanbase.

Drafted fifth overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the 2012 NHL Draft, Rielly entered the NHL as a 19-year-old and never looked back. Although he was advertised as an offensive defenceman when the Leafs selected him, his offensive potential was held back in his first few seasons as the team was in a rebuilding stage and the team wanted him to concentrate on developing his game. His breakout season came in the form of a 52-point year in 2017-18. The following year he rose to stardom with 20 goals and 72 points in 82 games, and since then, it’s been a rollercoaster of emotions.

Ever since the COVID-altered 2020-21 season, Rielly has sort of been operating on a good-year, bad-year basis. Before I go over his annual point totals, it’s important to look at this in context – Rielly still very much relies on his offensive game for the crux of his strengths. His defensive awareness has improved over the years, but he still has the mental gaffes that prevent him from getting that two-way title.

In 2021-22, he had ten goals and 68 points in 82 games. The following year, he dipped down to 41 points. In 2023-24, his point total rose again, with 58 points in 72 games, and then he dropped back down to 41 last season. An interesting note about his season-by-season performance is that in each of his last two ‘struggle’ seasons, being last year and 2022-23, the Maple Leafs advanced to the second round and he found his offensive game in the playoffs. He had four goals and 12 points in 11 games in 2022-23 and four goals en route to seven points in 13 games in 2024-25.

At this point, fans have come to expect the inconsistency from Rielly, but that’s not where the polarization comes from. It comes from the contract he’s signed to in addition to the inconsistency. He inked a eight-year contract in October 2021 worth $7.5 million annually, which he’s worth if he’s recording 60+ points, but when his past few seasons have been of such a yin and yang nature, it makes it harder to stomach the number during the bad times. Plus-minus isn’t a good category to judge a player at face value with, but it can’t fully be ignored. His minus-8 was the worst on the team last season, and he still lacks the ability to carry a pairing on his own, which is why it’s been so hard to find him a consistent partner.

The other side of the polarization is the fact that, in an era of Maple Leafs hockey where people who want to play in Toronto are valued even if it comes at the expense of skill when compared to other players, Rielly has been the face of the guys who just get it. Although his contract seems inflated when he plays poorly, it came in at a number that was probably below what he would have gotten on the open market, especially since he went on to record 68 points after signing it. He’s always spoken highly about the honour it is to play for the Leafs, and he’s never expressed a desire to go anywhere else. When you look past his shortcomings, he’s at the top of the list of guys you’d want to see hoist a Stanley Cup.

While the Maple Leafs’ defensive corps has undergone minor renovations every year since he’s been here, this time the Leafs have a strong defensive corps and one that’s entering the 2025-26 season looking the exact same as it did the year before, at least post-deadline. One hopes the familiarity will work in Rielly’s favour this season, and he can continue his trend of up-down-up-down with a rebound year offensively.

The expectation: Lead defencemen in scoring and be a contributor on the power play

If nothing else, Rielly should be expected to lead the team’s defensive corps in scoring, and if he can get back to being a regular contributor on the power play, that would do wonders for both him and the rest of the team. The Maple Leafs’ power play has been frustratingly inconsistent in recent years, especially for a team that’s so stacked with offensive talent, but his lack of a booming slap shot from the point has worked against him. Still, he has the vision and the playmaking to provide more than what he has recently, and if he can find a way to get pucks to the net and and let the guys in front of the net take care of business, it will help his confidence in a big way.

The goal: Crack 60 points

Once you have a 60-point season as a defenceman, the expectation going forward is that you’re capable of repeating it. Rielly has shown he’s capable of this on three different occasions, with his 72 points in 2018-19, his 68 points in 2021-22, and his 58 points in 72 games in 2023-24, which he would have cracked 60 had he stayed healthy.

With the Maple Leafs swinging a deal for shutdown righty Brandon Carlo at the trade deadline last season, Rielly will have a full training camp to skate with a partner who can be trusted in his own zone and hopefully open up some opportunity for him to get back into the rush and thrive where he’s most comfortable. If this leads to another strong offensive season, fans will be much more forgiving of the defensive gaffes.

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/what-does-successful-2025-26-season-look-like-for-morgan-rielly

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

What does a successful 2025-26 season look like for Calle Jarnkrok?

If there’s anyone on the Toronto Maple Leafs who could use a bounce-back season in 2025-26, Calle Jarnkrok tops the list.

The veteran forward appeared in just 19 regular season games last year, scoring just one goal and adding six assists. Jarnkrok missed the majority of the regular season after undergoing groin and sports hernia surgery thanks to a training-camp injury. Unfortunately for Jarnkrok and the Leafs, once he returned to the lineup in the late stages of the season, he could never catch up and get back to his ‘normal’ self.

Jarnkrok would go on to appear in 12 Stanley Cup Playoff games, and while he had some great defensive games alongside Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz on the Leafs make-shift newfound fourth line, Jarnkrok wasn’t able to consistently produce on both sides of the puck. He chipped in with just one assists in 12 postseason games. It was quite the fall from grace after he was slated to start the season on Craig Berube’s second line alongside Max Domi and William Nylander. Now, heading into next season, Jarnkrok is in a battle for a job among the Leafs’ bottom six.

The 33-year-old native of Gavle, Sweden is entering the final season of his contract, earning $2.1 million against the cap. Jarnkrok owns a 10-team no-trade clause throughout this season, however, because of the injury last season and not really ever getting his legs back to 100%, his trade value couldn’t be much less at the moment. Don’t expect to see general manager Brad Treliving move Jarnkrok during training camp, even though there’s a log jam up front for the Maple Leafs. Nick Robertson is a much likelier trade candidate at this point just given his age and potential untapped upside which other teams will gravitate towards.

The goal: Solidify himself a spot on right wing on the top line​

With Mitch Marner departing, Jarnkrok has a golden opportunity to play alongside Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews. Jarnkrok isn’t a complete stranger to Matthews’ wing, as he’s seen moments throughout his Leafs’ tenure on the top line, and with his speed, work ethic, and fast release, has produced in the past.

Jarnkrok will have to fend off Max Domi, who is likely to get a serious look on the top line as well. Both players are versatile to play either wing or down the middle, which makes them valuable to Berube, but this will be one of the more entertaining internal competitions at training camp.

The expectation: Checking role alongside Lorentz and Laughton​

While playing 20 minutes a night on the top line should be Jarnkrok’s goal, the more realistic expectation for the veteran forward is to become a regular on Berube’s checking line alongside Lorentz and Laughton. Jarnkrok should be worried about outworking the other team’s top lines, and shutting down their offence during their defensive matchups.

In an ideal world, Jarnkrok scores 15 goals and plays 15 minutes a night on the Leafs fourth line, thanks to being one of the first options to jump over the boards on the penalty kill. With Marner going, Jarnkrok is going to need to step up even more shorthanded, as he’ll be one of the leaders for the Maple Leafs’ PK.

With Jarnkrok’s ability to play centre in the past, keep an eye on how Nicolas Roy is doing throughout the early stages of the season, and the same can be said about Laughton, in his first full season in Toronto. If either of these centres get off to a slow start, Jarnkrok could slide to the middle and give Berube another right-handed pivot option.

The 2025-26 season is essentially a make-or-break year for Jarnkrok. Solidify himself a role on this team, and land another long-term contract to stick around in Toronto. Struggle again for the second season in a row, and Jarnkrok’s going to be in his mid 30’s, looking for a new team next summer, and likely settling for a one-year deal.

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/what-does-successful-2025-26-look-calle-jarnkrok

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Recapping The Leafs Nation’s top 20 Maple Leafs prospects

The countdown is complete and to the absolute shock of no one, Easton Cowan was named the Toronto Maple Leafs’ top prospect in the system.

The exercise of ranking the Leafs prospects was incredibly interesting as Toronto truly has Cowan and Ben Danford as two exciting skater prospects, there are two goaltenders that could pan out for the Maple Leafs, and then there are a bunch of green prospects, potential NCAA found wallets, and some scattered reasons for excitement.

For the most part the prospect pool consists of potential bottom of the lineup options and injury replacement players. And while more star talent is always the dream, this pipeline meets the immediate needs of the Leafs and aligns with what you see from other perennial contenders around the NHL.

Here’s the full list of prospects who made the list:

20. Borya Valis​

From Alex Hobson:

What gives Valis a potential edge over some of his counterparts is the fact that his style of game suits that of a high-floor prospect, even if there’s not a huge ceiling. He already has the coveted size that the Maple Leafs appear to be after under general manager Brad Treliving, standing at 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, and his bang-and-crash style of game makes him a call-up candidate for the Leafs should they run into any injury issues. It’s the same reason we’ve seen players like Bobby McMann earn their call-up and eventual NHL residency over smaller, all-offence players who wouldn’t necessarily work in a fourth line role.

19. Hudson Malinoski​

From Alex Hobson:

Like most young centre prospects, Malinoski has some impressive playmaking abilities but will need to improve his defensive game and add some strength if he wants to stick out a lengthy pro career. Standing at 6-foot-1 and 174 pounds, He’s got good size for his age but will need to put on some muscle if he wants to not only make it to the pros, but stay there. Still, the fact that he lost so much development time bodes well for his ceiling.

18. Cade Webber​

From Arun Srinivasan:

There hasn’t been a standout quality to Webber’s game, aside from his willingness to throw his body in front of pucks. Webber recorded a goal and seven points in 60 regular season games during his first AHL season with the Marlies, and did not register a point in two playoff games. Offensive production simply isn’t his ticket to the NHL. He is a true stay-at-home defenceman but in the modern era, you need to have at least some facsimile of production, unless you’re constantly winning puck battles and possession share.

17. Sam McCue​

From Jon Steitzer:

Not surprising is that McCue’s size is how he finds success offensively in the OHL. He’s a tank. He rolls over opponents, he claims his space in front of the net, and he’s a battler. He’s capable of making space for his linemates and checks all the boxes of a budding power forward.

16. Nick Moldenhauer​

From Arun Srinivasan:

The 21-year-old is an undersized offensive winger who makes up for it with outstanding speed. Moldenhauer is gifted with the puck, but it’s going to be more difficult to find the time and space he craves at the NHL level, and he needs to continuously hound down pucks if he’s going to make an impact as a professional. Moldenhauer finished tied for 14th in scoring last season with Michigan — for comparision, 2025 first-round pick Will Horcoff also recorded 10 points, in 11 fewer games.

15. William Belle​

From Michael Mazzei:

Belle’s signature attribute is motor and his eagerness to be heavy on the forecheck, either with hits or disrupting the breakout. He takes pride in that being part of his repertoire as it is when he feels he is at his best when he is being a physical presence and wearing down the opposition.

14. Ryan Tverberg​

From Jon Steitzer:

At 23 years of age and in the final year of his entry deal, there is unquestionably a need to see some progress back towards the offence in Tverberg’s game. He’s still a hard worker, he still has speed to burn, but without attention grabbing numbers in the AHL and as a seventh round pick made under Dubas and Clark, Tverberg faces an uphill battle.

13. Victor Johansson​

From Filipe Dimas:

The increase in size, scoring, and grit earned Johansson plenty of attention from both his club and international scouts. He earned a brief call up to Leskands’ senior team in the Swedish Hockey League where he played five games. Despite putting up 0 points during his stint in the SHL, and logging as little as 2 minutes of ice time during some of the games, it’s important to recognize how rare it is for young players to get an opportunity in Sweden’s senior league.

12. Topi Niemela​

From Jon Steitzer:

There is also the fact that Niemela often gets labelled as an offensive defenceman or solely as a puckmover and while Niemela’s control of the puck is a big part of what makes him a sound prospect, his strong positional play and quickness in winning races to the puck have made him a multi-dimensional asset. The drawback is that he doesn’t have the size or strength in puck battles and as a net presence or in corner battles where Niemela doesn’t arrive first, he struggles and with these being key attributes of Leafs defencemen, it is safe to say that the 2020 3rd round pick has begun to fall out of favour.

11. Jacob Quillan​

From Nick Richard:

Quillan was a bit of a Swiss army knife for head coach John Gruden, playing up and down the lineup, and helping to tilt the ice in his team’s favour while chipping in with some secondary scoring, but he got more productive as the season progressed. He posted just one goal and three assists in his first 21 games of the season, but he put together a six-game point streak in December and took off from there with an increased role down the stretch, finishing his rookie year in the AHL with 18 goals and 19 assists in 67 games.

10. Luke Haymes​

From Alex Hobson:

Factor in his goal-scoring knack complemented by his NHL-ready shot, and he’s got good defensive instincts too? Safe to say that if he gets off to a good start with the Marlies, he’ll be one of the first people to look at. And who knows? The Maple Leafs have tons of depth options right now, to the point where it’s a bit of a good problem, but the volume of candidates for the bottom-six also means that it’s entirely up to the player as to who runs away with the job.

9. William Villeneuve​

From Michael Mazzei:

Villeneuve found his footing offensively with 40 points (four goals and 36 assists) in 55 games played along with two assists in two playoff games. A big part of what helped him explode on the offensive size of the ice is his hockey IQ and strong awareness of where to send the puck, as he does well in spotting an open skater to either start the breakout or create a rush-scoring chance.

8. Miroslav Holinka​

From Jon Steitzer:

Holinka’s first year in North America went statistically well. He didn’t put up obscene numbers you’d hope to see from a forward in their post draft year but adjusted well to the new situation on a middle of the road iteration of the Edmonton Oil Kings. Holinka also continued his success in international play, again not taking on a star power type place in the lineup, but showing that he can be reliable contributor.

7. Tinus Luc Koblar​

From Arun Srinivasan:

Koblar is one of the youngest players in the 2025 class, celebrating his 18th birthday on July 21. The 6-foot-3, 187-pound centre posted eight goals and 21 points for Leksands IF of the Swedish Junior League during the 2024-25 campaign, which aren’t eye-popping numbers, but Koblar did post four goals in seven playoff games and appeared to show continual, major improvement as a scorer during the second half of the year.

6. Tyler Hopkins​

From Nick Richard:

The attention to detail that Hopkins showed in defensive zone coverage, supporting the puck, and effectively utilizing his teammates helped him quickly earn the trust of the Frontenacs’ coaching staff, propelling him to more prominent minutes for the rest of the 2024-25 season. He became a reliable and sneakily dangerous penalty killer, took a regular shift on Kingston’s second power play unit, and finished his draft year with 20 goals and 31 assists in 67 games.

5. Artur Akhtyamov​

From Filipe Dimas:

While his numbers regressed to a more sustainable average over the course of the rest of the season, finishing the year with an 11-8-4 record and a .901 save percentage, the regular flashes of brilliance from a goaltender who’s still only 23 years old has left many wondering if goaltending has suddenly become a position of noticeable strength for the Maple Leafs organization.

4. Noah Chadwick​

From Filipe Dimas:

Defensively, he’s not afraid to use the size found in his 6-foot-4 frame to cut off angles and finish checks but does noticeably play without the sort of snarl one would expect from a defender who towers over most of the opposition, especially in the WHL where many younger players can be significantly smaller. If Chadwick is to make the jump to the NHL, learning to take full advantage of his size both with and without the puck will be an asset moving forward.

3. Dennis Hildeby​

From Steven Ellis:

It’s hard to find goalies with a 6-foot-7 frame like Hildeby. But he’s more than just a big dude. His ability to push off quickly in his crease with little effort allows him to get himself where he needs to be. Hildeby has active footwork and some quick hands, too. He is prone to some mid-level shots beating him below the glove, but we’ve seen some progress there over the past two years. The size obviously helps cover the top of the net, but he doesn’t rely on it as much as he used to at a younger age in Sweden.

2. Ben Danford​

From Arun Srinivasan:

Danford told reporters at this summer’s development camp that he’s looking to emulate Chris Tanev’s game. It’s not a bad comparison for a strong puck-mover with strong skating ability, but his offensive game continues to be work in progress. And he should receive plenty of opportunities to test his game against elite-level peers. Danford is projected to make Canada’s World Juniors roster, where he could operate as a shutdown defender in a third-pair role.

1. Easton Cowan​

From Steven Ellis:

Cowan is very tenacious. When he’s at his best, especially in the playoffs, he really wants to get a hold of the puck. He’s going to take it off you because he’s always chasing. He’s got that speed to make it work and he’s got notable offensive skill.

No Votes | Honourable Mentions

Thanks for joining us on the countdown of the top Leafs prospects. Now it’s time to have your say. Here’s a link for ranking your top 20 prospects and we’ll roll out the fan vote in early September.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/recapping-the-leafs-nation-top-20-toronto-maple-leafs-prospects

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Ranking the Maple Leafs prospect pool by tiers

Ranking Maple Leafs can be an emotional experience. Even the prospects are in tiers.

Terrible jokes aside, it’s one thing to say Easton Cowan is the Leafs’ top prospect, but it is another thing to say what type of role he’ll fill and when he’ll actually fill it.

It probably goes without saying that tiers, like rankings are far from perfect and will require updating on at least an annual basis but based on the current state of the prospects here’s the assessment of the Leafs.

Tier 1: Future All-Star​

None

With all due respect to Easton Cowan, this isn’t him. A future All-Star is probably someone who would be considered in the top 20 prospects outside the NHL, and recently Daily Faceoff’s rankings put Cowan at 46th.

For a team that hasn’t been drafting in a lottery position in almost a decade coming across a potential All-Star is asking a lot but of course it does happen when you hold onto your draft picks.

Tier 2: Top Six Forward/Top Four Defenceman/Starting Goaltender​

Easton Cowan | Ben Danford

Easton Cowan could realistically make the Leafs as soon as training camp but seems very likely to be on Toronto’s NHL roster at some point this season. This year might not see him achieve his top six forward potential but with strong offensive instincts, including as a playmaker, being a quick thinker, and having a strong work ethic, Cowan will start his path towards his potential and it looks like the floor for his success will be a bottom six NHL forward.

Ben Danford is a bit further out and will spend the year in the OHL. He’ll likely get a look at the World Juniors, which is a good sign of high potential, but given that his game is modelled after Chris Tanev, it’s unlikely he’ll be in the All-Star tier but still be the kind of player that coaches are excited to give minutes to.

Tier 3: Bottom Six Forward/Bottom Pairing Defenceman/Backup Goaltender​

Noah Chadwick | Dennis Hildeby | Artur Akhtyamov | Tinus Luc Koblar | Tyler Hopkins | Topi Niemela | Miroslav Holinka | Victor Johansson

There are a lot of exciting options in this tier for the Leafs and as always when talking about goaltenders, until they’ve had a serious NHL run they can be considered mystery boxes.

Holinka, Koblar, and Hopkins form an interesting trio of potential two-way forwards that seemed destined for the middle of the Leafs lineup if all goes well for them.

Chadwick and Johansson have shown a lot of promise to date and with a bit more time could be on the path for meaningful NHL roles.

Tier 4A: Bubble players​

Luke Haymes | William Villeneuve | Jacob Quillan |Hudson Malinoski

This trio of prospects are a little older and their best contribution might be that they can perform spot duty in the NHL almost immediately.

The Leafs being light on offensive defencemen further down the depth chart opens a door for Villeneuve.

Both Haymes and Quillan will be competing to be the hot hand in the AHL worthy of an NHL call up, especially at the centre position.

Hudson Malinoski is the only one of these players that isn’t on the Marlies and is still developing but as a potential two-way centre who has looked good but hasn’t stood out as of yet, this seems like a potential landing spot.

Tier 4B: Good AHLers​

Ryan Tverberg | Cade Webber | Borya Valis | John Prokop | Blake Smith | Vyacheslav Peksa

Hey, if the NHL expands soon it’s worth having a worthwhile deck of quality AHL players that might be reclassed as potential callups.

It might be too early to say Tverberg lands in this tier as one underwhelming season shouldn’t fully define him and while Valis would be a long shot, he hasn’t really had a chance to show what he is at the pro hockey level. The same can be said of Prokop and Smith.

There’s value in having good AHLers and they could certainly move above this tier but at this point it seems like a stretch to be considering them as future AHLers.

Tier 5A: Boom or bust​

Nick Moldenhauer | Joe Miller | Alexander Plesovskikh | Roni Hirvonen | Semyon Der Arguchintsev

If they are going to make it to the NHL they are probably going to need to jump multiple tiers to get a look. They aren’t really bottom of the lineup guys, not worth considering as bubble players, or straight up won’t be willing to come to (or back) to North America for an AHL gig.

It’s a fun group if you are an optimist.

Tier 5B: Excited but it’s early​

William Belle | Sam McCue | Nathan Mayes | Harry Nansi |Timofey Obvintsev

All of these players that have characteristics that are endearing but a couple of them need to show what they can do in their draft plus one year and a couple need to show what they can do in pro hockey.

Obvintsev as a young goaltender working outside the Leafs system is certainly a wildcard as well.

Tier 6: The field​

Rylan Fellinger | Semyon Kizimov | Matt Lahey | Mathew Hlacar | Braeden Kressler

Prove me wrong. (Many have.)

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-prospect-pool-tiers

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

What does a successful 2025-26 season look like for Brandon Carlo?

Brad Treliving’s decision to bring in Brandon Carlo at the trade deadline was a bit of an unexpected move. The underwhelming season from Morgan Rielly and sharp downturn in play from Oliver Ekman-Larsson after a strong start to the season made a move for a top four defenceman a bit of a necessity, but opting for a stay at home, tougher defenceman ran counter to the narrative that the Maple Leafs needed to find a way to move pucks out of their own end and generate offence from the blueline.

Perhaps the assumption was that Carlo’s arrival would enable Morgan Rielly to play his offensive game more comfortably or that Carlo would allow Ekman-Larsson to play on a more appropriate pairing where he too could transition back into a puck mover role. Ultimately, as is often the case with acquiring a defenceman late in the season, no one was able to adjust to what was being asked of them in the time frame they were given. Rielly’s offence improved in the playoffs, Ekman-Larsson looked more at home on the third pairing, and Carlo, who helped bring about those changes, was still in a state of adaptation after spending his entire NHL career to date with the Bruins.

2025-26 brings a chance for Carlo to get a true fresh start with the Maple Leafs and to some degree that’s exciting (as much as anything involving stay-at-home defence is exciting.) And while the Leafs are down a first and a top prospect in Fraser Minten for the opportunity to see what Carlo can do, divorcing the player from the trade that brought him in will be necessary in looking at what goals and expectations are reasonable for one of the Leafs “younger” defensive options at 29 years of age.

The Goal: Do the defensive zone heavy lifting for Morgan Rielly

The plan hasn’t come together yet. Rielly nor Carlo have been traded… yet. There is a case to be made off of the limited run success of Tanev and Rielly and potential for a strong shutdown pairing of Jake McCabe and Carlo to potentially deviate from the plan, but given how smitten the Leafs are with the McCabe and Tanev pairing and a decade worth of evidence that shows Rielly likes playing with a stay-at-home partner on the right side, the goal is probably to make Rielly and Carlo work.

What needs to happen for Rielly and Carlo to work? From Carlo’s side of things he needs to adjust his expectations from playing with Hampus Lindholm. Rielly isn’t nearly as well rounded and before Craig Berube, Morgan was used to a perpetual green light to join rushes and make the stretch pass. If there is a movement back in that direction, Carlo needs to plan on being not just the last line of defence but often the only line of defence.

There will also be an adjustment to Rielly’s decision making in his own end and that’s going to mean that somehow Carlo is expected to own both the corners as well as the front of the net. The toughest assignment will always belong to him and that will take some getting used to.

Last season, Brandon Carlo had two very different partners: Nikita Zadorov on the Bruins and Morgan Rielly on the Leafs. It’s a pretty safe bet that it takes some time to adjust from Lindholm to Zadorov to Rielly. And with time Carlo might be able to be what the Leafs need him to be.

The Expectation: Play tough minutes, kill penalties, and put the puck off the glass and out

Whether it is with Rielly or anyone else, Carlo won’t have an easy job. Treliving specifically brought Carlo in with the expectation that he would continue to play the big bad Bruin style of hockey just in a Leafs uniform.

Carlo’s hit totals dropped last season, that comes from playing with Nikita Zadorov instead of Hampus Lindholm. If you put Carlo with McCabe or Simon Benoit (neither a bad option), you’d also likely see him take on more of a positional role rather than a defined archetype.

Whether on the penalty kill or even strength it will also be expected that Carlo is blocking as many shots as possible and ensuring that the Leafs always have at least one defenceman on the ice who is making the opposition pay for coming in proximity to the Leafs net.

With the exception of maybe Benoit, there is no one on the Leafs blueline that is going to be trusted less than Carlo to make a play with the puck. Close outlets, around the boards to his partner, or simply getting the puck out of the zone will be the ask for Carlo if the puck ever happens to land on his stick. The only area that might be worth exploring is if the Maple Leafs want to use his point shot at all. Given that the Leafs’ blueline is short on heavy shots and playing with Rielly will put Carlo frequently on the ice in offensive situations, it might be an expectation that Carlo shoots more.

While Carlo wasn’t bad in his time with the Leafs late last season, it seems like a training camp and set plan for him could warrant some optimism. And while the expectations for Carlo are pretty achievable, there is hope that he’s a better fit than initially advertised.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/what-does-successful-2025-26-look-like-brandon-carlo

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Atlantic Division Preview: What if Canadiens’ Ivan Demidov is the real deal?

It’s difficult to separate the hype from the reality when it comes to talking about Montreal Canadiens prospects. The same can likely be said about the Maple Leafs too for what it’s worth, but the difference seems to be while Leafs fans believe every player is a can’t miss prospect, Canadiens fans tend to believe that every incoming first rounder is destined for the Hall of Fame. Lane Hutson winning the Calder last season may bring some credibility to their excitement but 50-goal scorer Cole Caufield (who has cracked 30 once in his career) and a humdrum first overall selection in Juraj Slafkovsky that is constantly on the verge of becoming elite is a reminder that even decent performing players have unrealistic expectations put on them.

Enter Ivan Demidov.

He’s already had his first taste of the NHL last season picking up a goal and an assist in his first two NHL games, which will certainly add to the hype. Demidov picking up two assists in five playoff games and finishing with a minus five for the series probably does throw cold water on the elite expectations but should at least be a reminder that there will be a learning curve for Demidov like any other prospect.

With the Canadiens already back in the playoffs, what does a potential Calder candidate level Demidov bring into the fold, and with a strong Panthers team, a perennial contender in Tampa, and now a rising threat in Montreal, how do the Leafs measure up now that they are attempting something new with a less top-heavy lineup?

Demidov is interesting as he is similar in a lot of ways to another Canadiens player that entered the league with plenty of hype. Patrik Laine. Both are dynamic players offensively that don’t rely on top end speed but rather edgework that goes along with the hands that can keep up. Both can cook something up with limited space and then have the shot to follow through on. Both have NHL size (Demidov slightly shorter). Both are aware enough to trust in defensive zone situations, and capable of carrying the puck out of trouble. The difference is that Demidov is more of a playmaker and is more capable as a puck mover, and in time the wider range of offensive options from him will make him a greater threat. In the short term, looking at Demidov as a .75 point per game player like Laine or most recent Calder winners seems like a fair bet. Adding Demidov into a lineup that has players like Suzuki, Caufield, Hutson, Slafkovsky, Kaiden Guhle, Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach, Zachary Bolduc, and even Noah Dobson on the upward part of their career trajectory makes the Canadiens a threat for continual improvement.

There is also the possibility that Demidov lives up to the expectations of Montreal fans and Ivan breaks into the NHL scene with the same impact as fellow countryman and favourite comparison, Kirill Kaprizov. His 51 point in 55 game debut might be an ideal outcome but at the very least is aspirational for the young Russian. The Canadiens having an additional point per game player to join Nick Suzuki at the top of their points leaderboard or at least challenge Cole Caufield for the second spot, while getting strong secondary performances from Slafkovsky, Bolduc, and Laine, then throwing in a capable supporting cast of Evans, Gallagher, Anderson, Dach, and Newhook starts making the Canadiens forward group seem like a threat if they can stay healthy.

The offensive support from the blueline via Dobson and Hutson is a plus as well, and if Montreal continues to get reliable goaltending, they could reasonably move beyond a wild card spot this season.

For the Leafs sake and for the sake of the Atlantic Division bubble teams, the best case scenario is that Demidov will require an adjustment period to the NHL and given that games played in April aren’t always the best indicator of future success, there is hope that the Canadiens are still a year away from a fully operational Ivan Demidov.

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/atl...hat-montreal-canadiens-ivan-demidov-real-deal

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Toronto’s goalie depth is no joke and it changes everything: Alberga’s Take

If there was one thing that I was reminded of watching the Dennis Hildeby extension come across the wire on Tuesday morning, it’s that the Toronto Maple Leafs are absolutely STACKED in between the pipes right now.

Seriously, I don’t remember a time this organization possessed this much crease depth —at least in recent memory.

But honestly, you would probably need to go back all the way to the dreaded Tuukka Rask/Justin Pogge era, right?

Any way you slice it, the Leafs have every reason to believe in Hildeby, even though the 24-year-old’s coming off a turbulent campaign. The three years they handed him will not only give him time to develop but it will also allow him to push for a job at the NHL level in due time. The contract doesn’t become a one-way deal until Hildeby’s 26, when presumably, everyone should have a pretty good understanding of what he truly is. Indisputably, it was a tidy piece of business by Brad Treliving and company.

Between Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll at the NHL level and Hildeby and Russian Artur Akhtyamov in the American Hockey League, this administration has made the days of Michael Hutchinson easy to forget. Not to pick on him but it seemed like the Dubas era featured about 53 different netminders to dawn the blue and white. Needless to say, acquiring David Rittich for a third-round pick in 2022 will continue to haunt my dreams for many years to come.

Most importantly, Toronto’s evolving crease depth gives them flexibility to do a few things down the road. All in all, it’s probably one of the reasons why they’ve been able to slow play the Stolarz situation a bit here, too. They love him, but at the end of the day, they’re not going to overpay to retain him. It makes a lot of sense.

In the grand scheme of things, teams are always looking for goaltending, which bodes well for the Leafs on the trade-front moving forward. For instance, fresh off another disappointing loss in the Stanley Cup Final, the Edmonton Oilers are dying for an upgrade in goal. Barring something unforeseen, it doesn’t look like Stan Bowman will be able to get the job done —at least before opening night. They have a championship calibre roster paired with a mediocre crease, and ultimately, that’s why they keep falling short when it matters most.

With puck drop just around the corner, it’s no secret that the Leafs would still like to do a few things. That said, they will likely play the long game here, and that’s the correct course of action. In the coming months, it will be fascinating to see if the Stolarz/Woll tandem can replicate what they did last season in 2025-26. In addition to that, there’s reason to be excited for what’s to come, too. If Hildeby and Akhtyamov can continue to develop and improve, the Leafs will be sitting pretty for many years to come.

Bottom line: You can never have enough goaltending.

This is a strange feeling.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tor...epth-no-joke-changes-everything-albergas-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Scott Laughton confesses his love for Tie Domi, Wade Belak, & the Pat Quinn era: Leafs Morning Take

September is here, and with that, we’re now just 35 days away from regular season puck drop.

Time flies.

We covered quite a few different topics on the latest summer edition of Leafs Morning Take. Naturally, considering all the hoopla starting the build-up, yes, we did discuss Connor McDavid for a few minutes. It will be fun to document that whole situation moving forward —that’s for sure. It’s amazing how quickly the narrative is starting to shift in that market and the hockey world. It’s still wishful thinking to suggest he leaves Edmonton next summer, but we’ll see what happens.

Brought to you by Simply Spiked, we kicked things off by diving headfirst into all the Mitch Marner/Darren Ferris noise from the past week. Unsurprisingly, Jay Rosehill had a few things to get off his chest regarding Marner’s sit-down with TSN’s Mark Masters. Needless to say, we’re very excited for January, when the Leafs will play Vegas not once but two times. The Marner camp continues to paint him as the victim, and unfortunately, that’s just not going to fly —at least not in these parts. Over the coming days, there’s no question that the Leafs side of the story will come out. This is getting ridiculous. It’s time to move on. We’re pumped about the 2025-26 Maple Leafs.

Speaking of which, after that discussion, Leafs forward Scott Laughton dropped by the show. It was a very candid interview. We talked about his trade to Toronto, the difficult transition, and what it’s been like living out a childhood dream. Additionally, we asked Laughton, who’ entering the final year of his deal, if there’s been any contract discussions with the Leafs this summer. He said no. That said, he did admit he’s open to being a Leaf for many years to come. This opportunity is what he’s been dreaming of his entire career, so that makes sense.

Then, we got into an extensive goaltending conversation. Firstly, we piggybacked off David Pagnotta’s reporting from Tuesday that suggests that the Leafs and Anthony Stolarz have begun to discuss a possible contract extension. Unsurprisingly, we both agreed that the best course of action would be to extend Stolarz as soon as possible. Assuming everything comes together over the next few weeks, it will be interesting to see what his next contract looks like. We were just spit balling, but three to five years accompanied with an average annual value of five to six million would make a lot of sense.

On top of that, we loved what the Leafs did with Dennis Hildeby and that extension. Quietly, it shows that the organization believes in his future, which is great to see. The new deal allows Hildeby time to develop in the AHL while continuing to push for NHL playing time. It’s a win, win situation. Love to see it!

As we start to ramp up for October, our next episode will drop next Tuesday, September 9th. Talk then! We’ve got an exciting interview planned, so don’t you dare miss it!

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/sco...de-belak-the-pat-quinn-era-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

What does a successful 2025-26 season look like for David Kampf?

David Kampf starting the 2025-26 season as a Toronto Maple Leaf doesn’t seem like a popular idea and as such the notion of a successful season for David Kampf is one that he doesn’t play in a Maple Leafs uniform. We’ll get that idea out of the way first because variations of that response are being quoted across social media in reaction to the title of this post.

Looking at how the past couple of seasons for David Kampf have gone it is understandable that expectations are low. Kampf being bumped from the Leafs lineup late in the season and throughout most of the playoffs has the writing legibly on the wall that Craig Berube isn’t as interested in using Kampf as much as Keefe was. Not every coach has the same comfort food and with one of the final selling points on Kampf was his success on the penalty kill with Marner and Mitch no longer being around, there’s not much of a case for using Kampf over the other bottom six forwards available.

Assuming the ultimate goal and reasonable expectation is that the Leafs move on from Kampf, it is still worth the exercise of considering what if he’s still a Leaf in 2025-26 and setting goals and expectations for his play.

The Goal: Stay in the lineup and remain a penalty killing specialist

This seems simple enough and could just come down to being healthy. If Kampf is in the lineup it seems like a sure bet that he’ll be killing penalties and although it’s likely that Laughton and Roy will be given larger roles, Kampf will have a place next to someone on the second unit.

As for what a successful fit for Kampf in the lineup looks like, it could be that with the Czechia-born forward available the Leafs might want to try Scott Laughton on the wing next to Tavares. Or Kampf could find himself on Laughton’s wing helping create a much tougher defensively fourth line.

What seems like it is most necessary is that Kampf either bets out Robertson, Jarnkrok, or McMann, stays healthier than at least two other Leafs forwards at any given time, and Brad Treliving pulls off a more significant trade than just moving on from some of his depth.

The Expectation: Kampf is a low risk bottom of the lineup option

David Kampf can be the forward version of Martin Marincin. He can come into the lineup and provide low risk, low event hockey at zero risk of attempting something flashy. He can be a predictable but unexciting option for Craig Berube to call on and that honestly seems more appealing to NHL coaches than taking a chance on a rookie or AHLer who wants to prove something.

There is a benefit in keeping some centre depth around and if the Leafs aren’t eager to see Max Domi up the middle again, Kampf could be the ideal 13th forward.

What does seem like an expectation for the Leafs is that Kampf rediscovers his 26–27-point season form and have some ability to provide secondary offence. That’s a hard thing to do when most of your shifts are with Ryan Reaves and maybe Kampf gets better by that subtraction.

There’s probably still a preference towards just moving on from the 30 year old and his contract and the most likely scenario remains that Kampf is either traded or demoted. (Note: this has been said many times before.)

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/what-does-successful-2025-26-season-look-david-kampf

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Atlantic Division Preview: Red Wings stuck in the middle as the Yzerplan stalls

There’s an easy maxim to follow in the NHL and NBA: being stuck in the middle is the worst possible place for any team. And once again, this is certainly true of the Detroit Red Wings, who are searching for their first playoff appearance in a decade. Steve Yzerman’s once-lauded ‘Yzerplan’ is in a state of inertia and the Red Wings aren’t gaining ground towards a postseason berth, nor are they awful enough to really contend for the first overall pick in 2026. Detroit is a proud sports city and it may have to reckon with the idea that the franchise’s most iconic player of the past 50 years may be ill-suited to lead the Red Wings back to relevance, if not prosperity.

Detroit registered 143 goals at 5-on-5 last season, the 27th-best total in the NHL. There was an offensive uptick after head coach Todd McLellan replaced Derek Lalonde on December 26, but this was a Red Wings team that disproportionately relied on their power play to generate any offence at all, clicking at a 27 percent clip, the fourth-best mark in the NHL. And this perhaps spells out a key issue for the Red Wings in simple terms: after Alex DeBrincat, Dylan Larkin, Lucas Raymond and Patrick Kane, there isn’t a reliable source of scoring prowess. Larkin already made it clear that he was disappointed by Yzerman’s static approach to the trade deadline, and it didn’t help matters that James van Riemsdyk is the most important upgrade to the forward corps this summer.

“I think, especially in March, it was hard that we didn’t do anything,” Larkin said during a press conference in April. “I felt the group… we didn’t gain any momentum from the trade deadline. Guys were kind of down about it. So it would have bee nice to add something and bring a little bit of a spark on the ice and maybe a morale boost as well.”

And there are concerns on the blue line as well. Moritz Seider faces arguably the most difficult workload in the NHL and the Red Wings run the risk of exhausting their 24-year-old cornerstone. Seider hasn’t missed a game in four seasons and his offensive output has been pretty much identical the past three seasons, recording eight goals and 46 points last year. Last season, Seider was partnered with Ben Chiarot, the 15th-most used pairing in the NHL at 5-on-5 last season, where it controlled 48 percent of the expected goals, along with a -2 goal differential. Seider’s individual metrics were far superior, with a plus-six goal differential and a 51 percent share of the expected goals, while operating as the power play quarterback as well. Simon Edvinsson is a promising talent, but the Red Wings run the risk of burning out their top two defencemen, while providing sub-par partners.

This is a Red Wings team that is still several years away from catching the Florida Panthers at the top, or joining the Toronto Maple Leafs and Tampa Bay Lightning in the next wave of perennial contenders. Detroit was largely thought to be in the same group as Montreal and Buffalo during prolonged rebuilding stages. Montreal now sports the best prospect pool in the NHL, and have developed several emerging stars that could propel them to the Stanley Cup within the next five years. Buffalo has been a disaster, and we’re not going to celebrate organizational incompetence just to make a point, but it has bottomed out and is a leading contender to secure Gavin McKenna next fall.

Where is the Yzerplan leading the Red Wings? For the 10th consecutive year, it appears that the Red Wings aren’t close to a playoff spot, nor are they awful enough to contend for the first overall pick. Getting stuck in the middle is the worst place to be.

Sponsored by bet365​

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/atlantic-division-preview-red-wings-stuck-middle-yzerplan-stalls

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Schadenfreude and the 2025-26 Boston Bruins

Last season, the Boston Bruins’ run of eight consecutive playoff appearances came to a close. That recent run of playoff appearances included three first round victories over the Toronto Maple Leafs and one appearance in the Stanley Cup Finals. They won the Atlantic Division twice and the President’s Trophy over that span of time. They did all of this after missing the playoffs only twice after coming out of their previous competitive window that saw them in the Stanley Cup Finals twice and winning it all in 2010-11.

The Bruins have always been able to avoid the long rebuild process and you’d have to go all the way back to *sigh* 1967 before seeing the Bruins miss the playoffs in more than two consecutive seasons. That’s a nice little legacy. No decade of darkness, no Ballard era, and while they had a 49 year Cup drought, they at least had five Stanley Cup finals appearances over that span to tide them over and bring some hope.

The Bruins missing the playoffs last season was nice to see but given that Boston was able to hang with the Red Wings, Canadiens, and Senators for most of the season and appear as a potential wild card option for the playoffs right up until the trade deadline, taking enjoyment from their demise was limited. This season seems like it will make up for that with a full blown suck fest coming out of Boston and should come with the disclaimer: enjoy it while you can.

While the Bruins aren’t as bad as their bottoming out roster of 1996-97, and there are plenty of teams that would love to have David Pastrnak, Hampus Lindholm, and Charlie McAvoy at the top of their depth charts, and Elias Lindholm, Morgan Geekie, and Jeremy Swayman certainly give something for the Bruins to build around too, the Bruins are simply not a playoff team even with healthier versions of Lindholm and McAvoy likely to show up this fall.

The depth in the Bruins forward ranks erodes after Pavel Zacha’s spot on the depth chart with Casey Mittlestadt, Tanner Jeannot, and Victor Arvidsson all coming off lacklustre seasons, and the rest of the cast looking like capable of fourth liners and prospects trying to establish themselves as permanent bottom six forward fixtures.

The blueline quality understandably drops off significantly after Lindholm and McAvoy and looks like it will struggle to move the puck efficiently, a theme that looks like it will hold true outside of the Bruins top line as well.

Swayman has the potential to be a bright spot in net but was left treading water after his star blueliners were hurt last season. Without the strong supporting cast around him and Ullmark to push him, Swayman looks like he’s just wanting to hold onto the role long enough to survive the Bruins rebuild.

All of this should be enjoyable for a Leafs fan base that has been on the unfortunate side of the Bruins success for a number of years.

What is also encouraging from a schadenfreude perspective is that as things sit today, the Bruins cupboards are bare prospect wise, they are just now beginning to restock, and the Leafs have some control over their ability to do so. A good season (and playoff run) from the Leafs can limit the options of what the Bruins can do with what should already be a late first round pick.

The Bruins are also not bad enough that their likely lottery pick in 2026 will land them one of the potential superstars in the making available in the 2026 draft and no Joe Thornton or Sergei Samsonov will be walking through that door (and thanks to Leafs pick protection, no Tyler Seguin or Dougie Hamilton either.)

The reality of the NHL cap and free agency also will create a bit of an uphill climb for the Bruins to attract free agents. They had to throw an insane five year at $3,400,000 per season deal at Tanner Jeannot to bring him in this summer and it is doubtful that options will improve next season. The two year turnaround rebuild that the Bruins have been accustomed to might no longer be possible and it’s hard to imagine that many fans around the league are heartbroken by that.

Of course, history shows that the Bruins have always been able to find a way to right the ship and because of that it’s worth taking every little bit of joy possible from their 2025-26 season because tough years in Boston don’t come around too often.

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/schadenfreude-2025-26-boston-bruins

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

What does a successful 2025-26 season look like for Dakota Joshua?

Dakota Joshua was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs in July from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round pick. The addition of Joshua is part of an offseason attempt to retool Toronto’s bottom six to a have a bigger, tougher look to shore up the team’s depth for a deeper playoff run.

Last summer, Joshua was diagnosed with testicular cancer and needed surgery, missing training camp and keeping him out of the lineup until mid-November. Through a 2024-25 season marked by a lot of turmoil in the Canucks roster, the 29-year-old spent the year playing catch up, trying to find his game once again. The Dearborn, Michigan native finished the year with seven goals and seven assists in 57 games played.

Back at full strength this year, Joshua will be looking to put up the better numbers he’s certainly capable of. In the 2023-24 season, he set career highs of 18 goals and 14 assists for 32 points. This year with pieces like Nicolas Roy and Matias Maccelli added to Toronto’s depth, he could definitely find those more consistent numbers once again.

Joshua was originally drafted by the Maple Leafs in 2014. As he gears up to finally appear in the blue and white sweater, it’s clear that above all else, he’s back in town to bring his size and strength. The 6’3″, 206 lb. forward finished ninth in the NHL in hits two years ago with a career high of 244 across just 63 games. Last season he teammate Kiefer Sherwood surpassed him with a whopping 462 hits, but in 57 games played Joshua still managed to finish second on the Canucks with 193 checks delivered.

The expectation: 250 hits, 40-point pace

Is it ambitious to ask for Joshua to deliver career high numbers in his first year with the Maple Leafs? Maybe. But there’s no denying this is a sink or swim year for him. Entering the second year of a four-year deal with an annual cap hit of $3.25 million, it’s up to Joshua to prove he’s worth the gamble the Leafs took in acquiring him. To do so, he’ll need to prove he can continue to bring the physicality he has the past few years, while also contributing in some form offensively. Sailing through what are likely the prime years of his career, it’s up to Joshua to show what he can do to earn one of the Leafs’ sought after bottom-six spots.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/what-does-successful-2025-26-season-look-dakota-joshua

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Easton Cowan determined to make the Maple Leafs roster out of training camp

It’s been a busy summer of training for Easton Cowan. Now with training camp on the horizon, the 20-year-old has his sights set on one goal: crack the Toronto Maple Leafs roster.

Ahead of training camp, Cowan spoke with Lance Hornby of the Toronto Sun, sharing where his head is at as he enters Leafs training camp for another season.

“My mindset right now is to make the Toronto Maple Leafs,” Cowan said. “That’s my goal. We’re at an NHL camp and that’s where I’m at until further notice. This is definitely the most confident I’ve ever felt — faster, stronger, bigger. So that’s going to help me out a lot. I’ve put in the work this summer. Now, it’s just go out there and prove I can play.”

After winning the Memorial Cup with the London Knights last season, there was a sense of accomplishment that his work in juniors was done. At Leafs development camp in July, Cowan was focused on what was next, sharing the same things he’s now talking about. He was working on getting faster and adding weight, and it looks like his hard work is paying off. Now, he’ll have to show that extra work he’s been putting in as he hits the ice in Toronto.

“It all went well,” Cowan said of his summer. “I’ve been skating with the NHL guys who are all funnelling back now. They’re all coming up to me to give congrats [on the Memorial Cup win], asking how my summer’s been. Little messages like that go a long way and I feel a little closer and comfortable around all of them.”

Now, it’s either the AHL or the NHL for the Leafs’ top prospect this season, but for Cowan there’s really only one option. In The Leafs Nations’ summer player expectation series, Alex Hobson wrote the expectation for the season for Cowan is just that, crack the NHL roster:

While Cowan was given a reasonable shot to crack the Maple Leafs’ roster last season, it was pretty obvious that he wasn’t ready for full-time NHL action, so the team sent him back to junior where he rightfully succeeded. This season, the odds will be against him again, considering the abundance of bottom-six forwards the Leafs have, but he’ll still be given every chance to make the team if he proves to them he’s worthy of a job.

The goal for a player in Cowan’s position should always be to make the NHL team. After all, if you play like you’re destined for the AHL, you’re going to be destined for the AHL. Putting the team in a position where they have a legitimate decision to make in terms of who to trade so he can stay on the roster would be a great problem that I’m sure all parties would welcome, and it all starts with a good training camp.

Cowan is an exciting prospect who has already accomplished big things, but now he faces the first test of many to come. If he can put up a big showing at training camp, we may be just weeks away from his NHL debut.

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/eas...make-toronto-maple-leafs-roster-training-camp

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

11 Maple Leafs listed in Daily Faceoff’s Top 300 Fantasy Hockey player rankings

It’s never too early to start thinking about your fantasy hockey draft, and the team at Daily Faceoff has everything you need. Ahead of the weekend, the panel at Daily Faceoff released their consensus Top 300 fantasy hockey player rankings, where 11 members of the Toronto Maple Leafs made the cut.

Auston Matthews is the highest-ranked Maple Leafs player, sliding in at the No. 9 spot. This could represent excellent value, especially if Matthews is at full strength, two years removed from a 69-goal campaign. William Nylander isn’t far behind, ranked No. 13 overall.

After Matthews and Nylander, there’s a bit of a dropoff for the Leafs, with John Tavares coming in at No. 60. Matthews, Nylander, Tavares, Matthew Knies (No. 73 overall) and Anthony Stolarz (No. 85) round out the top 100 for the Maple Leafs.

What do you make of these rankings? It seems like fair value for Nylander, who emerged as the second-highest goal scorer in the NHL last season with 45 tallies, trailing only Edmonton Oilers forward Leon Draisaitl. Tavares is coming off an excellent 38-goal campaign while Knies is expected by many to take another leap in his stellar career to date, while being stapled to Matthews on Toronto’s top line.

Joseph Woll could represent terrific value at No. 159 overall, especially if he stays healthy throughout the 2025-26 campaign. Morgan Rielly is ranked at No. 180, with the idea that he’s good for at least for 40 points per season. Matias Maccelli may end up being the best value overall of any Maple Leafs player, as he’s currently ranked No. 227 overall, and he could get the first look alongside Knies and Matthews on the top line, as a left-handed playmaker looking for a bounceback year.

What do you think of these rankings? Let us know in the comments, or send your inquiries over to our friends at Daily Faceoff, as the 2025-26 season will be here faster than we know it.

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/11-...aceoff-top-300-fantasy-hockey-player-rankings

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

What does a successful 2025-26 season look like for Anthony Stolarz?

Anthony Stolarz’s first season as a Toronto Maple Leaf was overall, a huge success. The 31-year-old goaltender had himself a career season, and heading into the 2025-26 campaign, he’s going to be given every opportunity to take his game to new heights.

Stolarz joined the Maple Leafs last summer, signing a two-year, $5 million contract, and frankly, after one season it’s looking like one of the very best contracts across the entire NHL. At just $2.5 million against the cap, Stolarz appeared in 34 games for the Maple Leafs, posting a 21-8-3 record, along with a 2.14 goals against average, and .926 save percentage. Stolarz, unfortunately, had his Stanley Cup Playoffs cut short after just seven appearances, thanks to an elbow from Sam Bennett during the second-round series against the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers.

Despite many wondering how Stolarz would hold up after a workload he’s never seen before, he went 4-1-1 in the postseason, with a 2.19 GAA and .901 save percentage. Yes, a bit of a dip in production, but unfortunately, at the end of the day, Stolarz wasn’t available for his team when they needed him the most.

The tandem of Stolarz and Joseph Woll is in tact once again this season, and by the sounds of it, should get used to each other for the foreseeable future, as Woll is signed through the 2027-28 season, meanwhile GM Brad Treliving recently admitted the team is very interested in getting Stolarz extended on a new contract.

“We’ve certainly explored some things with Anthony and his representative, and we’d love to find a way to get something done,” Treliving told The Athletic’s Pierre LeBrun on Tuesday. “If there’s something that both sides are comfortable with, we’ll look at it. And we’ve been in those discussions for some time right now. We’ll see what the coming days bring.”

Positive dialogue from all accounts, and considering how well Stolarz accumulated himself into the media circus in Toronto, and quickly became a leader within the dressing room, this appears to be the right move. Of course, it’s just going to come down to availability, as the injury woes continued for Stolarz last season, and he’ll look to get past them in 2025-26.

While Stolarz managed to finish top-three in the league in goals against average and save percentage, the other two goaltenders among the top of the list were Vezina trophy winner Connor Hellebuyck, and Vezina nominee Darcy Kuemper. Hellebuyck’s numbers were off the charts, and it’s also worth pointing out he did so playing in 63 games, compared to just 34 games by Stolarz. Kuemper, on the other hand, played 50. Yes, Stolarz’ numbers were terrific, but when he’s almost playing half the games of the top dog, should he even be in the conversation?

The Goal: Cement himself in the Vezina conversation as the NHL’s best goaltender​

Looking ahead to this upcoming season, Stolarz main goal should be to be relied upon whenever needed as the Maple Leafs’ number one goaltender. Yes, the tandem works when it comes to controlling workloads, and keeping goalies fresh, but Stolarz needs to take the bull by the horns and showcase to the organization that he’s worthy of being the 1A to Joseph Woll’s 1B.

Stolarz should be pushing to hit the 50-game mark, and set new career highs in appearances and wins. With Mitch Marner departing for Vegas, and a slew of new forwards up front, the Leafs’ structure could be changing even more this season, as they could wind up playing an even more defensive-brand of hockey. This could set Stolarz up for success when it comes to limited grade-A chances, and high-danger shots, while taking less chances in the neutral zone to create offence.

At the end of the day, Stolarz will be given every chance to be ‘the guy’ in the Maple Leafs’ crease. He seems to have a small leg up on Woll as far as the depth chart goes, even with not being available for the team’s final six playoff games last season. If Stolarz can hit the 50-game mark, there’s a very good chance he’s in the Vezina conversation this season.

The Expectation: Start 45 games, and Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs​

Availability is everything here. Stolarz must do whatever he can to keep his body right, and ensure that he’s not spending weeks on the injured list, and having to claw his way back to the top of his game mid-season. Stolarz should be pushing to start at least 45 games, and in a friendly competition kind of way, push Woll down a peg.

Stolarz proved last season with Toronto that he’s more than capable of winning games on his own. He’s become a game-breaking goaltender, who at 31, is in the prime of his career, perhaps a little bit later than most. He’s had to be patient for his chance to lead a team, and with the Maple Leafs, he has exactly that.

The Maple Leafs have arguably the best goaltending tandem in the league. Add Dennis Hildeby as the number three, who is signed for under $1 million for the next three seasons, and it’s also worth mentioning they may be the most talented trio, while also the most affordable. That’s a winning formula in a salary cap world.

Brad Treliving has the team in a great position when it comes to goaltending depth, and it’s led by Stolarz. Look for him to push Woll in the preseason, and their internal competition will continue through training camp, the preseason, and throughout the regular season. For now, the goal for Stolarz is to start the regular season opener, and after that, it should be hitting Game 50, followed by being in the starter’s crease for Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Stay healthy, and there’s a very good chance Stolarz has one of the best goaltending seasons in Maple Leafs history.

PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST​

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/what-does-successful-2025-26-season-look-like-for-anthony-stolarz