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.)
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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.
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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:
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.
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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.
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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.
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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Matthew Knies isn’t shying away from the pressure that comes with donning the Blue and White, and instead is eager to take on a bigger role with the team.
With Mitch Marner gone to the Vegas Golden Knights, Knies has taken over the void as one of the Leafs’ core pieces of now and the foreseeable future. That doesn’t seem to faze the 22-year-old because he thrives in the pressure.
“Everyone’s always going to tell you the cliché that pressure is a privilege and stuff,” he said to The Athletic’s Joshua Kloke. “But I think it’s honestly so much fun that there’s so many people so invested in our group. I’d be upset with fans if they weren’t unhappy with my game if I wasn’t playing well.”
“I want that feeling that I’m playing for the whole city. I don’t really look at it as something that can tear me down. It’s something that is going to make me better.”
That type of mentality is what is required to be successful in the Toronto market, and it’s notable that Knies already possesses it after only two full seasons in the NHL. His drive to push himself to greater heights is evidenced by the fact that he spent parts of the offseason training in Minnesota with Anaheim Ducks defenceman Jackson LaCombe and St. Louis Blues forward Jimmy Snuggerud.
During his exit meeting with the Leafs, Knies informed the coaching staff that he felt he needed to improve his wall play and touches in tight areas, while also working on becoming leaner, quicker, and stronger. It ended up being a short meeting because they agreed with his assessment.
“I think that they kind of left it up to me on knowing what’s best and what I should work on. I’m glad they did, because I think it’s really helped,” he said. “A lot of it this summer has just been myself doing my own drills. Now, having played for two seasons, I’ve figured out what my game needs and where my game is not the strongest. So I think a lot of this stuff I take on myself.”
It certainly helps that he got an invite to the United States Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp, suggesting he is in contention to represent his country in Milan. His spot on the team is far from a sure thing, but he is committed to making a strong impression this upcoming season in the hopes of earning a spot.
Even if that doesn’t materialize, the sky is the limit for Knies, who will almost certainly be starting the season on the top line alongside Auston Matthews and someone else. He knows the pressure is only going to increase now that he has a six-year, $7.75M AAV extension signed and Marner off to Nevada.
“I don’t think that there’s anything that prepares you for it. I want to say it comes with experience,” he said. “I think the first time I showed up at development camp my first year, there’s 15 cameras in your face, you’re thrown into the fire. You’ve just got to be honest and stay level-headed and humble.”
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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.
Welcome back to another rendition of around the NHL, as training camps are just around the corner. Teams are putting their finishing touches on rosters, as professional tryout agreements have been popular of late, meanwhile, Carey Price’s $10.5 million contract was dealt to the San Jose Sharks, just so the Sharks can stand clear of the salary floor.
The preseason schedule kicks off on Sep.20, but for now, here’s the very latest from around the NHL:
Wild to sign Kaprizov to mega-contract extension
Get ready to see a new standard for NHL contracts as the Minnesota Wild are closing in on an eight-year contract extension with superstar winger Kirill Kaprizov. There’s been numerous reports stating the average annual value of the deal could be north of $15 million, making Kaprizov, at least temporarily, the highest paid player in the league.
Wild owner Craig Leipold recently spoke to the media, and made it clear as day where thing stood with Kaprizov’s camp. “This will be a huge deal — likely the biggest in the NHL ever,” Leipold explained. “There’s no better human being or better hockey player or better person than Kirill. I think it will be a good conversation that we’ll have with him. I’m very anxious and looking forward to that conversation. I think we’ll move quickly after that.”
Kaprizov recorded 25 goals and 56 points in 41 games last season. The former 2015 fifth-round pick has been lights out for the Wild since day one in Minnesota. In 319 career NHL games, the Russian has scored 185 goals, and collected 386 points. The shifty winger has also been lights out in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with 21 points in 25 games.
With Ryan Suter and Zach Parise’s buyouts finally behind them, the Wild are in a much better position financially, and GM Bill Guerin’s hands aren’t nearly as tied as they once were. Keep an eye on Minnesota this season, if they get stellar goaltending from Filip Gustavsson, there’s a very good chance they do some damage in the Western Conference this season.
Mitch Marner set to start with Jack Eichel in Vegas
Vegas Golden Knights head coach Bruce Cassidy confirmed last week that Mitch Marner will start on Jack Eichel’s wing. It’s not set in stone that’s where Marner will stay, but Cassidy said he’d at least like to give them a chance to build some chemistry throughout training camp and the preseason schedule, and then go from there.
“We’ll see what the best fit is, but it’s probably that simple,” stated Cassidy via NHL.com. “I mean, everyone’s asked me. They will have time together. Whether they have chemistry, that’s to be determined.”
With Marner having pass-first instincts, and with Eichel’s game being awfully similar to Auston Matthews, you’d figure the two are going to hit it off, but frankly, anything can happen. It’s going to be a test to balance complementing each other and force-feeding each other the puck, especially from Marner’s side of things with his facilitating abilities. It’s certainly not a given these two hit it off right away.
“As a coach, you’re looking for, ‘Are they producing, are they reading off each other or are they getting in each other’s way? Is it fluid? Is it just organic chemistry that results in, well, them outplaying the other line they’re playing against?’” Cassidy said. “I think it’s that simple.
“And sometimes on paper you look at chemistry and think it’s going to work, and it doesn’t. And sometimes other lines just come together naturally. So that, to me, is a little bit unpredictable. There’s always cues that you think, ‘It will work.’ But who knows?”
Quick hits from around the NHL:
- Carolina Hurricanes signed Kevin Labanc to a professional tryout agreement
- Calgary Flames re-signed restricted free agent Connor Zary to a three-year contract extension worth $3.77 million AAV.
- The 2025-26 trade deadline is set for Mar. 6.
- Kevin Rooney, Luke Glendening, Adam Scheel and Georgi Romanov have joined the New Jersey Devils on PTOs.
- Derek Ryan retires after 10 NHL seasons and 606 career games with the Hurricanes, Flames and Oilers.
- Minnesota Wild added forward Brett Leason to training camp on a professional tryout agreement.
- Seattle Kraken released a third jersey ahead of the new season, which glows in the dark.
- Leon Draisaitl hopes Connor McDavid stays as long as possible in Edmonton, but there’s been some rumblings his next extension could be a two-year deal. McDavid’s admitted ‘all options are on the table’ when it comes to contract term.
- Eichel and the Golden Knights are discussing a long-term contract extension, and hockey insider Frank Seravalli thinks there’s potential it’s signed before the start of the new season.
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NHL training camps are just around the corner and while most of the free-agent market has signed on with a team by now, there’s still a few players who are looking to land a professional tryout agreement (PTO). The Toronto Maple Leafs have had success converting PTO’s to one-year contracts, as Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz both inked deals with the Leafs after strong camps last season.
Heading into 2025-26 training camp, while most of their lineup appears pretty close to set in stone, the Maple Leafs should consider bringing in these four free agents on PTO’s:
Matt Grzelcyk
It’s very surprising that Grzelcyk has not signed on with a team yet this offseason as he’s coming off a career year. The 31-year-old recorded one goal, and 39 assists for 40 points in 81 games with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2024-25. The veteran blueliner is no stranger to the Maple Leafs after spending close to a decade with the Boston Bruins, and he’s no stranger to running a power play, which he could be given a chance to do on the first unit with the Maple Leafs.
Morgan Rielly doesn’t have the offensive instincts required, Oliver Ekman-Larsson is Toronto’s second best option, and meanwhile, Grzelcyk could step in and force head coach Craig Berube’s hand with a strong training camp and preseason. The Leafs’ defence core is very crowded, as everyone is returning from who dressed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and there’s also Henry Thrun and Matt Benning in the mix. Regardless, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a need for some more internal competition, because let’s say Grzelcyk comes in, has a strong camp and wins a spot, the Leafs could use their depth on defence to pull off a trade, and fill a gap up front before the start of the season.
Robby Fabbri
Talk about bad luck, Fabbri has had a bunch with three different ACL surgeries throughout his career. The 29-year-old former first-round pick is from Mississauga, and played a combined 42 games for Berube on the Blues’ Stanley Cup winning team in 2018-2019. Fabbri is coming off a 44-game season with the Anaheim Ducks, in which he posted eight goals and eight assists, averaging 16:12 of ice-time, including time spent on the Ducks’ second power play unit.
Fabbri could push the likes of Nick Robertson and Easton Cowan for a roster spot, and also has experience filling in at centre, which could give the Maple Leafs some more middle-six depth at the position, and allow for Berube to get very creative with his roster. It was only two years ago when Fabbri scored 18 goals in 68 games with the Detroit Red Wings, there’s no denying when healthy, he’s a legit offensive threat.
The Maple Leafs may be in tough to win Fabbri over with the opportunity, just based on how many ties he has to the Ottawa Senators organization, but regardless, they should be reaching out to see if he’s interested in attending training camp on a tryout.
Max Pacioretty
Why not run it back? Pacioretty has been busy coaching his son’s hockey team this summer and appears to be training for another NHL season, but where exactly that winds up being, is the question. The Maple Leafs saw a different side of Pacioretty last season, as the veteran winger has done a great job transforming his game in the later stages of his career.
Pacioretty showed out in the playoffs and was one of the Leafs’ better forwards, so there’s certainly a chance to bring him back on a PTO, and give him a chance to win a spot for this season. He finished the year with 13 points in 37 games, and an impressive 104 hits. He’s capable of playing a checking role, which makes him slightly more attractive in that space considering he’s 6-foot-2, than someone like a Robertson or Cowan, who aren’t suited for a shut-down line.
Pacioretty appears to be interested in playing this season, which likely could be his last as he turns 37 in November. However, the Maple Leafs will have some competition from the Red Wings, and also the Edmonton Oilers, who have been linked to Pacioretty all summer.
James Reimer
Why not? Reimer has yet to sign an NHL contract this summer, and the 37-year-old should considering coming back to Toronto to finish out his career. Yes, the Maple Leafs have a strong tandem with Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz, but adding Reimer to the mix would give them an experienced third stringer who likely would see some action before we know it, considering the injury troubles of both Woll and Stolarz.
The Maple Leafs inked Dennis Hildeby to a three-year extension, but adding Reimer, which eventually could be a two-way deal, would give Toronto more depth at the position, and allow for them to slow play their other two goaltending prospects. With the Marlies being in town, it’s an easy set up for going back and forth between the two franchises, and with Reimer’s familiarity with Toronto, there’s certainly a sliver of chance it appeals to him and his family.
Reimer went 10-10-2 combined last season between the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks, including one shutout, and a 2.85 goals against average in 22 games with Buffalo. His best days are behind him, but it wouldn’t hurt to have a veteran security blanket in Toronto’s crease in case someone goes down at training camp, or during the preseason. We’ve seen the Leafs make similar moves bringing in Martin Jones and Matt Murray in the past, so history could repeat itself heading into this season’s training camp.
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Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), owners of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced on Tuesday that they have entered a multi-faceted marketing partnership with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.
The partnership is designed to help grow the sport of football in Canada by building connections with fans via MLSE’s sports teams. This includes youth camps with the Toronto Argonauts, apparel collaborations, and watch parties at select games involving MLSE’s sports entities.
On May 22, the Bills entered the NFL’s Global Markets program and granted rights in Canada. The program awards NFL clubs international marketing rights to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the United States through fan engagement, events, commercial opportunities and NFL Flag development. It is as a result of this involvement in the Global Markets program that has allowed the Bills to enter a unique partnership with MLSE.
A flag football camp involving over 200 youth was held at BMO Field, providing the opportunity to enrich their skills through training sessions with Argonauts and Bills development coaches, with more planned throughout the year.
“There are no borders when it comes to passion for the game of football, and the rich history of both teams has contributed to Southern Ontario and Western New York being a hotbed for the game,” MLSE CEO Keith Pelley said in a statement. “We will always be stronger as partners, and by working together as teammates to grow the game, we will not only strengthen the profile for both the Argonauts and Bills, but create opportunities for thousands of young fans to learn and love the game of football.”
The statement mentioned that there will be marketing opportunities alongside the Argonauts, Toronto Raptors, and Toronto FC. Bills minority owners and Toronto sports legends Vince Carter, Tracy McGrady and Jozy Altidore were in attendance for the announcement held at BMO Field before the aforementioned flag football camp.
One notable team left out of the statement was the Leafs themselves. It likely has to do with the fact that the Bills share ownership with the Buffalo Sabres under Terry Pegula, and any collaborations with the Leafs could be seen as a conflict of interest. That means don’t expect any collaborations between Josh Allen and Auston Matthews anytime soon.
What Toronto sports fans can enjoy is getting access to official team merchandise at Real Sports Apparel in-store and online beginning on Tuesday, as well as gathering for official watch parties at Real Sports Bar & Grill located across the street from Scotiabank Arena. The Argonauts will also host a themed game when they take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on October 4 at BMO Field, where fans in attendance will receive a commemorative Bills x Argos t-shirt.
The partnership is the Bills’ latest attempt to grow their presence in southern Ontario. They played five regular-season and two pre-season games at Rogers Centre between 2008 to 2013 as part of the Bills Toronto Series.
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Chris Tanev is the type of defenceman the Toronto Maple Leafs have been chasing for years, and last summer, they finally landed him.
While the Maple Leafs’ struggles have been attributed to an array of issues, whether that be lack of goal scoring in timely moments, or the need for a goaltender they can rely on, the lack of a strong, shutdown, right-handed presence on the back end has been at the top of the list for the past decade. And despite the fact that Tanev was 34 and had durability concerns when the Maple Leafs acquired him, he made his impact on the defensive corps known almost immediately. What’s funny about this is that the primary need for a right-handed shutdown guy stemmed from needing somebody to play with Morgan Rielly. He started the season with Rielly, the two looked good together, and it seemed like the issue was finally solved. That is, until head coach Craig Berube unearthed what was a dream shutdown pairing with Tanev and Jake McCabe.
The Leafs ended up finding a shutdown partner for Rielly anyway, with the acquisition of Brandon Carlo from the Boston Bruins at the trade deadline, and it’s a good thing that they did because as much as Rielly needed that partner, the McCabe/Tanev pairing was almost too good to be true for the Maple Leafs. Those two ate up more minutes on the penalty kill than anyone else by a long shot, and despite the durability concerns that came with Tanev’s acquisition, he blocked more shots than the next Leaf by a large margin. He finished the season with 189, with McCabe finishing in second on the team with 135. For a team with as blue-collar a fanbase as the Maple Leafs, Tanev appealed to the fans immediately and became a fan favourite for his willingness to throw himself in front of pucks for the betterment of the team. Combine this with his ability to execute a clean breakout pass, and you can see why he was coveted by the team for so long.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, Tanev’s age and durability will need to be monitored and taken into consideration if he ends up suffering any sort of injury or his play dips for whatever reason. However, it’s worth noting that his durability concerns have been somewhat overblown. He played 75 games both last season and the year before, and while he missed some time with injuries the year before that, he had a full 82-game season in 2021-22. Most of his major injury issues came earlier in his career, more specifically while he was with the Vancouver Canucks, so it’s not something that should be taken as a legitimate concern. That said, at age 35, he could very well be prone to injury the longer he plays and the more wear-and-tear his body amasses, so it’s something the team will need to continue to monitor.
The Goal: Stay healthy and help lead team to a Cup
Let’s be real – at this stage of Tanev’s career, any goal he has is team-centric and not related to any personal desires. If he blocks shots at the rate he did in 2024-25, there’s a good chance the Leafs are in a good position and he can say he’s doing his part. It’s not too much of a stretch to say he’s the Maple Leafs’ best defenceman, and if he goes down, the team will struggle without him. Staying healthy and helping bring a Cup home should be the only thing on his mind this season.
The expectation: Lead the team in blocked shots
When you lead your team in blocked shots by a margin of over 50, the expectation is that you’ll do it again, even if it’s not by that many shots. Still, considering how many minutes he logs on the penalty kill and the fearless style of play he has, it’s a safe thing to assume he’ll do it again in 2025-26.
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Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Jacob Quillan hopes that he can make the jump to the NHL on a full-time basis soon.
He was announced to the 2025 Prospect Showdown roster on Tuesday alongside the Leafs’ other top prospects in Easton Cowan, Ben Danford, and Tyler Hopkins among others. Quillan and his fellow Leafs prospects will soon head to Montreal to square off against the Ottawa Senators on September 13 and the Canadiens on September 14.
When asked by reporters what he hopes to get out of the weekend festivities, Quillan simply stated that he wants to keep improving.
“Just take every opportunity I can to get better, try to prove myself, and find a spot on the team,” he said. “I put the work in every day in the gym, on the ice, nutrition stuff like that. So I think I’m looking forward to it this year.”
He is coming off his first pro season in the Leafs organization after joining towards the end of the 2023-24 campaign with the Toronto Marlies. Having spent the majority of this past season in the AHL, he recorded 37 points (18 and 19 assists) in 67 games played while going scoreless in two playoff games.
Quillan also got to make his NHL debut against the Senators on January 25th, though he only registered 5:21 of ice-time after a knee-on-knee collision with Nick Cousins that knocked him out of the game.
“I believe I can. I put the work in every day, so I’m confident in myself and my abilities,” he said on his chances of making it back to the NHL this year. “It kind of made me realize what I’m pushing towards, and it showed me how good those guys are in the NHL. They showed that I have a lot of work to do, so it’s good to get a taste of that.”
He stated that his goals for the upcoming season were to improve his all-around game with an emphasis on playing sound defensively and limiting scoring chances against. Many people in the organization are confident that he can achieve it, as Quillan mentioned that Marlies coach John Gruden told him recently that he hoped not to see him down in the AHL this year.
The focus currently is on having a good showing at the Prospect Showdown while also passing down some wisdom he learned about the pro-lifestyle to his fellow prospects.
“He’s a great player, great playmaker. Looks like he got faster this year a lot,” he said of Cowan. “It’s gonna be fun playing with him and [Borya] Valis out there. They’re two good players, so I’m excited to see what we can do.”
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It can be an overlooked component of the preseason, but the Toronto Maple Leafs’ prospects are entering a two-game tournament over the weekend with a chance of making a further impression on the professional club.
John Gruden, head coach of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies will be overseeing the 26-man group and spoke to reporters Friday following practice at the Ford Performance Centre, outlining his expectations for the 2025 Prospect Showdown. Toronto squares off against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, before taking on the host Montreal Canadiens on Sunday.
There are varied expectations for the 26 players on the roster. Easton Cowan is on the precipice of making an NHL roster, while the 2025 NHL Draft class are getting their first experiences with a professional prospects tournament.
“Well, I think any time you jump in front of somebody for the first time, their first impressions mean a lot,” Gruden said. “There’s certain things that as an identity is, what’s going to stick out to everyone is the way they approach every workout, every practice, how they compete, how they’re getting involved, and how they’re making each other better. I think all the players have done a great job so far as we started this camp.”
Gruden said he’d likely split starts between Vyacheslav Peksa and Artur Akhtyamov but has yet to confirm his plans.
Throughout the summer and leading into camp, Toronto’s prospects have been around various regulars on the NHL squad, including Morgan Rielly and John Tavares. Gruden spoke about the importance of having established Maple Leafs around to provide the next generation of players with some comfort and familiarity, before training camp fully kicks off.
“I think it’s important,” Gruden said. “The guys have been around here for a long time, and it’s like a family. And I think regardless if they don’t make it or do make it, it’s important for those guys. It’s pretty classy for them to take their time and make them feel comfortable, because the more comfortable they feel, we’re going to get the best version of that player, by them being the way they are. So we thank them for that.”
Cowan, Luke Haymes, Borya Valis and Jacob Quillan are among the Leafs prospects who should know what to expect entering the Prospects Showdown. For players like 2025 third-round pick Tyler Hopkins, it’s an entirely new experience. Cowan, Qullian and Valis operated as Toronto’s first line during Friday’s practice and were a half-step above the rest of the competition.
Gruden mentioned Valis and Haymes quickly learning last year to the pace of North American professional hockey, and how it may set a precedent for the newer players on the roster.
“There’s a lot of good players in the American Hockey League, and they’re big and they’re strong, and they realize how much little time and space you have,” Gruden said. “So just by them coming in last year, it makes a big difference, just like Hopkins. For him to see it for the first time, it’s a little overwhelming, but he also seems like he’s a really smart player who understands what he’s going to have to work on as he moves forward with his strength. And it’s just he’s young. He’s an 18-year-old young man, so he’s got room to grow, but he definitely has something. As you can see, he’s got some high hockey IQ.”
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Ahead of the upcoming Prospect Showdown, the Toronto Maple Leafs held two practices at the Ford Performance Centre, where the 26-man team gained further familiarity with each other. John Gruden, head coach of the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, will be overseeing this year’s group, as the squad squares off against the Ottawa Senators on Saturday, then play the host Montreal Canadiens on Sunday,
Here’s what you need to know about the Maple Leafs heading into the 2025 Prospect Showdown, with some observations from Daily Faceoff prospect expert Steven Ellis included.
Easton Cowan’s processing speed and competitiveness jump off the page
All eyes are on Easton Cowan after winning Memorial Cup MVP with the London Knights, and Toronto’s 2023 first-round pick is clearly the best player on this year’s roster. Cowan told reporters this is the best he’s felt entering a training camp and it was clearly evident during Friday’s practice, where he was placed on a line alongside Jacob Quillan and Borya Valis. It is likely that Cowan-Qullian-Valis will be Toronto’s first line during the weekend tournament.
“I had the mindset all summer to get better, and my mind’s pretty free right now,” Cowan said via Steven Ellis. “I’ve got no worries. I know I’ll be playing somewhere in Toronto this year. Obviously, I want to play in the NHL, but I just got to have a good mindset and keep it free.”
Cowan’s skill as a first-round pick is obvious when you see him on the ice, but it was his processing speed that stood out on Friday. The 20-year-old took smart pursuit angles to the puck, was closing out quickly in the defensive zone, while he continued to build strong chemistry with Quillan and Valis, generating quality looks off the rush in controlled 3-on-2 scenarios.
Cowan said he’s renting a home purchased by Fraser Minten. Minten was traded at the deadline to the Boston Bruins in exchange for Brandon Carlo, where he’ll have a greater opportunity to play regularly. It’s clear that Cowan is the marquee player among this year’s group, but he’s not altogether concerned about external noise, as he will be afforded a genuine shot at making the Maple Leafs roster once again.
“At the end of the day, I’m playing hockey,” Cowan said. “I get paid to play hockey, that’s my goal in life and I’m here and I want to stick here. So you just got to have a free mindset, you know, and just try to enjoy it and live life day by day.”
READ NEXT: Maple Leafs prospect Jacob Quillan believes he can be a full-time NHL player
Nathan Mayes’ 1-on-1 defending stands out at Friday’s practice session
Nathan Mayes is a towering presence on the ice, and he was arguably the most impressive player during Friday’s practice session. Mayes was selected in the seventh round of the 2024 NHL Draft and while it’s too early for a declarative statement, he could be a candidate to return some value for the Maple Leafs. The 19-year-old defenceman recorded six goals and 27 points in 56 games with the Spokane Chiefs of the Western Hockey League during the 2024-25 campaign, before adding two goals and 12 points in 20 playoff contests.
Mayes went unranked during The Leafs Nation’s Top 20 prospects series this summer. This may have been an oversight, or may not have accounted for Mayes’ continued development over the summer. He was constantly forcing opponents to the outside and was able to dislodge the puck with relative ease, using his excellent reach to his advantage in controlled sessions.
After Friday’s practice session, Mayes could emerge as an under-the-radar, ascending candidate for the Maple Leafs, still a few years away from genuinely competing for an NHL spot.
John Gruden outlines expectations, 1st impressions, Tyler Hopkins expands on his role models
John Gruden will be overseeing this year’s 26-man group and he outlined his expectations for his team entering the weekend, following Friday’s practice at the Ford Performance Centre. There will be varied expectations for players throughout the weekend, and Gruden spoke about the importance of acclimating to professional hockey, citing Maple Leafs’ 2025 third-round pick Tyler Hopkins as an example.
“There’s a lot of good players in the American Hockey League, and they’re big and they’re strong, and they realize how much little time and space you have,” Gruden said. “So just by them coming in last year, it makes a big difference, just like Hopkins. For him to see it for the first time, it’s a little overwhelming, but he also seems like he’s a really smart player who understands what he’s going to have to work on as he moves forward with his strength. And it’s just he’s young. He’s an 18-year-old young man, so he’s got room to grow, but he definitely has something. As you can see, he’s got some high hockey IQ.”
Hopkins is a promising player for the Maple Leafs and was drafted one round lower than the consensus. He was an outstanding scorer in the minor hockey circuit but has worked fastidiously to become a defensive-minded player. Hopkins cited Anthony Cirelli as a player he looks up to, following the draft, and expanded on what he admires about the Selke Trophy finalist.
“Anthony Cirelli is the big one, the guy that I’ve looked at over the last couple of years, I’d say,” Hopkins said. “And even Patrice Bergeron, obviously, he was a pretty good player. But those little qualities that he had on the defensive side of the park, why he was so reliable, that’s why he was going to be a Hall of Famer. I think just trying to take little pieces of that and try to implement them into my game from two players, high-end players.”
Hopkins is clearly relishing the opportunity, while his family, who are Leafs fans, are thrilled by the idea of participating in the long-standing Leafs-Canadiens rivalry.
“I’ve heard a little bit from the guys that played last year, (Ben) Danford was telling me that it was a pretty loud crowd,” Hopkins said. “Expecting a fast, hard, competitive game. Everybody is trying to push their name, trying to make the team. Expecting a pretty spirited game tomorrow.”
Noah Chadwick, Ben Danford continue to build chemistry as pro-ready defencemen
Noah Chadwick will be paired with Ben Danford over the weekend, as Toronto’s two premier defensive prospects look to create chemistry with each other.
Danford was Toronto’s first-round pick in 2024 and he’s emerged as one of the best shutdown defenders at the major junior level, with a real opportunity to make Canada’s World Juniors roster this winter.
“Obviously last year, I didn’t get the whole experience getting injured pretty early,” Danford said Thursday. “This year I’m coming in with a open mindset. Just put my best foot forward, and have a really good showing this weekend in those games. Build that confidence and stuff into training camp, and hopefully get into some preseason games, and I’ll just see what happens.”
It’s clear that Danford’s hockey intelligence is on full display against his peers and during Friday’s practice session, he moved the puck with a sense of calm and fluidity. Danford skated with Chris Tanev and Morgan Rielly over the summer and the growth in his game is evident.
“Ben’s smart. He has a good stick, he showed that today,” Chadwick said of Danford on Friday. “He has good body position, all things you look for in a defenceman. He thinks the game really well, smart kid, so that compliments as well.”
Chadwick plays an offensive-minded game, coming off a season where he recorded 13 goals and 53 points in 66 games with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League, but he’s looking to work on his defensive game.
“Starting right now, I’m more focused on the defensive side right now and getting that established against bigger, stronger guys. That’s the priority right now, but I think adapting to new systems offensively, trying to find spots where I can jump in and contribute, similar to junior.”
Chadwick was selected in the sixth round of the 2023 NHL Draft and like Mayes, could return some excellent value for the Maple Leafs relative to draft position. With one AHL game under his belt, it’s now incumbent upon Chadwick to display his well-rounded skill set against professionals.
“Just for two years, how much bigger and stronger he is. And he’s got great feet. And the quicker he learns how to close on pucks quick, move pucks quick out of the zone. I mean, he’s got the skill set and size to be an effective player as a pro. So it’s exciting for him to continue to build his game,” Gruden said of Chadwick.
READ NEXT: 10 things September should reveal about the Maple Leafs
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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.
The Toronto Maple Leafs fell 4-3 to the Ottawa Senators in the first tilt of the 2025 Prospect Showdown.
A late second-period goal from recent NCAA signing Luke Haymes and third-period markers from Jacob Quillan and Ryan Kirwan weren’t enough to overcome an early 3-0 lead from the Senators’ prospects. 2024 first-round pick Carter Yakemchuk had two goals for the Senators, but the star of the show on either side was easily Senators goaltender Jackson Parsons, who had a number of highlight-reel saves to keep the Leafs’ damage to a minimum.
Are you even surprised anymore?#RTown | #BattleBuilt pic.twitter.com/PUsYT7INwz
— Kitchener Rangers (@OHLRangers) September 13, 2025
Parsons, 20, was an undrafted free agent following his final OHL season in 2024-25 and signed an entry-level contract with the Senators.
Quillan was all over the ice for the Maple Leafs, sporting an ‘A’ on his jersey as one of the more senior players on the Maple Leafs’ prospect camp roster, and outside of his goal, looked more comfortable out there than a number of his teammates, which checks out considering he’s got a game of NHL experience and a full season in the AHL under his belt.
“Just take every opportunity I can to get better, try to prove myself, and find a spot on the team,” Quillan told media earlier this week. “I put the work in every day in the gym, on the ice, nutrition stuff like that. So I think I’m looking forward to it this year.”
It was a quiet game for Easton Cowan on the scoresheet, with only one assist as the Maple Leafs’ top prospect, but he came close on a number of plays and looked like he had some extra pep in his step in what’s now his third Prospect Showdown as a Maple Leaf.
The Maple Leafs’ rookies will face off against the host Montreal Canadiens rookies on Sunday afternoon to close out the tournament.
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