The Toronto Maple Leafs will play the first of a home-and-away against the Detroit Red Wings to wrap up their preseason campaign.
Set to play his second preseason match Thursday is Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. Owing to an undisclosed injury, Toronto’s captain saw a significant drop in production last season, but he’s now reportedly back at full strength and looking for a bounce-back year.
Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube spoke about what he saw from Matthews last season and what’s next heading into this year.
“It was an off year, there were things behind the scenes that we all sort of know about,” Berube said of Matthews. “He wasn’t a fully healthy player, but fought through it. I thought he played extremely well for what he was going through. He doesn’t just score goals, he does a lot of things for us. He’s penalty killing, he goes against top lines. He’s a great defensive player, good work ethic. I don’t think we should be overly concerned. He’s healthy, he’s looking good, he’s shooting the puck really well.”
It’s true that Matthews offers invaluable contributions across the ice and Berube has worked hard through his tenure so far to spotlight the hard work he puts in. That being said, Toronto’s coach conceded that tallying big numbers is an important part of the centreman’s game, and they hope to see those numbers grow again this year with a healthy Matthews.
“It’s not all about goals, but I do get it,” Berube continued. “He’s a goalscorer, everybody looks at him to score goals, and we do need him to score goals. But at the same time, it’s a team, it’s about winning games, and it’s about everybody contributing.”
As Matthews takes the ice tonight against the Red Wings, he’ll be skating alongside Matthew Knies and Max Domi. With a new look to Toronto’s offensive group this season, the hope is that the trio can become a consistent first line that can be relied on to put up big numbers this season. So while it is still preseason action, fans will be watching eagerly tonight to see what the three of them can achieve together.
PRESENTED BY 6IX INNING STRETCH PODCAST
Don’t tell Anthony Stolarz it’s just preseason.
The Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender looked in mid-season form Thursday night, making 40 saves in a 3-1 loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Stolarz put on a show, with his lone gaffe coming on the Red Wings’ second goal, after his failed clearing attempt on a loose puck in front led to Alex DeBrincat finding the back of the net. Toronto didn’t make it easy on him throughout the game by any means, as it was a parade to the penalty box.
With a new contract under his belt and some long-term job security for the first time in his NHL career, 2025-26 is setting up to be a monster season for 31-year-old Stolarz. Add in the fact Joseph Woll isn’t available at the moment, and Stolarz could see a lot of action in October. Don’t be surprised to see him start seven of the first eight games. Vezina Trophy incoming? If he plays like he did against the Red Wings, Stolarz could run away with it.
Head coach Craig Berube iced what is likely going to be the exact lineup who will face off against the Montreal Canadiens in the season opener. Auston Matthews supplied the only offence, scoring a power-play goal early on in the first period. Morgan Rielly was able to get the puck on net right off the draw, Matthew Knies tracked down a loose puck in front, and quickly put it on a tee for Matthews to finish it off.
Auston Matthews converts on the power playpic.twitter.com/W4S4E4LtIV
— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) October 2, 2025
The Leafs captain finding the back of the net is exactly what Matthews is looking for in his second, and likely final preseason game. At 100% healthy to begin the year, it will be fun to watch how hot of a start Matthews can get off to this season.
As for the rest of the Maple Leafs’ lineup, while Easton Cowan didn’t have his best game, he certainly didn’t play himself out of a roster spot. Cowan appears to have the leg up on Calle Jarnkrok and Nick Robertson, both of who could be healthy scratches to open the new year. Matias Maccelli had a good game against Detroit, showing off his ability to make the right pass in traffic, and some timely vision to create. Maccelli, Nicolas Roy, and Dakota Joshua appear to be starting the season as the Maple Leafs new third line, however, Maccelli saw some ice with William Nylander and John Tavares late, as Berube was searching for a spark.
The Maple Leafs move to 2-2-1 on the preseason, with their finale coming Saturday in Detroit. While there’s still a few questions to be answered before the puck drops ‘for real’, who is starting in net game 1 of the season isn’t one of them.
PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF SURVIVOR POOL
Think you’ve got what it takes to outlast everyone else? Test your hockey smarts in the Daily Faceoff Survivor Pool — a high-stakes game of elimination with a $2,500 grand prize for the last fan standing. The contest continues until there’s only one survivor — and that winner takes it all. Are you ready to survive? Sign up now and make your picks!
David Kampf was placed on waivers by the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday, as the team looks to replace the injured Scott Laughton ahead of Wednesday’s season opener against the Montreal Canadiens.
Laughton is listed as week-to-week with a lower body injury suffered during Thursday’s preseason loss to the Detroit Red Wings. Kampf took line rushes alongside Steven Lorentz and Easton Cowan during Friday’s practice and was widely believed to be the front-runner to replace Laughton in the lineup.
“It’s a tough loss for him and us. It’s a bad break. He’s had a real good camp. Yeah, it’s tough for everybody,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Laughton’s injury, via TSN’s Mark Masters.
Kampf played sparingly throughout the preseason, and it appears likely that Calle Jarnkrok will take over the fourth line, with Steven Lorentz on the left wing, while Cowan and Nick Robertson fight for the right wing spot.
“Of course, it’s hard, like, I think everyone wants to play, wants to be in the team,” Kampf said via Nick Barden of The Hockey News. “It was hard for me, but I’m trying to be positive and work hard every day.”
Cowan has outplayed Robertson during training camp and it appeared that he secured his opening night role after a series of stellar showings in preseason action. Michael Pezzetta has played sparingly throughout training camp and he’s not a natural fit at centre, so the Maple Leafs may need to get creative ahead of Wednesday’s opener.
“He’s a good NHL player. Been around. Played in the league for a long time so he’s reliable,” Berube said of Kampf.
Jarnkrok can play either centre or wing, and can be deployed throughout the lineup as needed, although at this juncture of his career, he’s best utilized against bottom-six competition. The 34-year-old has looked refreshed during training camp, coming off a season where he recorded a goal and seven points in 19 games, working his way back after undergoing groin and sports hernia surgery.
PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF SURVIVOR POOL
Think you’ve got what it takes to outlast everyone else? Test your hockey smarts in the Daily Faceoff Survivor Pool — a high-stakes game of elimination with a $2,500 grand prize for the last fan standing. The contest continues until there’s only one survivor — and that winner takes it all. Are you ready to survive? Sign up now and make your picks!
Toronto Maple Leafs forward David Kampf and defenceman William Villeneuve have cleared waivers on Saturday and can be assigned to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.
Kampf and Villeneuve were placed on waivers Friday as the Leafs make more cuts in anticipation of the regular season opener on Wednesday. Villeneuve passing through waivers was not a surprise given he was likely bound to begin the season in the AHL regardless, though he could be in the mix to get a call-up if the blueline runs into injury troubles.
Villeneuve found his footing offensively last season with 40 points (four goals and 36 assists) in 55 games played, along with two assists in two playoff games
Kampf, meanwhile, going through waivers is a bit of a surprise due to the circumstances that have befallen the Leafs recently. Scott Laughton was listed as week-to-week with a lower-body injury after suffering the ailment during Thursday’s preseason game against the Detroit Red Wings. Kampf took line rushes alongside Steven Lorentz and Easton Cowan during Friday’s practice and was widely believed to be the front-runner to replace Laughton in the lineup prior to him being placed on waivers.
The 30-year-old centre had been used sparingly by head coach Craig Berube dating back to the end of last season and was likely on the outside looking in to begin the campaign. That trend has continued into the preseason, with Calle Jarnkrok appearing to be in line to take over the fourth line as the centre option between Lorentz and Cowan.
“Of course, it’s hard, like, I think everyone wants to play, wants to be in the team,” Kampf said via Nick Barden of The Hockey News. “It was hard for me, but I’m trying to be positive and work hard every day.”
Kampf’s future with the Leafs remains more uncertain than ever now that he has cleared waivers. Reports throughout the summer indicated that the team was trying to move off his contract, though no deal materialized. It is certainly possible that the team opts to bring him back into the fold as a stopgap while Laughton recovers, though the liklihood of a trade has increased now that he is eligible to be sent down to the AHL.
Kampf recorded 13 points (five goals and eight assists) in 59 games played while going scoreless in one playoff appearance.
PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF SURVIVOR POOL
Think you’ve got what it takes to outlast everyone else? Test your hockey smarts in the Daily Faceoff Survivor Pool — a high-stakes game of elimination with a $2,500 grand prize for the last fan standing. The contest continues until there’s only one survivor — and that winner takes it all. Are you ready to survive? Sign up now and make your picks!
Just like the Toronto Maple Leafs’ roster in the wake of the departure of Mitch Marner, the Toronto Marlies are going to have a vastly different look this season. With the departure of top players and regular contributors like Alex Steeves, Fraser Minten, Joseph Blandisi, and Nick Abruzzese to other teams, there are going to be some new players competing for jobs in the top-six and on the top pairs for the Marlies.
It’s worth noting that because of the sheer amount of forwards the Leafs have competing for roster spots, players like Steeves didn’t get into a ton of NHL action despite their AHL totals showing they were more than ready to play in the NHL. That may remain the same this season, especially if Easton Cowan starts the season with the Leafs, so it’s hard to predict as of right now who might get significant playing time with the Leafs this season if anybody does. This also depends heavily on how the Marlies start the season and who’s contributing to that.
Outside of the obvious names like Cowan, here are a couple of Marlies who could be dark horse call-up candidates in 2025-26.
Luke Haymes
The Maple Leafs signed Haymes, a 6-foot-1, 203-pound centre after he was named as one of the top NCAA free agents following the 2024-25 season. He appeared in nine games with the Marlies at the end of last season and impressed with two goals and six points in those nine games. He spent three seasons with Dartmouth College and scored 12 goals in 22 games in his final season with them, and he can play both wing and centre, which will always give you a leg up with your head coach.
Haymes should get an immediate shot to play in the top six for the Marlies, and while fellow NCAA signing Jacob Quillan will likely be ahead of him on the list of calls to the big leagues, a strong start to the season could give Haymes a real chance to get noticed by Craig Berube.
William Villeneuve
While Topi Niemela owned the title of top defensive prospect for the past few years, William Villeneuve, who came from the same draft class, has quietly been working his way up the depth chart. The 6-foot-2 right-handed defenceman already has an advantage in that he’s right-handed, and he brings an element of puck-moving that the Leafs have sorely lacked in previous seasons. After back-to-back 25-point seasons in his first two years with the Marlies, Villeneuve had a breakout season last year and recorded 40 points in 55 games along with two assists in two playoff games.
The issue that presents itself with Villeneuve is that the Leafs already have a bunch of fringe NHL players competing for playing time should anybody on the back end get hurt. Philippe Myers, Henry Thrun, and Matt Benning are first, second, and third in line on paper to step in, but none of those players have the same power play quarterbacking ability that Villeneuve does. Should there be a situation where somebody like Morgan Rielly gets hurt or has to miss a few games, Villeneuve could be a sneaky candidate to get a call for a few games.
Borya Valis
Valis is on this list for a different reason than the other two. The Maple Leafs signed him out of the WHL as an undrafted free agent following a 2024-25 campaign that saw him put up 34 goals and 81 points in 66 games for his overage season. While his offensive numbers last season were attractive, it’s actually the other parts of his game that could earn him a call-up.
Valis is a physical power forward standing at 6-foot-2 and 192 pounds, and in his most recent preseason game, he skated on a line with David Kampf and Michael Pezzetta. Neither of these players are expected to crack the opening night roster, with Kampf possibly finding himself on the trade block and Pezzetta expected to provide a physical presence when called for it. Still, the fact that he skated with two fourth-line candidates in a preseason game tells me that he could be somebody in consideration should the Leafs have to fill a role on the fourth line for a few games. He might not provide the 34-goal offence we saw from him in junior, but if Craig Berube is looking for somebody to throw the body and be hard to play against, Valis could hear his name called.
The Maple Leafs will open the season on October 8 against the Montreal Canadiens, while the Marlies will kick off their season on October 10 against the Rochester Americans.
PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF SURVIVOR POOL
Think you’ve got what it takes to outlast everyone else? Test your hockey smarts in the Daily Faceoff Survivor Pool — a high-stakes game of elimination with a $2,500 grand prize for the last fan standing. The contest continues until there’s only one survivor — and that winner takes it all. Are you ready to survive? Sign up now and make your picks!
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced their final roster on Monday, and along with the final cuts and roster decisions, the team brought in a couple of new depth pieces via the waiver wire.
Goaltender Cayden Primeau comes in the wake of the Maple Leafs releasing James Reimer from his professional tryout (PTO) and Joseph Woll remaining on a leave of absence. Meanwhile, Blais is a forward with lots of bottom-six experience who will be yet another option to push for playing time on the Maple Leafs forward corps.
General manager Brad Treliving met with the media on Tuesday morning and explained his reasoning for claiming the two players. Regarding Primeau, he said that the team wanted a depth option that would allow prospect Dennis Hildeby to continue playing while Woll is away from the team.
“With Cayden, it was obviously with Joe’s situation, we brought James in and we felt bad for James,” Treliving said. “He really didn’t have a lot of time to get up and go through his camp and get his feet under him. We like the background of Cayden, it gives us more depth. The other piece of that is, Dennis has had a really good camp, but this allows him to keep playing. So, at the end of the day, we felt that it gave us depth at the position.”
Primeau was with the Montreal Canadiens for his whole career until Monday morning. He struggled in limited appearances with Montreal last season, with a 4.70 GAA (goals-against average) and a save percentage (SV%) of .836 in 11 games. These aren’t inspiring numbers, but it will give the Leafs a veteran option who can start a few games here and there until Woll returns.
Blais, meanwhile, has familiarity with head coach Craig Berube after playing for the St. Louis Blues when they won the Stanley Cup in 2018-19, which is precisely why they brought him in, according to Treliving.
“Sammy’s had a history with Chief going back to St. Louis, he won a Cup in St. Louis,” Treliving said. “If you look back, he was a real good player in St. Louis, went to New York, went through a major injury with his knee and sort of had to rebuild himself. He’s a player that spent last year in the American league, and he was a big part of that team’s success, winning the Calder Cup. Our staff has seen him a lot over his career but specifically last year. He had a good chance in Montreal, he gives us some depth, and some history with the coach.”
Blais spent last season with the Abbotsford Canucks, the AHL affiliate of the Vancouver Canucks, where he recorded 40 points in 51 regular season games and 19 points in 23 playoff games. He originally signed a one-year contract with the Canadiens but was claimed on waivers before he had the chance to play in a regular season game for them.
Circling back to the Cayden Primeau note, Treliving was also asked if there was an update on Woll’s status to which he didn’t reveal anything specific but remained optimistic.
“No updates there, we think things are progressing well, but I can’t give you a timeframe. He’s doing well.”
The Maple Leafs will open the season at home against the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday night.
PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF SURVIVOR POOL
Think you’ve got what it takes to outlast everyone else? Test your hockey smarts in the Daily Faceoff Survivor Pool — a high-stakes game of elimination with a $2,500 grand prize for the last fan standing. The contest continues until there’s only one survivor — and that winner takes it all. Are you ready to survive? Sign up now and make your picks!
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Sammy Blais is excited to be joining the team and being around some familiar faces, including head coach Craig Berube.
He was claimed off waivers from the Montreal Canadiens on Monday, alongside goalie Cayden Primeau who was claimed from the Carolina Hurricanes. Blais was registered on the Leafs’ opening night roster, though he was skating as the 13th forward during his first practice with the team.
Blais told reporters after practice on Tuesday that he is eager for the opportunity to prove himself as an NHL player.
“ I was happy,” he said. “I think it’s a good opportunity for me to be here, and knowing some people here too for sure helps. I thought I had a good camp in Montreal, and just really happy to be here and have that opportunity in front of me.”
He and Berube have known each other since the two were members of the Chicago Wolves, the AHL affiliate of the St. Louis Blues, and the two have usually not gone too many seasons apart from each other. Beyond Berube, Blais said he also already knew defenceman Simon Benoit and assistant coach Mike Van Ryn.
The head coach said that he knows what to expect out of the player and vice versa, which is no doubt something that makes the transition to Toronto easier on Blais.
“We always had a good relationship and he kind of knows the way I play, and he kinda likes that,” he said. “For me, I know what he expects from me, so I think it makes it a little easier to know someone. I’m just excited to show that I can still play in this league.”
Blais didn’t play in the NHL last year as he spent the entire campaign with the AHL’s Abbotsford Canucks. He made the most of his time there by scoring 40 points (14 goals and 26 assists) in 51 games played while adding 19 points (six goals and 13 assists) in 23 playoff games to help guide his team to the Calder Cup.
It has also been a grind for him to move past a knee injury he suffered back in 2021 when he was with the New York Rangers. But Blais feels that his time in the AHL made him confident as he was able to bring out some of the qualities that make him effective: heavy on the forecheck and a presence on offence.
“I’m really motivated,” he said. “I thought last year I proved that I was a good player still, and that I still have some gas left in the tank. and I’m just gonna try to prove that here.”
PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF SURVIVOR POOL
Think you’ve got what it takes to outlast everyone else? Test your hockey smarts in the Daily Faceoff Survivor Pool — a high-stakes game of elimination with a $2,500 grand prize for the last fan standing. The contest continues until there’s only one survivor — and that winner takes it all. Are you ready to survive? Sign up now and make your picks!
It’s rare that the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs have been good at the same time. And while Toronto might have the edge on them overall heading into the season, the gap has closed considerably over the past 12 months.
Last year, the Canadiens were still in the midst of their rebuild. Nobody expected them to finish in the bottom five again, but most still didn’t believe they were a playoff team. Despite some late-season shenanigans that nearly kept them out, Montreal made it and gave the Washington Capitals a bit of a headache early before eventually suffering a first-round exit.
Now? Nobody’s doubting the team from Quebec anymore. They’re legit.
Toronto will welcome its Original Six rival to Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday night to kick off the 2025-26 regular season. The Leafs went 3-1 against the Habs during the season, but it was an incredible 48-save shutout from goaltender Samuel Montembeault that ultimately sunk the Leafs.
Montreal’s top line of Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki and Juraj Slafkovsky all had career years in 2024-25, with Suzuki establishing himself as one of the most productive centers in the Atlantic Division. Montreal’s scoring depth looks significantly more dangerous, as well, with Ivan Demidov and Zack Bolduc set to play big roles on the wings. Montreal also has Kirby Dach and Patrik Laine at full health, which helps. Montreal’s forward group is still a work in progress, but it’s as legit a top-nine as the Canadiens have had since they made the Stanley Cup final in 2021 (Toronto was their first-round victim).
Defensively, all eyes will be on Lane Hutson. He’s coming off a Calder Trophy campaign – one of the best by a rookie defenseman over the past decade. If it wasn’t for his second-half play, the Canadiens likely wouldn’t have made the playoffs. You’ll hear a lot about his defensive struggles, but his game evolved to the point last year where it’s no longer a major concern. Noah Dobson had a rough preseason, but he’s still a high-impact defender when he’s at his best. Was the preseason just a weak stretch, or has his game fallen significantly? Betting odds would likely fall in favor of the former, but we’ll find out soon enough.
Montreal’s blueline, as a whole, looks tougher to play against than in previous outings. We know Arber Xhekaj loves to get physical any time he can. Alexandre Carrier is one heck of a third-line defender. Kaiden Guhle really grew into his own last year, and being another year older doesn’t hurt. Mike Matheson is Montreal’s premier veteran presence and can still be a solid two-way defender, even if he’s no longer as consistent as he used to be.
Going back to Xhekaj, who’ll be willing to drop the gloves with him tonight? Max Domi? Dakota Joshua? Simon Benoit? You know the Burlington, Ontario native will challenge just about anyone. That’s a storyline to watch tonight.
And then there’s Montembeault in net. His surface stats might not feel special, but his 30.79 goals saved above expected in all situations last year was third in the NHL (Anthony Stolarz was second at 31.2). Montembeault is expected to be on Canada’s Olympic team, too. He’s a legitimate goaltender and is fully capable of stealing games, as he did last October.
The Maple Leafs have a 10-4-1 record against Montreal dating back to Oct. 13, 2021. That’s rather one-sided. However, those days are likely to disappear soon. Montreal has a solid young core that’s growing into its own, and there are plenty of high-end prospects emerging from the pipeline.
Montreal’s blend of youth, experience, size, and skill makes them tough to deal with. They’ve got four lines that can do damage, and there’s no true weak link on the point. There’s still room for the top-end guys to blossom (watch out for a Slafkovsky breakout season), but the days of drafting near the top are over. And you know they’ll want nothing more than to stun the Leafs on their own turf.
The Canadiens set a new standard last year – it’s playoffs or bust from here on out. They’re likely not going deep this year, but they’re not going to be an easy team to contend with. If you thought Montreal already offered Toronto headaches in the past, get ready for more.
PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF SURVIVOR POOL
Think you’ve got what it takes to outlast everyone else? Test your hockey smarts in the Daily Faceoff Survivor Pool — a high-stakes game of elimination with a $2,500 grand prize for the last fan standing. The contest continues until there’s only one survivor — and that winner takes it all. Are you ready to survive? Sign up now and make your picks!
The Toronto Maple Leafs opened their season with a win Wednesday thanks to a game-winner from Morgan Rielly. The veteran blue liner broke a 2-2 tie midway through the third, with the Leafs adding two empty-net goals to defeat the Montreal Canadiens 5-2.
Speaking to media after the game, Rielly shared his initial thoughts on how the team managed their first match of the season.
“I think it looked like our first game,” he said. “There was some good and some not so good. But I think it’s good the way we stuck together and pulled it out. I thought we played well in the third, and that’s important.”
WELCOME BACK TO THE GOAL COLUMN, MORGAN RIELLY!
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 9, 2025
Emerging as the hero from the season opener, it’s a welcome start to the season offensively for Rielly. In September, Leafs GM Brad Treliving shared that he had a “real honest chat” with Rielly at the end of last season about rising to the best of his abilities going into this year, and that includes showing up on the scoresheet. Finishing the night with a goal and an assist, things are on track in that department for Rielly. But the veteran said it’s no different for him than what everyone on the team is trying to achieve this season.
“I mean we’re all trying to do it,” he said. “I think I’ve been open and honest about all those conversations, but we’re all trying to build off of what we’re doing and improve off last year. I thought there were lots of guys that did that tonight, and lots of guys who will look to do that as we keep going. So it’s a great first win, but lots to work on.”
Touching on that idea a few times in the press conference, Rielly expanded on the good and bad he saw from the team in their first game back.
“It’s kind of early season stuff,” he said. “It’s our first game. I’m not trying to say we sucked, but we’re gonna look to improve and build our game, we have high expectations for our group. I think at times in the middle of the game we didn’t manage the puck that well, and obviously in the third we came up with a goal, so we’re happy with the result.”
Toronto will take the good, take the bad, and take the win, now set to travel to Detroit to face the Red Wings this Saturday.
The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled a surprise move in late September, bring back longtime franchise goaltender James Reimer on a professional tryout contract nearly a decade since he last appeared with the team.
Reimer joined Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill on Leafs Morning Take to break down the past few weeks, sharing his initial reaction when the Leafs reached out.
“I was very interested,” Reimer said. “Obviously I have great memories from Toronto, nothing but good things to say about the city and my time there. When the Toronto Maple Leafs come calling, you pick up the phone. So I was glad that something worked out that made sense for me to go out there.”
Reimer made one preseason appearance back in the blue and white sweater, splitting the net with Dennis Hildeby for the Maple Leafs final tune-up game before the regular season. Two days later, he was released from his PTO, sharing on Wednesday that it just didn’t line up in the end.
“Obviously it’s a unique situation there,” he said. “There were some paths presented going forward, but I think on both sides it just didn’t make sense. So that’s kinda how it ended.”
Regardless, it was a nice blast from the past to have Reimer skating with the team once again as they gear up for the upcoming season. Training with Hildeby and Anthony Stolarz, the longtime Leafs goalie was able to witness the next generation of Toronto’s tendies up close. And he had great things to say about what he saw.
“(Stolarz) is a really good goalie,” Reimer said. “I think that he’s got a great mix of ability, he’s calm in there and uses his size really well. I think that serves him incredibly well. With goalies, sometimes big guys can have holes, it’s sometimes hard to cover different parts of the net or they don’t move well. I think (Stolarz) uses his size really impressively and he’s got good reads to go on top of it.”
With Joseph Woll out indefinitely, Hildeby has also had some extra eyes on him, and Reimer added what he likes about the 24-year-old rising talent.
“The way he moves as a big guy and his technical game,” Reimer said. “I got to practice with him a couple times this week and I meant what I said, he’s got a bright future. He’ll keep developing his game. I think your reads get better and better as you get more experience. With the skillset he has, it’s just a matter of time before it all comes together.”
While Reimer won’t be appearing between the pipes for the Maple Leafs this season, his perspective as a long time tenant of Toronto’s crease is always appreciated. Still an unrestricted free agent, it remains to be seen what’s next for the 37-year-old goaltender.
PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF SURVIVOR POOL
Think you’ve got what it takes to outlast everyone else? Test your hockey smarts in the Daily Faceoff Survivor Pool — a high-stakes game of elimination with a $2,500 grand prize for the last fan standing. The contest continues until there’s only one survivor — and that winner takes it all. Are you ready to survive? Sign up now and make your picks!
The Toronto Maple Leafs announced on Friday that they have moved up the start time for Monday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings to 2 pm. EST to avoid conflict with the Toronto Blue Jays.
A birdie just told me our game on Monday is now set for 2pm@BlueJays pic.twitter.com/rPML2kgyBT
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) October 10, 2025
The move was done because the Blue Jays are scheduled to host Game 2 of the ALCS against either the Detroit Tigers or Seattle Mariners that same day, and the start time would have overlapped with the Leafs’ originally scheduled time of 4 p.m. This results in a doubleheader of sorts, where fans of both teams can watch the two games back-to-back without missing a moment of the action.
The Leafs also announced that they will be hosting a watch party at Scotiabank Arena for the fans who bought tickets to the game, where the Blue Jays game will be aired on the scoreboard above centre ice.
“The Blue Jays playoff excitement has captured the entire city and we want to help make sure that fans don’t miss a pitch,” MLSE CEO Keith Pelley said in a press release. “We greatly appreciate the cooperation by the NHL and Amazon Prime to make this time change possible and we all look forward to cheering on both the Leafs and the Blue Jays on Monday afternoon and evening.”
This marks the latest instance where the Leafs and Jays uniquely crossed paths this week. Many Leafs players were in attendance for Game 2 of the ALDS against the New York Yankees, with photos of them watching on going viral on social media. During the Leafs’ season opener against the Montreal Canadiens, fans got updates of Game 4 on the scoreboard and watch-alongs at various points throughout the night.
At one point during the third period, the arena erupted as the Jays extended their lead to 4-1, prompting fans to start chanting “Let’s Go Blue Jays.”
“ I like that. It’s not the first time I’ve heard them, but I heard them early in my career in a negative way,” defenceman Morgan Rielly joked to reporters after the game. “ 2015, 2016, whatever that was. So it’s cool. We got the game on now, so we’ve got the boys all watching.”
Given the uniqueness of the circumstances where the Leafs are currently playing second fiddle to the Jays in Toronto, you can expect more situations like this to continue as long as the baseball team is in the playoffs. In the meantime, Leafs Nation needs to adjust their Monday plans accordingly because the start time of the hockey game has now moved up two hours.
PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF SURVIVOR POOL
Think you’ve got what it takes to outlast everyone else? Test your hockey smarts in the Daily Faceoff Survivor Pool — a high-stakes game of elimination with a $2,500 grand prize for the last fan standing. The contest continues until there’s only one survivor — and that winner takes it all. Are you ready to survive? Sign up now and make your picks!
Toronto Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan will not make his NHL debut against the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday.
Cowan, Sammy Blais and Philippe Myers are among the Maple Leafs’ healthy scratches for Saturday’s contest. The 20-year-old is Toronto’s top prospect and was used in a fourth line role extensively throughout training camp. It’s unclear when he’ll make his NHL debut but following Toronto’s 5-2 season opening win over the Montreal Canadiens on Wednesday, it appears head coach Craig Berube isn’t ready to tinker with the lineup yet. Cowan is eligible to play with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies this season.
Blais was claimed off waivers on October 6 and was scratched for the season opener. The 29-year-old is reunited with Berube, after winning the Stanley Cup together in 2019 with the St. Louis Blues.
“He knows what I expect out of him, and I know what I’m getting out of him,” Berube said of Blais on October 7. “I think more than anything, I know what type of player he is and what he brings to our team, and he knows what I want, so, it’s good to have him.”
Nick Robertson remains on the third line with Max Domi and Dakota Joshua, while Calle Jarnkrok will be suiting up alongside Steven Lorentz and Nicolas Roy. Robertson earned his place in the lineup after a stellar preseason, where his scoring ability was lauded by the organization. Jarnkrok appears to be back in 2023-24 form and scored against the Canadiens.
Anthony Stolarz is projected to make his second consecutive start. Stolarz made 31 saves during Wednesday’s victory and was cool, calm and composed when called upon. Cayden Primeau will serve as Stolarz’s backup.
Maple Leafs’ projected lineup vs. Canadiens
Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Matias Maccelli
Bobby McMann-John Tavares-William Nylander
Dakota Joshua-Max Domi-Nick Robertson
Steven Lorentz-Nicolas Roy-Calle Jarnkrok
Jake McCabe-Chris Tanev
Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo
Simon Benoit-Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Anthony Stolarz (projected starter)
Cayden Primeau
PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF SURVIVOR POOL
Think you’ve got what it takes to outlast everyone else? Test your hockey smarts in the Daily Faceoff Survivor Pool — a high-stakes game of elimination with a $2,500 grand prize for the last fan standing. The contest continues until there’s only one survivor — and that winner takes it all. Are you ready to survive? Sign up now and make your picks!
Nicolas Roy feels the Toronto Maple Leafs beat themselves on Saturday night in Detroit.
The Leafs were up 2-0 to end the first period, thanks in large part to their depth, including Roy, who scored his first as a Leaf, and then the wheels fell off. Costly turnovers, bad defensive reads, and breakdowns in their own zone, it’s still early in the season, but it’s obvious there’s a lot to clean up for the Maple Leafs after dropping game two 6-3.
“I mean, it’s early season, I think the assessment for the defensive zone is mental mistakes there. Leaving guys wide open back door, can’t happen,” stated Roy to reporters postgame.
“I take big responsibility in that as well. We have to do a better job. I think we did in the first period, for a good part in the third period, there. But it got away from us in the second.”
The Maple Leafs gave up three unanswered in the second period, which was easily their worst stretch of hockey we’ve seen to this point in the young season. The ice was tilted, and the Red Wings took advantage, which eventually carried over to the third, and allowed for the Red Wings to finish the job, and take two points from Toronto.
It wasn’t all bad for the Maple Leafs, as goaltender Anthony Stolarz kept his team in the game. Stolarz stopped 29 saves in defeat, in a game that could have been much uglier if he didn’t stand tall, especially in the middle frame. Roy feels that shouldn’t go unnoticed and praised Stolarz’s performance after the game.
“I mean, he kept us in the game. In that second period, if he’s not there, we’re not in the game anymore. He played unreal, and I wish we could battle back and get one more in the third period there, but that’s just how it goes sometimes. But, really good game from him.”
Roy has been one of the Maple Leafs most complete players through two games this season, and has shown early in the year that he can bring a lot to the table for Craig Berube’s hockey club. Roy potted his first as a Leaf on Saturday night, but he’s well aware he needs to be a jack of all trades for his new team.
“It felt good, obviously try to contribute as much as I can in different situations, whether it’s faceoffs, or playing PK, whatever it is. So, it’s nice to contribute offensively as well.”
Both teams will enjoy Thanksgiving Sunday off the ice, and are back at it for an afternoon showdown on Monday. Let’s hope the Maple Leafs can keep the pedal to the floor for a full 60 minutes, and more importantly, limit the mental breakdowns.
PRESENTED BY THE DAILY FACEOFF SURVIVOR POOL
Think you’ve got what it takes to outlast everyone else? Test your hockey smarts in the Daily Faceoff Survivor Pool — a high-stakes game of elimination with a $2,500 grand prize for the last fan standing. The contest continues until there’s only one survivor — and that winner takes it all. Are you ready to survive? Sign up now and make your picks!
