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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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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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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Simon Benoit was the positive surprise of the 2023-24 season for the Toronto Maple Leafs and he followed up by establishing himself firmly as the team’s No. 6 defenceman under Craig Berube’s supervision during the 2024-25 campaign. Benoit’s game took a major leap during Toronto’s road trip in March and he never looked back, culminating in a clutch overtime winner against the Ottawa Senators in Game 3 of the first round.
Benoit’s game, at its best, is predicated on simplicity. He’s tasked with clearing opponents out of the high-danger areas, getting quick exits out of the defensive zone and communicating with Oliver Ekman-Larsson during rush scenarios. It may be unrealistic to expect Benoit to maintain his post-March form, where his game took another leap, but it’s more than reasonable to expect him to cut the unforced errors out of his game during his second year with Berube behind the bench.
The goal: Continue to eradicate undisciplined penalties from his game
Benoit is a physical defenceman who welcomes contact, and toughness is part of the reason why he was a mainstay in the lineup last year, playing in 78 regular season games and all 13 postseason games. No one wants Benoit to shy away from these elements of his game, but discipline remains the primary issue. Benoit took 22 minor penalties at 5-on-5 last season, tied for the 28th-highest total in the league. When you assess the company Benoit’s in, it’s clear that he’s taking penalties at a much greater rate than some of the star players who play greater than 17 minutes per night.
This is the goal for Benoit: continue to maintain a level of physicality that can help establish the tone for the Maple Leafs, while cutting out undisciplined penalties that are often the result of poor positioning or unnecessarily risky routes to the puck.
The expectation: Maintain his spot as the Leafs’ No. 6 defenceman while clearing opponents from net-front
We’re not expecting a grand leap from Benoit, but the 26-year-old can still clean up certain elements of his game, and will need to continue to clear opponents out of high-danger areas. Toronto controlled only 40 percent of the expected goals when Benoit was on the ice at 5-on-5, but he sported a plus-10 goal differential as well. This may spell some regression from Benoit, and it’s incumbent upon the veteran defenceman to maintain good habits, while trying to get pucks north.
No one is expecting Benoit to enter the rush with greater frequency or start shooting pucks indiscriminately at the net, but it’s just a matter of playing a simple, mistake-free game, while snarling at his on-ice rivals. Benoit has made leaps during his tenure with the Maple Leafs, and it’ll be compelling to see if he has another half-tier left in his development.
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On October 15th, the five Hockey Canada players who were acquitted of all sexual assault charges in late July in London, will be eligible to sign NHL contracts.
With that in mind, it didn’t take long for the Leafs to get officially linked to Dillon Dube.
On the surface, it makes sense. Brad Treliving knows the player extremely well from his time in Calgary. After all, it was Treliving who drafted the 27-year-old forward in 2016 out of the Western Hockey League.
Having said all that, unless Toronto views Dube as a bona fide upgrade over what they already have in the top six, the fit doesn’t really seem to be there right now.
In fact, entering camp, the Leafs possess an influx of forwards, something they will likely have to address – at some point – over the next few weeks. Furthermore, it’s been out there all summer, but there’s no question that the Leafs are open for business. Nick Robertson, Calle Jarnkrok, and David Kampf, among others, are available for trade. And they have been for a while.
During his appearance Monday morning on TSN 1050’s First Up, NHL Insider Darren Dreger said that he “wouldn’t be surprised if Treliving and the Leafs put their hat in the ring and take a decent swing at Dillon Dube.”
For starters, Dube hasn’t taken a National Hockey League shift since January 18th, 2024. Like a lot of players, he’s had some consistency issues over the years. In fact, prior to his NHL suspension, he was routinely playing less than 10 minutes a night. Who knows what was happening behind the scenes there, but he was far from a fixture in that Calgary Flames lineup. Suffice it is to say, Dube has a lot still to prove on the ice.
This one’s a tough one for me: To suggest Dube can successfully return and plop right into the top six is a big stretch. Let’s call a spade a spade: He’s a bottom-six player until proven otherwise. So, in essence, he would be just another option for Craig Berube to try with the big boys. He hasn’t done much in his career to cement himself as a player worthy of consistent big-time minutes. Like the Nick Robertsons of the world, he’s shown glimpses, but there’s still plenty of room to grow.
As mentioned, the potential intrigue makes sense, though. Dube did pot back-to-back 18 goal campaigns under Treliving. For my money, though, the Leafs already have plenty of Dillon Dube type players. He’s not a difference maker, he’s a complimentary piece. In a perfect world, he’s probably in your bottom-six. I just don’t know where the fit would be.
Things can change over the next month, but right now, Toronto’s not in a position to add another depth forward, especially someone coming off a lengthy suspension. I don’t see this one happening, folks.
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There are going to be a lot of questions about the Maple Leafs as training camp starts this week but the one big question that most of those other questions will link back to is “what will the Leafs look like without Mitch Marner?”. The answer to that question isn’t going to come in training camp, the preseason, or likely even the first 20 games. It’s going to take a lot of time to figure out what the Leafs will be. They are certainly down a superstar, but you can also say that their lineup card has the potential to be more balanced. On paper the Leafs look a lot tougher to play against. And while Marner was only one player his absence is a significant change in direction.
The Leafs don’t have a lot of history of playing without Marner to look back on. He’s been a pretty healthy player, but looking at the past five years, the Leafs have done surprisingly well when he hasn’t been in the lineup and their 15-8-3 record still puts the Maple Leafs with a .634 points percentage over those games, which is a drop off from Marner being in the lineup but still shows the Maple Leafs are a playoff team.
It’s also probably worth noting that when Marner was out of the lineup his spot was being filled by Marlies, not taking his $10.93M cap hit and applying it to an upgraded roster. Maybe that points to the Leafs baseline being a 104 point team based on that small sample size with some room to improve.
Here’s the breakdown of the Leafs without Marner season by season:
2024-25: 1-0-0
One game without Mitch Marner. A win against the Calgary Flames on February 4th. Nylander had a hat trick, Matthews 3 assists, Knies 2 point night, and McMann and Tavares also scored.
2023-24: 8-4-1
Game 51 vs. Blues (4-1 win, McMann hat trick)
Game 64 vs. Canadiens (3-2 win)
Game 65 vs. Flyers (6-4 win)
Game 66 vs. Hurricanes (5-4 shootout loss)
Game 67 vs. Flyers (4-3 loss)
Game 68 vs. Capitals (7-3 win, Matthews 5 point night, Domi 4 assist night)
Game 69 vs. Oilers (6-3 win)
Game 70 vs. Hurricanes (2-1 loss)
Game 71 vs. Devils (6-3 loss)
Game 72 vs. Capitals (5-1 win)
Game 73 vs. Sabres (3-0 win)
Game 74 vs. Panthers (6-4 win)
Game 75 vs. Lightning (4-1 loss)
2022-23: 1-1-0
Game 76 vs. Red Wings (5-2 loss)
Game 81 vs. Lightning (4-3 win)
2021-22: 5-3-2
Game 25 vs. Wild (4-3 shootout loss)
Game 26 vs. Jets (6-3 loss)
Game 27 vs. Blue Jackets (5-4 win, Rielly 4 assists)
Game 28 vs. Lightning (5-3 loss)
Game 29 vs. Blackhawks (5-4 win)
Game 30 vs. Oilers (5-1 win)
Game 33 vs. Avalanche (5-4 overtime loss)
Game 34 vs. Golden Knights (4-3 shootout win)
Game 35 vs. Coyotes (2-1 loss)
Game 82 vs. Bruins (5-2 win)
2020-21: No games missed
There certainly isn’t much that can be gleaned from a one game absence at the end of last season nor any of this really, but the 7-4-1 extended stretch of Marner being out during 2023-24 is likely the best and most encouraging stretch to consider.
Here’s how the current Leafs produced over that 12 game stretch that saw Toronto jump to four goals for per game (48 total) and 3.08 goals against per game (37 total):
G A P Matthews 9 10 19 Tavares 5 9 14 Nylander 6 5 11 Domi 1 9 10 McMann 5 1 6 Knies 1 5 6 Rielly 0 6 6 Robertson 4 1 5 Kampf 2 2 4 McCabe 1 2 3 Jarnkrok 0 1 1 Benoit 0 1 1
The overall numbers are interesting and maybe reflect the Keefe era of offence being king but understandably with a strong two-way player like Marner being absent the Leafs attempted to score their way out of trouble. There was a spike in both goals for and goals against, but it is unlikely that Craig Berube is committing to a season of this approach after last season already being a giant pendulum swing back towards conservative hockey at 5v5.
Knies’ numbers come with the reminder that he wasn’t playing with Auston Matthews during that stretch, Matthews was on a line with Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi. Knies’ 0.5 point-per-game pace was solid for a rookie.
Matthews’ nine goals certainly don’t look bothersome during Marner’s absence but considering that he was on a pace for over 70 goals that season and with Marner’s absence he dropped to a 61 goal pace does show that Marner’s playmaking over the likes of Domi or others will impact Auston.
Marner’s departure without a big name replacement doesn’t break the Leafs and even if there wasn’t any attempt to replace him, it seems like the Maple Leafs would be fine, but saying that his impact won’t be felt and at times hinder the Leafs over the next 82 games isn’t true either.
Things will be different but when the same core under three different coaches over the last eight seasons hasn’t achieved the expected results, change at the top of the roster makes a lot of sense and brings more excitement than fear.
Data from Hockey Reference
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Ahead of Thursday’s on-ice session, the Toronto Maple Leafs officially announced their 2025 training camp roster. It will be a busy camp, as 44 forwards, 23 defencemen and six goaltenders have been invited to training camp.
Toronto held its training camp media day on Wednesday, where Brad Treliving, Craig Berube, Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly and John Tavares spoke to reporters about the offseason and what lies ahead this year.
Here is the full roster:
Forwards: Brandon Baddock, Matthew Barbolini, Travis Boyd, Easton Cowan, Max Domi, Gunnarwolfe Fontaine, Luke Grainger, Bo Groulx, Luke Haymes, Matthew Hlacar, Miroslav Holinka, Tyler Hopkins, Calle Jarnkrok, Reese Johnson, Marc Johnstone, Dakota Joshua, David Kampf, Ben King, Ryan Kirwan, Matthew Knies, Braeden Kressler, Scott Laughton, Vinny Lettieri, Steven Lorentz, Matias Maccelli, Auston Matthews, Sam McCue, Bobby McMann, Harry Nansi, Alexander Nylander, William Nylander, Cedric Pare, Michael Pezzetta, Nick Rheaume, Nick Robertson, Nicolas Roy, Logan Shaw, Landon Sim, Marko Sikic, Sam Stevens, John Tavares, Ryan Tverberg, Borya Valis
Defencemen: Simon Benoit, Matt Benning, Brandon Carlo, Noah Chadwick, Owen Conrad, Ben Danford, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Rylan Fellinger, Nathan Mayes, Jake McCabe, Ryan McCleary, Dakota Mermis, Philippe Myers, Rhett Parsons, John Prokop, Morgan Rielly, Marshall Rifai, Chas Sharpe, Blake Smith, Chris Tanev, Henry Thrun, William Villeneuve, Cade Webber
Goaltenders: Ken Appleby, Artur Akhtyamov, Dennis Hildeby, Vyacheslav Peksa, Anthony Stolarz, Joseph Woll
Toronto will begin its on-ice sessions on Thursday afternoon, before playing its first preseason game on Sunday against the Ottawa Senators.
It will be a compelling camp, as the first-line right wing spot is open, where Matias Maccelli is the favourite to start alongside Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews. Easton Cowan will be afforded every chance of making the opening night roster, entering his third camp with the Maple Leafs, while Luke Haymes could emerge as this year’s fastest riser in camp after an excellent Prospects Showdown performance.
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TORONTO — The on-ice component of training camp is underway as the Toronto Maple Leafs took the ice at the Ford Performance Centre on Thursday, with new line combinations taking shape.
Matias Maccelli received the first look with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies during the Group 1 session, and he may be the favourite to start the year on this line. William Nylander and John Tavares were paired together in Group 2 alongside Bobby McMann, and it’s clear that Craig Berube will be experimenting throughout training camp, in a search for his optimal combinations.
“I think more than anything, we want to have a good first day. It’s a tough day,” Berube said. “It’s a lot of battling. It’s intense. Players, they could go and make it as intense as they want, but I thought it was really intense, which is what we want.”
Here’s what you need to know from the first day of Maple Leafs’ training camp:
It’s too early to be worried about Auston Matthews
Auston Matthews said he’s fully confident about his health during Wednesday’s media availability, and Thursday provided a first opportunity to get a look at how the Maple Leafs’ captain is feeling. Matthews submitted a mixed performance during Thursday’s practice, with the extremely obvious caveat that it’s the first day of practice, and it’s too early to be genuinely concerned.
Matthews’ puck skills remain otherworldly and during a sequence early in practice, he dangled Noah Chadwick rather easily to get to the net. In another sequence, Matthews beat Philippe Myers to the puck in the corner and fished it out for Matthew Knies in front of the net. He used his frame throughout the session to shield off defenders, win back pucks and instruct his teammates on where he wanted them to go in the offensive zone.
And again, with the caveat that it’s way too early to be concerned: Matthews didn’t have the usual velocity on his shot throughout the majority of the session and Morgan Rielly won the majority of 1-on-1 battles against him. Matthews skates and fought through contact with his usual force, but we’ll be keeping our eyes and ears out to see if he gains the same velocity he had during his 69-goal campaign in 2023-24. There’s also a clear example of Matthews ripping the puck with his usual force early in the session, so it may just be a matter of Toronto’s captain rounding into form during the preseason.
Berube didn’t seem remotely concerned and raved about Matthews’ leadership after Group 1 finished their session.
“I thought he grew quickly as a leader. You guys don’t see it, the in-game things, in the room where he’s commanding,” Berube said of Matthews. “He’s not the only guy. We have a lot of strong leaders who don’t have to wear an A or a C.”
Matias Maccelli gets first look on Toronto’s first line, but this could change when Max Domi returns
Matias Maccelli was eager to prove himself on Toronto’s first line throughout practice and for now he’s getting the first look, although this could change when Max Domi returns from a lower-body injury.
“ Just doing my best with the puck, without the puck, working hard,” Maccelli said, about what he’s focusing on when playing with Knies and Matthews. “ With the puck, trying to make plays, trying to play the same way they do. As we get going with the games, they’ll tell me what they expect and what they want, and then I’ll do the same thing.”
Berube addressed reporters and he admitted that he initially planned to place Domi on the first line with Knies and Matthews.
“Max went down. He was obviously a guy that I was going to put there. But Max should be back pretty quick, and then we’ll go from there,” Berube said. “I mean, it’s one day. (Maccelli is) in the process of just kind of feeling things out. And you get thrown on the line with Matthews and Knies, I mean, it’s a big step. He’s a guy that can make plays, we know that.
“So that’s going to be a big part of it all if he’s making the right plays and the right decisions with the puck. Is he getting Matthews the puck enough for some opportunities and things like that? And then it’s just about him playing 200 feet, too. That line’s going to play against good lines, so he needs to be solid defensively, too.”
Maccelli said he’s equally comfortable playing on either wing, but it may be a work in progress. He seemed to be a half-step behind Knies and Matthews in rushes, and when Domi is healthy again, it appears that Berube wants to try this combination out for opening night against the Montreal Canadiens. During camp, Maccelli will get a first look with Matthews and Knies, and it will be a combination that Berube will surely test out throughout camp, but the 24-year-old winger will need to earn his head coach’s trust before he’s affixed to Toronto’s top line.
“It’s always weird to come to a new team when you don’t know anyone,” Maccelli said. “ I’ve only been in one spot and knew all the people there, so it’s different. But everybody’s been super welcoming and nice. So it’s been an easy adjustment.”
Calle Jarnkrok stood out during Group 1 practice session, may be back to 2023-24 form
Calle Jarnkrok was in excellent form during the first practice session and while we’re not pencilling him into the opening night lineup just yet, it’s an encouraging sign from the 34-year-old. Jarnkrok was paired alongside David Kampf and Michael Pezzetta and was the clear standout on the line, ripping his slot with the velocity we’re used to seeing. He roofed the puck past Dennis Hildeby twice off rush drills and wasn’t hesitant to win back pucks in battle drills.
The veteran forward underwent groin and sports hernia surgery after suffering an injury during last year’s training camp and only returned to the lineup in March, where he registered a goal and seven points in 19 games, before adding one assist in 12 playoff games, primarily operating in a fourth-line role. Jarnkrok could very well be watching from the press box on opening night, but Thursday was a great start towards cementing his spot to begin the year.
Anthony Stolarz wants to get deal done before the season
Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz wants to be with the team for the foreseeable future and there’s a sense of urgency regarding his next contract. Maple Leafs general manager Brad Treliving hinted Wednesday that a new extension could be imminent, and Stolarz wants to get the deal done before the year begins.
“Our ultimate goal is to win the Stanley Cup, so once the season starts, that’s all I want to focus on,” Stolarz said. “I’ll let my agent and Treliving talk that out and hopefully we can get something done here soon.”
Stolarz recently appeared on Leafs Morning Take with Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill, where he outlined what he wants from his next contact, and how he’s fully recovered from a season-ending concussion.
Easton Cowan improves throughout practice, builds partnership with Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy
Easton Cowan will be afforded every chance to make the roster and he improved as Thursday’s afternoon practice session went on. Cowan was paired with Dakota Joshua in 2-on-2 drills, where Joshua emerged as one of the best players overall through both practices. During controlled 3-on-2 rushes, Cowan was on the right wing, Joshua was on the left wing, with Nicolas Roy playing through centre, and it was a compelling trio that won puck battles and communicated well. It’s the first day of camp and nothing is finalized, but Cowan could find himself with a real chance of unseating the incumbents with a stellar camp.
During battle drills, Cowan worked relentlessly, especially during a session against former London Knights teammate Landon Sim. It will be curious to see where Cowan slots into the lineup, when Max Domi returns to the lineup, but he’s firmly in the mix for a top-nine role and like Joshua, was among the best players from the opening day of camp.
Simmer and Cow BATTLINGpic.twitter.com/fCVviZ3HHm
— London Knights (@LondonKnights) September 18, 2025
This line may get some extended looks together during Sunday’s preseason opener against the Ottawa Senators, and all three players are eager to make a strong first impression. Chris Tanev was among the several Leafs who complimented Roy’s ‘extremely underrated’ game, as he moves very well for a player his size, getting to the high-danger areas with relative ease. Joshua was dominant against several younger camp invitees, using his speed, size and hockey intelligence to great effect throughout the day. We can’t wait to see this line in action.
John Tavares and William Nylander were the best players Thursday, Bobby McMann joins the line
John Tavares and William Nylander were the best overall players from Thursday’s practice sessions, with Chris Tanev and Morgan Rielly earning honourable mentions. These designations are built from what we observed in controlled drills, so it’s worth putting into perspective, but Tavares and Nylander were making high-end plays with ease, and Bobby McMann joined the group, with Berube watching closely.
“I think Bobby can take another step in his game,” Berube said. “You know, doing some things a little bit differently. Especially playing with those two guys [Tavares and Nylander], getting those guys the puck more, getting to the net more. I like a big guy with those two guys, to forecheck, get in there and create loose pucks, help out JT in those situations. Willy’s gonna do his thing, we all know that. But Bobby, I feel, can take another step in his game.”
McMann-Tavares-Nylander played 158:09 at 5-on-5 with a plus-six goal differential and a 60.4 percent share of the expected goals last season via Natural Stat Trick. There is some proof of concept that this line could work, but McMann simply cannot go 24 games without a goal like he did to conclude the 2024-25 season.
“He was basically just saying we want a certain identity. We want to play hard. Don’t take any shifts off, don’t take any seconds off, pushing each other all the way through,” McMann said. “It started from the first drill. You’re chasing the guy down all the way through. You’re playing one-on-ones, two-on-twos. It’s just not giving up an inch.”
McMann’s elite straight-line speed and ability to get to the high-danger areas certainly compliment Tavares and Nylander’s skill sets, but there will be some experimentation on the top line, and the challenge has been set for the 28-year-old with several players vying for a chance in the Maple Leafs’ reshuffled top-six.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs‘ second training camp under Craig Berube is well underway, and Easton Cowan is looking to shoot for the stars at this season’s training camp.
He’s caught the attention of Auston Matthews, who is in his second season as Maple Leafs captain and looking to rebound after pushing through much of the 2024-25 season with an injury. While Matthews has the safest spot of anybody in the opening night lineup, the future is much less certain for Cowan. After carving out two solid training camps and being sent back to junior both times, the Maple Leafs’ top prospect is looking to crack the roster out of training camp, and if he can, a spot in the opening night lineup.
Matthews says that he’s seeing the same energy out of Cowan that everyone’s used to, but that he’s more of an imposing figure now.
“He looks bigger, he looks stronger,” Matthews told reporters following his group’s skate on Friday. “He’s always had confidence in his ability and who he is, to me it just looks like an evolved version of him. It’s been good to see.”
Cowan probably has the skill to play in the NHL right now, but considering the amount of forwards who are battling for roster spots, it’s going to take much more than skill to beat others out for a spot on the final roster. Matthews has taken note of the early intensity at training camp.
“It’s always good to kind of get the summer hockey habits out right away, just kind of get to competing,” Matthews continued. “Feel the bodies, feel the contact, feel the pressure, all that stuff….last year was a very competitive camp, this year’s been no different, it’s good to have that competition and just get right back into it, not be kinda one foot in one foot out.”
As for Matthews himself, head coach Craig Berube said he’s noticed that Matthews’ intensity is up compared to where he was last season.
“I see him, he’s more engaged. I think he’s feeling good,” Berube said. “He’s harder, heavier on pucks. You can see a little bit of difference out there.”
Matthews and the Maple Leafs will practice again on Saturday before visiting the Ottawa Senators for their first preseason game on Sunday afternoon.
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Toronto Maple Leafs forward Calle Jarnkrok is ready to turn the page on an injury-plagued 2024-25 season and return to form.
He missed the majority of the regular season due to a sports hernia injury he suffered in training camp, and then he had a setback from a groin injury. Jarnkrok was able to return to the lineup around the trade deadline, but could only muster up seven points (one goal and six assists) in 19 games.
Speaking with reporters after practice on Friday, he said it felt good to be on the ice not feeling any pain, which was a far cry from what he dealt with the prior year.
“It was no fun,” he said. “Not being out there, just trying to get back, and you can’t. Try again, you can’t. And then had to get the surgery done. It took a while to feel good again, but now I’m feeling great.”
While being able to work his way back into the lineup and gaining the trust of head coach Craig Berube to get some defensive shifts in the playoffs alongside Scott Laughton and Steven Lorentz, Jarnkrok did not fully enjoy himself on the ice. He admitted that he never felt 100% at any point while playing, with the struggle of playing catch-up so late in the season not doing him any favours.
The injury troubles now seem to be behind him, as Jarnkrok said he felt rejuvenated after his offseason training.
“It’s all the rest that takes some time, but I had a great summer,” he said. “A lot of skating, a lot of workouts. It was just a good summer.”
Getting his body back to a position where he feels good is always a good thing, especially knowing he is capable of chipping in around 30+ points when he is healthy. But he enters this camp with plenty of competition for roster spots, and Jarnkrok said he welcomes the challenge.
While his long-term future with the team remains unclear because of how crowded the forward group is, the Leafs will be giving him every opportunity to land a spot in their bottom-six. If nothing else, everyone beyond the scenes surely is pleased to see Jarnkrok back in the mix.
“I think so, for sure,” Berube said when asked if he has noticed a pep in Jarnkrok’s step so far at camp. “He missed most of the year, came back, and was still being bothered by the injury. Never really felt that good throughout the playoffs, either. He has had a full summer of training, he feels really good, and it’s noticeable. He looks really good to me, got a lot of jump in his step. We all know that Calle is a good player, but it’s about feeling good too and he feels good.”
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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.
