News Maple Leafs Team Notes

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs’ adjustments to defensive system is the root cause of their issues

The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing a major crisis with their defensive structure and how they approach plays in an attempt to neutralize the opponent.

Last season saw the Leafs barely give up any quality chances, box out the opposition in tight, and thus make it easier for their netminders to track the puck and make the stop. This season is a different story so far, as they have given up the second-most goals in the NHL with 60 at the time of filing and no indication that the bleeding will stop anytime soon.

The Leafs are allowing far too many rush chances of high quality. Their net-front presence has been vastly weaker than it was the year prior, and the decision-making with the puck is resulting in them getting hemmed in for far longer than they should. It feels as though the players are gung-ho to get back on the offensive side of the puck and abandon their defensive structure. Considering that their team’s defensive play in the prior campaign was good enough to win them the Atlantic Division and reach Game 7 of the second round, the drastic drop-off in overall defensive play is very concerning.

What makes it all the more befuddling is the fact that the Leafs were going into the year with the defensive unit still intact, with the only difference being that they were a year older. A sense of continuity of any kind beyond the nucleus has been a rare sight in this era of the team, so seeing the band brought back together was viewed in a positive light during the offseason. There also weren’t that many alterations to the roster as a whole beyond Mitch Marner leaving and a few new forwards coming in.

The cast of characters on the team is mostly identical to what was used during the 2024-25 campaign, yet the results to this point are vastly different from how things went from a year prior. And the issue lies in a change in philosophy to how the Leafs are approaching the defensive side of the puck.

You may recall that there were some changes behind the bench during the offseason with Lane Lambert departing as associate coach to become head coach of the Seattle Kraken. Former Detroit Red Wings coach Derek Lalonde came in as the replacement, with ample experience working as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning during their Stanley Cup wins in 2020 and 2021.

Parts of Leafs Nation had concerns about the hire because of how poorly the Red Wings played defensively under his watch, but it was offset by evidence of the success he had with the Lightning. It is unclear what area of focus Berube has given Lalonde on the team, but there’s a good chance it was the penalty kill and that’s an area the Leafs are respectable in so far this year.

There was also a point of reference that GM Brad Treliving made during his end-of-year media availability about how he wanted the Leafs’ blueline to perform in 2025-26.

“I like the length of our defence, I like the makeup of our defence but you still have to get up and down the ice. Part of how we play will lend itself to giving up some volume,” he said on May 29th. “We need to get more offence from our defence. Not just goals. We can get some more volume the other way. In terms of personnel, we’ll see. I like the D-core but we can’t be rigid. We fell short. We have to continue to look at ways we can get better.”

Now it is true that offensive production for the Leafs’ backend was a major area of concern last year as they were among the lowest scoring in the NHL as far as goals and points. And whatever changes they made on the offensive side have done wonders for the likes of Morgan Rielly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and Jake McCabe who are all having good starts to the year scoring-wise. But the emphasis on over-correcting for the lack of blueline production has played a major factor in the team’s defensive struggles.

As mentioned earlier, the Leafs as a whole seem to be more preoccupied with generating offence instead of playing within the structure Berube had them in to plenty of success last year. It feels as if they are not getting their timing right on when to make the aggressive push and when to fall back, especially with some of their players not being fleet of foot. Instead of making the same play in regrouping back at 50/50 pucks, they are taking their chances and getting frequently burned for it off the rush.

Even if the goalie makes the save, the Leafs’ supposed offensive mindset has them making inexcusable decisions with the puck in the defensive end that result in them being hemmed in far longer than they should. Rather than recalibrate to assess their options, it feels as if they are trying to make blind and risky passes that get swallowed up by the opposition or can’t get enough mustard on the clearing attempts. And when they do get the puck out, the scoring chances are one-and-done before it goes right back the other way.

“Communication is a big piece,” Auston Matthews said after Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. “I think we tend to wanna play quick and I think there’s opportunities sometimes to get the puck in the middle of the ice some more, and that’s just communication. That’s just knowing where guys are gonna be and being more predictable on breakouts, so we can get the puck, play fast, and get on their end of the ice as quickly as possible.”

Sure, you can ask for your goaltending to make a save from time to time because they haven’t been stellar to this point either. But part of their struggles stems from the lack of support they are getting from the defence as a whole, where more higher quality chances are getting to the net and there is less protection around the crease. That’s not to say the performance of the netminders will immediately improve once the Leafs start being more supportive, but it will go a long way towards making it easier on them to track the puck.

It is clear that the new defensive structure doesn’t seem to mesh well with the personnel the Leafs have at their disposal, and it has resulted in a perfect storm of poor defensive play from the team as a whole to this point. The status quo cannot continue because it has not worked, and it could have major ramifications on the season if changes aren’t enacted.

They need to strike a balance between their lethal offence and their defensive approach in a way that works well for everyone. Instead of their blueliners trying to make aggressive pushes when they aren’t the quickest skaters, they have to exercise caution and fall back to have support for the netminder. The forwards on the defensive side need to be more helpful as well in terms of covering their man and their placement on the ice when attempting to start the breakout. And above all else, their decision-making with the puck in their own end has to be better.

The change in philosophy to the defensive system has not worked, and the Leafs need to find a way to get it back closer to what was used a year ago or else things will only get worse.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-adjustments-defensive-system-root-cause-issues

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews leaves game after hit from Bruins’ Nikita Zadorov

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews left Tuesday’s game against the Boston Bruins after taking a hit from Nikita Zadorov during the second period.

Matthews went to the locker room during a TV timeout, after getting sent into the boards. Here is the play in question:

Matthews isn't on the Leafs bench

took this hit from Zadorov earlier pic.twitter.com/91tYNUlMHF

— Omar (@TicTacTOmar) November 12, 2025

Toronto’s captain played 10:51 and did not record a shot, prior to leaving the game.

It would be a crushing loss for the Maple Leafs if Matthews missed any time at all. Matthews missed 15 games last season due to a lingering upper-body injury, where his velocity and location were affected. During his first year as Maple Leafs’ captain, Matthews recorded 33 goals and 78 points in 67 games. Matthews has recorded nine goals and 14 points to start the 2025-26 campaign.

Matthews is two years removed from a 69-goal campaign, the best output by any player since Mario Lemieux during the 1995-96 season. He is the Maple Leafs’ franchise player and started the season as one of the NHL’s best shot creators at 5-on-5.

Prior to the start of the season, Matthews said he’s fully healthy, while being cognizant of his workload as he is expected to captain the United States men’s hockey team during the Olympics.

“I think you just have to manage it as the season goes along,” Matthews said on September 17. “I think for myself, over the last couple of years, this summer especially, I think you look internally at what’s worked for you, what hasn’t worked. I’ve always enjoyed different challenges over the summer, and change, whether it’s routine, workout stuff, on ice. I just think it’s as how the season goes along. It’s a pretty condensed season, similar to the COVID year, with the Olympics and all that. My main focus is obviously camp and when that time comes, I’ll take that on when it comes.”

The Leafs Nation will update this story as more details emerge.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tor...-leaves-game-boston-bruins-hit-nikita-zadorov

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

4 takeaways from Leafs-Bruins: Matthews exits game, Stolarz pulled from 2nd consecutive start

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube surmised that his team doesn’t value the defensive side of the puck following Sunday’s loss to the Carolina Hurricanes. Berube’s assessment rang even truer, following a 5-3 loss to the Boston Bruins, where the scoreline doesn’t accurately reflect the margin between both clubs. It was an ugly loss for the Maple Leafs, who could be in deep trouble after a pair of key injuries.

Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews was ruled out of Tuesday’s contest with a lower-body injury, after getting hit into the boards by Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov. Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz was pulled after the first period, allowing three goals on 10 shots. It was later revealed that Stolarz suffered an upper-body injury during the first period and did not return, with Dennis Hildeby serving as his replacement.

Here are four takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ 5-3 loss to the Bruins:

Auston Matthews exits game during 2nd period after hit from Bruins’ Nikita Zadorov​

It was an ugly loss for the Maple Leafs, but the injuries are even more concerning. Auston Matthews left the game after taking a hit from Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov and did not return. Matthews was visibly upset upon going to the locker room, and after missing 15 games last season, you have to be worried about his long-term outlook.

Toronto’s captain was designated with a lower-body injury, which would mean its a new ailment, as he sustained an unspecified upper-body injury last year, which kept hm out of 15 games. After the game, none of Matthews’ teammates claimed to have seen the hit, only wishing their teammate well, ostensibly moving forward to Thursday’s game.

“I think it’s a penalty, personally, but I’m not the referee,” Berube said post-game. “I don’t like it. I don’t like the hit. He’s in a vulnerable position. So, whatever, nothing I can do about it.”

Berube said they’ll have to wait until tomorrow to determine the severity of Matthews’ injury.

“I don’t know exactly. I can’t give you a timeline or (tell you) how serious it is right now. I’m not sure when he hurt it to be honest with you.”

If Matthews misses any time at all, it would be crushing for the Maple Leafs. He’s started the season as one of the league’s best shot creators at 5-on-5 and he’s the team’s franchise player, while the Maple Leafs are already dealing with Scott Laughton and Chris Tanev out of the lineup. You have to hope it’s not a lingering issue for Matthews, who was showing signs of his usual shot velocity and location through the past few weeks.

Stolarz’s poor form is extremely worrisome after 2nd consecutive pull​

Anthony Stolarz’s upper-body injury doesn’t appear to be serious, Berube confirmed post-game. That certainly warrants a sigh of relief, but we have to focus on Stolarz’s in-game performance: he was simply awful and was replaced by Dennis Hildeby for the second consecutive game.

Lindholm gets it right back

: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/PcOPdYhmMI

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) November 12, 2025

Stolarz could perhaps be absolved of fault on Pavel Zacha’s opening goal, as David Pastrnak’s centring pass hit Zacha’s skate, and deflected in. The latter two goals were inexcusable. Hampus Lindholm beat Stolarz cleanly from the point on an unassuming wrist shot, that needed to be saved, reestablishing the Bruins’ lead.

Steeves scores against his former team

: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/Cj8Q7ldEi8

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) November 12, 2025

Alex Steeves exacted some revenge against the Maple Leafs as well, beating Stolarz cleanly between the legs, as the puck trickled into the net.

As of 1st intermission…#Leafs Anthony Stolarz' NHL ranks since calling out team after loss on October 18 (does not include games played on that night):

4.05 GAA (worst in NHL)
.874 SV% (2nd-worst in NHL)

*minimum 200 shots faced

— Sportsnet Stats (@SNstats) November 12, 2025

Stolarz’s excellent form last year covered up the Maple Leafs’ middling offence at 5-on-5, but this year, he’s been one of the NHL’s worst starters to begin the season. If Joseph Woll aces his conditioning start with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies on Wednesday, it may be time to call directly back up to the NHL level. Dennis Hildeby acquitted himself well again on Tuesday, but at this point, the Maple Leafs may need some real reinforcements.

Steven Lorentz is the lone bright spot for the Maple Leafs in tough loss​

Steven Lorentz was the lone bright spot for the Maple Leafs, scoring his first goal of the year, while drawing a penalty during the first period. Lorentz picked off Bruins defenceman Charlie McAvoy, then fired the puck past an unsuspecting Jeremy Swayman to tie the game. It was also the Leafs’ first short-handed goal of the season.

Lorentz ties it up shorthanded!!!

: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/bcbdzyLscD

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) November 12, 2025

Lorentz, Max Domi (one of the few players to stick up for Matthews by taking on the much larger Zadorov, along with Bobby McMann) and Sammy Blais outshot the Bruins 6-0, with 4:43 of icetime at 5-on-5 via Natural Stat Trick. These numbers don’t matter as much for the fourth line, but they did win their minutes clearly, and this is an encouraging sign for Lorentz, who was rendered a healthy scratch during Sunday’s game. There are no easy solutions for the Maple Leafs, and there will be some changes, but Lorentz ought to stay in the lineup, at least for Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Kings.

Is it time for Henry Thrun to get his first look with the Maple Leafs?​

Henry Thrun was acquired from the San Jose Sharks in a trade for Ryan Reaves over the summer. Thrun struggled defensively on a Sharks team that was still several years away from genuine contention, by design, but the Leafs certainly need a change on the blue line. Philippe Myers’ exit attempts haven’t worked at all this year, and he took an undisciplined penalty in the first period that was immediately punished by Pavel Zacha on the ensuing power play, setting the tone for the game.

Who should come out of the lineup? Myers and Simon Benoit are both candidates, while Brandon Carlo has struggled badly alongside Morgan Rielly to start the year. The only unimpeachable player at this point may be Oliver Ekman-Larsson, who adds an element of toughness and fearlessness that the team seems to be lacking writ large. Perhaps William Villeneuve will get into some games as well, as the Maple Leafs sport the worst defence in the league.

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offering a unique dining and social experience just steps from transit and the
arena—perfect for pregame meals before tip-off. Open weekdays from 11am to 10pm,
TABLE serves up morning treats, creative eats, and lively after-work events. With a
private terrace overlooking Toronto’s elevated park, guests enjoy stunning views
alongside year-round programming that includes food tastings, cooking classes, live
music, and pop-up events designed to spark connection and creativity.
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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/4-t...its-game-stolarz-pulled-2nd-consecutive-start

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Tomas Kaberle offers up an old-school solution for the struggling Maple Leafs: Leafs Morning Take

It’s official: The Toronto Maple Leafs are in trouble.

For the third consecutive outing – second against Boston – Craig Berube’s bunch were outclassed and outmatched on Tuesday night at TD Garden.

Just for good measure, in the process, they lost both Auston Matthews (Lower Body) and Anthony Stolarz (Upper Body) to injury, too. This team is in shamble, and quite frankly, so are we. To kick off the Wednesday edition of Leafs Morning Take, we gave our initial thoughts on the latest disappointing effort. They look lost, they look broken, and honestly, it looks like Berube’s message isn’t getting through to these guys anymore.

After that, we got to a full-blown game recap. If you’re keeping score at home, 15 of Toronto’s 17 games this season have hit the over. In addition to that, the Leafs have now allowed 5+ goals SEVEN TIMES. Translation: This team can’t play defence. Most specifically, the most appalling part of the night was the start to the game. Coming off the weekend’s embarrassment, the Leafs took three minor penalties in the first eight minutes of the game. Once again, they surrendered the first goal of the game and trailed 3-1 after the first frame. Hell, even Alex Steeves scored against them. Stolarz was brutal for the second straight outing surrendering three goals on 11 shots. He didn’t return for the second. The Leafs are calling it an upper body injury, we’re calling it a mercy pull. Additionally, we tackled the Matthews injury, the initial Zadorov hit, and Max Domi’s third period response to it.

Then, long-time Leafs blue line and 2011 Stanley Cup champion Tomas Kaberle stopped by to weigh in on Toronto’s ugly three game losing skid. Furthermore, Kaberle dissected the d-core and what’s been going wrong for the Leafs – in general –defensively. He thinks there needs to be more trust and that they need to play more like a team. Also, Kaberle reacted to Morgan Rielly passing him for sixth all-time in assists and second among D in Leafs history. Lastly, he dished on if he thinks this Leafs team can figure it out and what it was like to play with Zdeno Chara and Alexander Mogilny, who both were just inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame this past Monday night.

Next up for the Maple Leafs is a date on home ice with the Los Angeles Kings. Speaking of which, former NHLer and co-host of Energy Line with Nate & JSB, Nate Thompson, will stop by the Thursday edition of Leafs Morning Take to tee that one up. Talk at 11 AM ET!

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tom...the-struggling-maple-leafs-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Do the Maple Leafs have an accountability issue?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to a tough start this season, now on a three-game losing skid after falling 5-3 to the Boston Bruins on Tuesday night.

Owing to a few bad penalties and giveaways early, the Bruins built a 4-1 lead in just over 20 minutes. As Toronto started to rally back, Max Domi took a penalty, and Boston put the game to bed. It was a frustrating watch for Leafs fans who continue to tune in nightly with the expectation that the team has learned some lessons from the last game, only to make the same mistakes.

But what was maybe most disheartening was the reaction from the team in the locker room after the game. Speaking to media, veterans like Max Domi and John Tavares offered more of the same vague generalities we’ve been hearing all season.

“Despite the outcome, I think every guy in here battled in the third period, and that’s all you can really ask,” Domi said, adding very little on his third period penalty that may have cost them the game.

“I thought we battled pretty hard, maybe just didn’t execute on some of our opportunities,” Tavares said.

As the team continues to drop important matches in similar ways, it begs the question: are the Leafs really taking accountability for their losses?

By no means am I saying that it’s time to panic, or that the Leafs need to start disparaging their teammates at the podium. Nor is this meant to call out Domi or Tavares specifically–Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and other seasoned players have come up with similar words as of late. It’s that comments like theirs point to a bigger issue with the Leafs. There’s no denying that this team, which came into the season with high expectations, is struggling right now. As things continue to go south, who amongst the team’s leadership group is willing to step up and carry that on their shoulders? A good player can thrive when their team is succeeding, but a great player and leader is one who owns up to their mistakes and takes accountability for a loss, even when it’s not their fault.

Take the example of Anthony Stolarz’s comments in October. After an early season loss to the Seattle Kraken, he received praise for calling out the team’s perceived lack of effort. But instead of his teammates wearing the criticism, and owning up to it, Stolarz backed down. Just days later the goalie clarified his comments and Nylander came out saying “it’s all good,” as if Stolarz’s valid criticism was overly harsh or abrasive. In that moment, the team had an opportunity to come out and embrace that they hadn’t been good enough for their goalie, but instead they brushed it off.

Moreover, Stolarz himself has struggled mightily in between the pipes since then, posting a 4.05 GAA and an .874 SV% since those comments, per Sportsnet Stats. Again, it’s not that the blame is on Stolarz, as the team’s defence has looked poor in front of him, but now more than ever is the time for the goaltender to be open and honest about his own struggles in the crease this season.

All to say, Tuesday night’s postgame presser was a frustrating watch for a fanbase struggling to understand what is going so wrong with this team right now. There’s no doubt the players are feeling it too, of course no one thinks they want to be dropping key games, but a bit of individual accountability would go a long way. And ultimately, whoever steps up and wears the weight of these losses on their shoulders will be remembered and respected most from this period when the team turns things around.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/do-toronto-maple-leafs-have-accountability-issue

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Nate Thompson believes that the Leafs have it in them to crawl out of his hole: Leafs Morning Take

Simply put, it’s been a busy news day in Toronto.

The Leafs are IN one —there’s no doubt it.

First off, it was revealed that Auston Matthews will miss at least one week with a lower body issue. Craig Berube doesn’t think it’s serious, but as we know by now, take anything the Leafs say about injuries with a grain of salt. For what it’s worth, the Leafs are 45-24-2 all-time without Matthews in the lineup. Everyone will need to elevate against the Los Angeles Kings.

Meantime, the David Kampf saga is finally headed for a resolution. He’s played his last game in Toronto. The Leafs are set to place the disgruntled centre on waivers for the purpose of contract termination. That means Toronto will get the cap space and Kampf can pick a new team – if he wants – by Friday afternoon.

After that, we got into a full preview of Leafs/Kings. Toronto’s lost three in a row. Dennis Hildeby will get the call in goal. At this point, Anthony Stolarz is being considered day-to-day with an upper body issue. We’re wondering how much this is about getting Stolie away from the rink for a few days for a reset. He needs it. The Leafs will be in tough against Los Angeles, who are one of the best road teams in the NHL. The good news is that Toronto’s one three straight meetings with the Kings. To start, it looks like the Leafs will deploy a top line of Knies, Tavares, and Nylander. We’ll see where that goes. In other roster news, Scott Laughton was placed on IR retroactive to November 8th and Artur Akhtyamov was called from the Marlies to back-up Hildeby. You would have to think Joseph Woll’s close to being recalled. For what it’s worth, he gave up three goals on 28 shots in a 3-2 OT loss versus Grand Rapids on Wednesday morning.

Former NHLer turned broadcaster Nate Thompson then stopped by the show to preview the game. He thinks this could be a trap game for the Kings, who are coming off an impressive 5-1 beatdown of Montreal. Furthermore, Thompson dished on Matthews and Stolarz, and how the Leafs can overcome these big injuries. Additionally, he brought a depth players’ mentality to the table. Simply put, he thinks the Leafs need to simplify their game, zone in defensively, and play uneventful hockey. He also predicted that Berube’s bunch would turn things around eventually.

Lastly, Jay Rosehill AKA Jay Friedman dropped a bomb to finish off the show. He heard from a well-placed source that the Leafs are very interested in acquiring Calgary’s Rasmus Andersson. The fit makes sense, but what would that cost? Toronto’s not in a good position to add right now, that’s for sure.

Win or loss, we’ll be back for the Friday edition of Leafs Morning Take to break things down. Also, 2x Stanley Cup champion & former Maple Leaf Dave Bolland will drop by the show once again.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/nat...m-to-crawl-out-of-his-hole-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

John Tavares sees improvement in Leafs’ defensive efforts despite loss to Kings

The Toronto Maple Leafs’ struggles continued on Thursday night, falling 4-3 in overtime to the Los Angeles Kings. They are now on a four-game losing skid, but managed to escape the game with their first point over that stretch.

John Tavares scored two goals for the Maple Leafs, stepping up to try and bring this team back to life. Tavares gave his perspective on what he liked from the team’s efforts despite dropping another game.

“We kept battling and stuck together,” Tavares said post-game. “I think in the second and third, we’re defending too much, we’re on our heels. Saying that, I think we defended a lot better than we have been. It was a lot tighter. So at times we gotta execute a little better, but other than giving up more shots than we’d like to, I think it was harder to get to our net, harder to get cleaner looks.”

Toronto allowed 37 shots on net Thursday, only managing 15 itself. And while four goals against hardly comes across as a strong defensive effort, it’s also the fewest the team has conceded in a night through their losing skid. Of course, there’s still plenty work to do, and as a longtime member of the Leafs’ leadership team, Tavares recognizes that well.

“We know we haven’t been to the level that we expect on a consistent basis and we got to work our way through it,” he said. “Obviously, it’s been a battle for us and we gotta continue to stay with it and find our way here. Things are only getting tougher and tougher within our own division, within the league. We just got to stay at it and know we got a lot better in our game, a lot better individually. But the urgency has to be high.”

As the Leafs continue to drop games, it’s become unclear what exactly needs to be done to get back in the win column. For Tavares, it’s still just about doing the simple things right to tilt games in their favour.

“I still think we can win more pucks, we can be a little bit quicker with our pace, the way we move the puck up the ice, and how we’re on top of the opponent,” he said. “You know, at times there’s still a little bit too much separation. I still think there’s loose pucks that we can be on top of and earn.”

Toronto resumes its schedule Saturday on the road against the Chicago Blackhawks.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/joh...onto-maple-leafs-defensive-efforts-loss-kings

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Craig Berube says Maple Leafs need to stick together and fight through adversity

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube is going through his toughest challenge since manning the bench, as the team is in the midst of a sluggish start to the season.

The Leafs have lately been struggling to generate any positive momentum for a sustainable period of time, compounded by their ongoing four-game losing streak, where they have allowed at least four goals against in each of them. Even when they were winning games, the defensive struggles have been paramount, with less than convincing performances for a team that was expected to be in the upper echelon of the league going into the season.

Berube knows that the issues lie in getting the puck cleanly out of their zone and spending too much time defending, so the solution is to keep building on the good that has come from their recent form.

“ I thought the guys worked. They had pretty good energy out there, which is good,” he said to reporters after Friday’s practice. “Things aren’t good right now. A lot of times, you can come in today with practice, everybody’s hanging their heads and kind of going through the motions. I didn’t see that today, which is good.  We had energy, guys worked hard, they did what we asked them to do, and just trying to reinforce things here. Just get going in the right direction, and you never know.”

One thing that has helped is getting Joseph Woll back in the mix, who was activated earlier in the day after completing his conditioning stint with the Toronto Marlies. Berube didn’t confirm if his returning netminder would be getting the nod on Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks, but did stress that having him back means a lot to the team.

“He’s the same old Joe to me in practice,” he said. “I like what I see, he’s a hard worker. He looks good. He went down and played a couple of games with the Marlies, which is good, getting game action. He seems normal to me and ready to go.”

While there are some reinforcements on the way, including the returning Easton Cowan, the Leafs are still missing numerous key members of the team right now. The most notable is captain Auston Matthews, who was placed on injured reserve retroactive to November 11 and will miss at least a week of action.

The good news is that they have the remaining star players leading the charge and carrying the load, headlined by William Nylander, who is among the league’s scoring leaders. It is through difficult times like this that Berube wants to see them, and Nylander especially, take charge.

“ I think more like he’s shown it and to me he has shown it, but I think he’s shown it in the room too,” he said. “On the ice, I just need a little bit more consistency.  There’s a lot of good like he does, but then it kind of is a little bit inconsistent. So  consistency, just staying with it, and working.”

Above all else, the Leafs need to find a way to work their way through this difficult stretch and not let the outside noise creep into the room. Berube knows how big the team is in the market and the fact that many more people will be talking about them, but he always tells his players to tune out the noise and focus on what they need to do to right the ship. For that to become a reality, he stressed that the team will need to stick together and fight through the adversity both as a unit and as individuals.

“Confidence is a funny thing. But if you want to get your confidence back, you go and work to get it back.  That’s how you get your confidence back,” he said. “We’re in adversity right now. Well, what are we going to do? We’re going to go through that adversity, go through that wall. Find a way to get through it. Climb over the wall, whatever it is.  You gotta push your way through it as a team and every individual”

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/cra...-leafs-stick-together-fight-through-adversity

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Panic time, Kampf cap relief, and lines with a purpose: Leaflets

There are a lot of negative things to talk about with the Leafs right now and without a doubt, we’ll get to those soon, but before that it seems like taking a moment to appreciate the offence coming off the sticks of William Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies is warranted. And for that matter, Morgan Rielly going back to being an offensive contributor is nice even if the defensive warts are still glaring. Knies, Rielly, and Nylander were very much the players on the Leafs that were put in positions where more was going to be asked of them offensively this season and all three have met that target. Tavares scoring at a 50-goal clip is just gravy. Things might not be going great at the moment but there are some silver linings.

Here are some other stray thoughts…

If someone tells you they aren’t panicking, they are panicking​

It seems like good news that the Leafs are showing some signs of panic and some acknowledgement that what they attempted to do this season isn’t going as planned. Because it isn’t working and as the 20-game mark fast approaches, there should be a sense of urgency kicking in. The question of whether or not the Leafs have the right people in place to adjust to a winning formula on the fly remains to be seen but accepting it is a mess is a good start.

The problem with things being a mess, is that it also means asking the tough question of whether this group is one or two moves away from getting back on track to challenging for the top spot in the division and competing for the Cup this season. If you think the answer is yes, spending assets to bringing in older/expensive talent might be the right course of action and the Leafs can try to get past a slow start.

If you think the Leafs problems go beyond one or two moves, this season starts mirroring what the Rangers did last season and start selling off the players that aren’t working on the Leafs, while being ruthless when it comes to those cuts.

The Rangers might not be a team that is fully back on track this season but they recognized who they wanted to keep and made some smart additions while getting a few more futures into their system as well. They took 2024-25 as a loss and are at least back in the bubble team mix on the strength of an 8-1-1 road record, and are 6-3-1 in their last 10 games after a tough start to the year.

This is a tough situation to be for MLSE CEO Keith Pelley to be in. He was pitched as ethe non-nonsense boss who wasn’t going to accept poor results and Brad Treliving has immediately tested him on that stance. Pelley attached himself to and endorsed the direction the team took with Mitch Marner but that seemed to come with the caveat that the team would still be good and it was to be a change of direction not a step back. And truly, this isn’t about Marner as this wasn’t a move that took the club by surprise and the decisions the club has made weren’t made under duress. This is about how Pelley is probably seeing a GM and Coach who have made some bad reads on what will work on the ice and a group of players who aren’t playing the most inspired hockey at the moment.

Seeing how this non-panicking panic plays out for the Leafs will be interesting and while returns of Matthews, Tanev, Woll, Stolarz, and Laughton will all bring the opportunity to assess what this team truly looks like, and how they truly play as a group, there doesn’t seem to be a shortage of candidates around the organization that it might be time to move on from.

Kampf’s departure frees up a few bucks​

A week ago, I wrote about how the most freeing option for David Kampf was to agree to the termination of contract and find his own way back to the NHL. It wasn’t a particularly bold take and the blustering that the option wasn’t on the table seemed like a marketing campaign to see if anything could swiftly get worked out before going with the contract termination. No one was interested in Kampf’s 2026-27 signing bonus payment so contract termination became the option.

With Kampf in the AHL, a $1,250,000 cap hit remained on the Maple Leafs. That is now gone. And the Leafs now have $1.7M of cap space to work with. That number shifts towards $2.5M once you factor in the demotion of Dennis Hildeby once Stolarz is healthy and has the potential to increase even more as Matthews, Laughton, and Tanev get healthy and further Marlie demotions occur. The Leafs also aren’t locked into the 23-player roster approach although injuries and inconsistent play have made it a nice luxury.

The point is the Leafs are potentially in a situation where they can consider spending their way out of trouble, it’s just that it might not be the best idea. A few years back Kyle Dubas made a statement about not wanting to spend assets on a team that wasn’t delivering and the Leafs might be in that situation again. And while I’m not suggesting the Leafs go into another situation where their trade deadline splashes are reacquiring Calle Rosen or picking up Denis Malgin, it might not be a year to add.

The bigger win for the Leafs might come in 2026-27, where the $1.175M of cap space gained by this move can be put to more practical and planned for use. As things sit today, the Leafs have over $19M in cap space for 2026-27.

What do you want them to accomplish?​

The Leafs lineup card feels like jazz, whatever note you are expecting to be hit, something very different happens. When jazz is done right it is art at its finest. When jazz is done wrong, you get Max Domi playing centre.

I’ve never been a fan of jazz. I’m a formulaic pop guy. I want something catchy and easy to recognize and with that I want the Maple Leafs lines to have a purpose and to put pieces that seem like they would work well together on the same line.

Right now, with Auston Matthews out, it’s difficult to put together the definitive Maple Leafs lines. Even the absence of Scott Laughton hurts that, but maybe it’s as simple as asking what the Leafs want each line to do and sending them out to do it.

Let’s start at the bottom.

I want the Maple Leafs to hit someone.

Good news, Steven Lorentz, Dakota Joshua, and Sammy Blais are capable of doing that. There’s a perfectly acceptable fourth line.

I want the Maple Leafs to play sound two-way hockey

As best I can tell that would involve Nicolas Roy, Calle Jarnkrok, and Easton Cowan. All three players can be trusted at either end of the ice and if they are lining up against bottom six opposition they might even score.

I want scoring chances

This feels like the grey are on the Maple Leafs at the moment as Auston Matthews’ absence cuts into the Leafs ability have a deep top six. I’d say the combination of Nick Robertson, Matias Maccelli, and Bobby McMann fit in here while Toronto reluctantly puts Max Domi at centre due to Matthews and Laughton not being available.

I want the Maple Leafs to dominate

At this point, just put Matthew Knies, William Nylander, and John Tavares together. They are what is working for the team and the Maple Leafs need something to go right.

None of these lines might be perfect but at least they would all be clear on what they are supposed to do. With the amount of shuffling of players around the Leafs lineup card in the past few weeks I’m sure roles and expectations have shifted a lot and some confusion/chemistry issues are preventing players from doing what they do best. Simplifying things, especially in Matthews’ absence at least makes sense to me.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/panic-time-kampf-cap-relief-and-lines-with-a-purpose-leaflets

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

David Kampf signs one-year contract with Canucks

It didn’t take long for former Maple Leaf David Kampf’s services to be picked up by another team.

Despite a report from TSN’s Darren Dreger saying that Kampf would likely make his decision on Sunday, it was officially announced on Saturday night that Kampf would sign a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks. The contract is worth $1.1 million.

Kampf, a defence-first centre who was once a pivotal part of the Toronto Maple Leafs‘ bottom-six and penalty kill, fell out of favour with head coach Craig Berube in the second half of the 2024-25 season, finishing the season with only 59 games played in comparison to 78 the year prior. He tallied five goals and 13 points in those games and was limited to only one playoff game, which came in the second round against the Florida Panthers.

The Canucks are currently the worst penalty-killing team in the NHL, which Canucks general manager Patrik Allvin noted in the press release as an area Kampf can help improve.

“David is a very reliable two-way centre who will improve our strength and depth down the middle immediately,” Allvin said. “He is good in the faceoff dot and is a solid penalty killer, two areas of need we currently have on our team. His hockey IQ is also a big asset and we believe he will fit in nicely with our group.”

Kampf’s relationship with the Maple Leafs soured rapidly in 2025-26 after he didn’t make the opening night roster. The team placed him on waivers and he went to the Toronto Marlies, where he played in four games and tallied one assist. Eventually, he refused to report to the Marlies which led to having his contract mutually terminated on Thursday. He officially became a free agent on Friday and had reportedly narrowed down his interest to three teams, with the Canucks eventually prevailing.

The Maple Leafs will see Kampf in a Canucks uniform for the first time on January 10th, 2026.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/david-kampf-signs-one-year-contract-vancouver-canucks

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Craig Berube believes Maple Leafs lack confidence amid November slump

Through mid-November, the Toronto Maple Leafs are four points out of a playoff spot, and bad habits are beginning to form. After surrendering a third-period lead in a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, the Maple Leafs are mired in a five-game losing streak and it’s beginning to become worrisome, as the gap between the contenders and pretenders widens.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube believes his group is lacking confidence through the losing streak, which seems to make all too much sense.

“Right now, we’re just a little bit unconfident. Gotta get through that because we had an opportunity to close this game out and win it,” Berube said post-game.

Nick Robertson and Morgan Rielly scored for the Maple Leafs, with Rielly’s second-period marker providing a 2-1 lead entering the third period. Ryan Greene opened the scoring in the first, then Teuvo Teravainen and Colton Dach scored for the Blackhawks in the third period, as the Maple Leafs couldn’t secure the win.

“I have to motivate them the best way I can. Maybe it’s a kick in the ass, but maybe it is positive reinforcement, too,” Berube said.

“We did a lot of good things. I think we had 11 or 12 grade-A chances tonight, and we only got two goals out of it. We’d score more than that, for the most part. You’re going to have games like that.”

Toronto is tied for third with 67 goals scored, but have surrendered 72 goals, the second-worst total in the NHL. The disparity between the team’s potent 5-on-5 offence and porous defence is an effective summary of the season to date, while the Maple Leafs have also received sub-par goaltending for large stretches of the year.

Winning begets further confidence, and the Maple Leafs are tasked with correcting the course during Tuesday’s game against the St. Louis Blues.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/craig-berube-toronto-maple-leafs-lack-confidence-november-slump

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Morgan Rielly reinforces the positives and the need to believe after Leafs’ loss to Blackhawks

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Morgan Rielly says the team has not wavered in their belief despite the losing streak extending to five games on Saturday against the Chicago Blackhawks.

The contest was an overall better showing for the team, which appeared to finally be showing signs of what they were capable of last season en route to a division title. They were able to get extended offensive zone time, they had plenty of stretches where the chances surrendered were low-quality, and Joseph Woll made the stops when called upon.

Ultimately, it was not enough as two back-breaking goals allowed in the third period sunk them in regulation and put the Leafs below .500 at 8-9-2.

“I think it always comes down to execution. I know for a fact that the compete level, the desire, is there,” Rielly said to reporters after the game. “At times it might be too much, so you start squeezing the stick, you start overthinking things because you just want to do the thing and win the game.  But I think at the end of the day, it comes down to execution. If we can execute better, you limit the chances against and one thing leads to another.”

The lack of confidence in their game was evident in the third period, when the Leafs were in a position to close things out and end the slump. There were plenty of extended shifts hemmed in their own end, and Woll could only do so much to stop the bleeding.

Rielly had his moments in this contest with his goal in the second period giving the Leafs the lead, but was also on the ice for the tying goal from Teuvo Teravainen where he didn’t do enough to deny the scoring chance.

“Whenever you’re in something that’s challenging, it’s all-consuming and it can feel that way,” he said when asked if this is the toughest test he has faced as a Leaf in this era. “But there’s a lot of belief with our team, and that’s powerful.  So it’s a tough one to answer.”

Keeping the faith when times are tough is certainly commendable, especially since there have been enough signs of the type of team the Leafs are capable of being shown in flashes. But the moral victories can only take them so far because they ultimately did not do enough to get the victory and once again extend their sluggish start to the season.

“I think there’s just little things right now.  We’re having a hard time obviously closing games out,” Rielly said. “When you’re going through a stretch like that, it’s almost self-fulfilling.  It’s just little mistakes that are costing us. I think overall, the game tonight, the way we played, we had some good things going on and we put ourselves in a position to be in a close game and to have the lead. So that’s good, but we have to kind of get over the hump here and start closing games out.”

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/mor...e-toronto-maple-leafs-loss-chicago-blackhawks

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

David Kampf bids farewell to Maple Leafs in Instagram post after signing with Canucks

Despite the rocky way his tenure as a Leaf ended, David Kampf was nothing but grateful to the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and their fans after signing a one-year contract with the Vancouver Canucks.

Kampf bid farewell to the team and fans on Sunday after he parted ways with the Leafs and signed a deal to take his talents out west.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by David Kämpf (@kampfdavid)​

Kampf referred to his time in Toronto as a ‘pleasure’ while acknowledging that the time had come to start fresh somewhere else.

“A great chapter of my life but the time has come to move on,” Kampf said in the post. “I gave everything I had to this organization and city and I’ll always be thankful for the opportunity I got here. Thank you to all my teammates I got to spend those years with I wish you guys all the best. Also, special thank you to each and every one of the Leafs staff for taking care of me and my family through the years. Toronto will always have a special place in our hearts. Excited for the future with Canucks!”

Kampf was originally signed by the Maple Leafs prior to the 2021-22 season, and for a few years he was one of the team’s more underappreciated forwards, but between the extension he signed following the 2022-23 season and Craig Berube taking over as head coach from Sheldon Keefe, his time in Toronto spiraled pretty quickly. He went from being one of the team’s top penalty killers and shutdown forwards to falling out of favour with Berube and only appearing in one Stanley Cup Playoffs game this past season.

Kampf didn’t crack the Maple Leafs’ roster out of training camp and appeared in four games with the Toronto Marlies, recording one assist, before he refused to report to the team which prompted the contract termination and subsequent signing with the Canucks.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/dav...toronto-maple-leafs-instagram-signing-canucks

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Darren Dreger says the Leafs are looking to make player for player type moves: Leafs Morning Take

They looked better on Saturday night in Chicago, but ultimately, they didn’t get the job done.

Once again, it was a few of costly defensive mistakes that did the Maple Leafs in.

Toronto’s winless skid is up to five games (0-4-1) with the St. Louis Blues set to invade Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday night.

We kicked off the Monday edition of Leafs Morning Take by dissecting the Brandon Carlo news. The blueliner was placed on IR, Jacob Quillan, who’s had a hot start for the Marlies, was recalled. On Carlo, just get right. If that means missing some time, so be it. He’s had a rough start, so perhaps some time away for a reset could do wonders for his overall game. The blue line depth is being tested severely, but honestly, this could prove to be a blessing in disguise. It’s not like anyone on the backend’s playing particularly well right now anyway.

At any rate, we broke down the 3-2 loss to Chicago on Saturday night a bit, too. Joseph Woll looked solid in his season debut making 29 stops. Easton Cowan looked good, so did Nick Robertson, who’s now notched nine points in his past nine games. Meantime, it was a few blunders that cost the Leafs. It wasn’t their worst outing of the season, but a loss is a loss. Additionally, we talked some William Nylander as well. He extended his personal point streak to 13 games. Incredibly, though, Nylander has failed to register a shot on a goal in back-to-back games for the first time since December 2019.

After that, TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger stopped by to pain a picture of what’s happening around the struggling Maple Leafs right now. We hit on everything from Berube’s status to the trade front to the growing list of injured players. Also, Dregs weighed in on the Rasmus Andersson/Calgary noise. In full, the Leafs are open for business. Having said all that, he made it abundantly clear that they realize that they don’t have much to deal right now.

At any rate, make a note to join u for the Tuesday edition of Leafs Morning Take. We’ll offer up a Leafs/Blues preview. Also, TSN’s Jamie McLennan will stop by the show, too.

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

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/dar...ayer-for-player-type-moves-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Why Troy Stecher’s impact on Maple Leafs could be bigger than it seems

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going through a heavy slump at the moment, and while scooping a bottom-pair defenceman off of waivers is a far cry from what the team truly needs to get back into a rhythm, the claim of Troy Stecher could help bandage one of the wounds.

Stecher, 31, is an undersized right-handed defenceman who plays mobile and has strong defensive instincts. You look at this player on paper and there doesn’t seem to be an immediate fix, considering he’s on his seventh team in ten years and has never put up more than 24 points in a season, but for a team that’s currently down two of their three right-handed defencemen, Stecher could slow down the bleeding while the team is battling the injury bug, and round out their defensive corps nicely once everyone is back to full health.

“Obviously excited for a fresh start, seeing the team and how competitive they are and where they are in the standings,” Stecher told reporters after practice on Monday. “It kind of goes hand in hand with the way I play, a lot of motivation. “I have a chip on my shoulder and I think the team does as well.”

A player who is motivated and will leave it all out on the ice every shift is music to the ears of Leafs fans, even if he won’t be able to single-handedly win them games. Considering the team never lost more than three games in a row last season, with their current losing streak at five games, the bar is on the floor at the moment. Claiming Stecher puts them in a position where they won’t have to rely on players like Philippe Myers and Dakota Mermis for immediate relief when injuries inevitably happen. Plus, even if he’s not racking up goals and assists left and right, he’s a strong skater and has a good breakout pass, which is an area the Leafs have struggled mightily in this season.

With all due respect to Simon Benoit, who impressed with the Maple Leafs despite all the odds against him in 2023-24 after he was cut by the Anaheim Ducks, the Leafs probably don’t want him in their top-six at full health. He’s had his moments with the team, between his willingness to drop the gloves and his unprecedented overtime-winning goal in Game 3 against the Ottawa Senators, but overall, the experiment of having him on the bottom pair with Oliver Ekman-Larsson and requiring one of them to play on their off-side produced net-negative results.

But, if you slide Stecher in there, who spent much of the 2024-25 season skating with Darnell Nurse and letting him flourish offensively, there could be a natural fix. Ekman-Larsson gets to play his strong side with a defence-first, fearless partner who will do the dirty work and throw himself into corner battles and in front of shots. That leaves you with the versatility to experiment with different pairs in the top four. You could go with last season’s shutdown pair of Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe and hope Morgan Rielly and Brandon Carlo can find a groove, and if that doesn’t work, there are other combinations to be tested. At the end of the day, the Maple Leafs’ defensive corps at full health features two left-handed offence-first players, one left-handed two-way player, and three right-handed defence-first players. Having each player on their strong side alone could help them win a few extra games.

While the Maple Leafs as a whole are under the biggest microscope in sports at the moment, Stecher has nothing to lose. He spoke about where he gets his motivation from and kept things blunt about where his mindset was as he gets ready to debut for the Leafs.

“Where do you want me to start, my pro career or before that?” Stecher said to a room of laughs when asked when he developed a chip on his shoulder. “Being told ‘no’ my whole life, being a smaller guy, I’ve reached the NHL now and it’s my tenth year and seventh team. So, I’m just trying to kind of prove people wrong, and more than anything try to prove myself right.”

It’s easy to claim that the sky is falling during a five-game losing streak, especially for a team like Toronto that has been under more pressure than anyone to succeed. But the reality is that when you’re struggling like this, all it takes is one bounce to inject the team with some confidence and get the wheels turning in the right direction. Stecher isn’t going to save the season, nor should he be expected to, but he’ll be bringing a 110% effort to the team from the moment he suits up for a game, and the investment could pay off for them down the line.

“I just think it’s kind of the nature of the way things are going right now. We’re on a bit of a skid, but all it takes is one bounce to get back into the win column.”

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/why-troy-stecher-impact-toronto-maple-leafs-bigger-seems

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Instant Reaction: William Nylander scores goal of the season to end Maple Leafs’ losing streak

The Toronto Maple Leafs, finally, for the first time in what felt like forever, picked up two points with a win at home against the St. Louis Blues. And in terms of the way the win unfolded, it surely had to inspire the group after what’s been a horrendous stretch of games.

William Nylander batting the puck into his own net less than two minutes into the first period was about the most fitting and comedic way you could have asked for a game like this, but he would go on to make up for it later. A Jake McCabe changeup from the point and a filthy pass from Sammy Blais to set up Steven Lorentz gave the Leafs two goals in regulation, and despite the Blues tying it up in the second period and taking every possible measure on earth to keep the puck away from the Maple Leafs in overtime, Nylander was having none of it.

In overtime, John Tavares pinned the puck against the boards and drew all three Blues skaters over to him, which allowed him to kick the puck free to Morgan Rielly, who dished it to Nylander as he entered the zone. By then, the Blues defender had enough time to get across the ice and take on Nylander 1-on-1, to which he answered with a potential goal of the year candidate. Yeah, we’ll forget about that own goal early on, Willy.

Joseph Woll picked up his first win of the season and looked good doing it, stopping 27 of 29 shots for the .931 save percentage against his former team. He made a number of crucial saves including a dive across the crease to rob Jordan Kyrou of what could have been the game winning goal. In addition to Woll’s stellar play, Troy Stecher had himself a solid debut and gave Maple Leafs fans a much-needed breath of fresh air on the back end after enough defensive gaffes to last a lifetime throughout the losing streak.

The Leafs will host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday and look to grab another win before they head out for a six-game road trip.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/ins...lander-goal-season-toronto-maple-leafs-streak

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Craig Berube says Matthew Knies missed game vs. Blues due to a ‘lingering issue’

It seemed like the Toronto Maple Leafs were about to hit rock bottom when the team announced an hour before their game against the St. Louis Blues that forward Matthew Knies would be out of the lineup with a lower-body injury. The team had lost five games in a row and had an injury list that was growing by the second, with seven players and most if not all of them in key roles on the shelf, but as it typically goes in Toronto, the Leafs came out and played a solid game, winning in overtime to snap the losing streak at five games.

Head coach Craig Berube said that Knies, 23, had been battling something and that he wasn’t sure about his status at morning skate.

“This morning, I wasn’t sure if he was going to be ready to play, so I told Sammy [Blais] to be on standby,” Berube told reporters after the Maple Leafs’ 3-2 win. “He [Knies] came in tonight and couldn’t go…he’s had a lingering issue for a while and it got worse today.”

Despite being down Knies, Auston Matthews, and five other players, the Maple Leafs managed to take a step in the right direction with a win over the Blues. The eventual game-winning play in overtime was started by John Tavares, who pinned the puck against the boards and drew all three Blues players over to him. The distraction allowed him to kick the puck free to Morgan Rielly, who set up William Nylander for what could be a goal of the year candidate.

"WHAT A PLAY! HOLY MACKINAW!"

NYLANDER OT WINNER vs Blues

@Bonsie1951 @Jim_Ralph pic.twitter.com/62SOmp4rnM

— Maple Leafs Hotstove (@LeafsNews) November 19, 2025

Berube, who has long been an appreciator of hard work along the boards and players doing the little things to create plays, unsurprisingly raved about Tavares’ effort on that goal following the game.

“I mentioned it to the team because that’s what he’s all about,” Berube told reporters. “That play there symbolizes John Tavares. 3-on-1, keeps the puck alive, Morgan gets in there quickly and makes a play, and Willy does what he does.”

The Leafs likely slept well on Tuesday night knowing their losing streak was over, but they’re going to need a lot more than one win to get back to a place they’re used to being at. That said, Berube talked about his team’s ability to overcome the injury bug and take the two points with hard work.

“It’s always nice to end the skid,” Berube said. “But when I look at the team and everything going on with injuries and everything, it could have been easy for our guys to be like ‘well, we’re all banged up, we got nobody’ but I didn’t get that at all tonight. And our guys competed really hard tonight. I’m proud of the way they competed and stuck together out there for the game.”

The Maple Leafs will be back in action on Thursday when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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TABLE Fare + Social is a vibrant food hall in the heart of Toronto’s financial district,
offering a unique dining and social experience just steps from transit and the
arena—perfect for pregame meals before tip-off. Open weekdays from 11am to 10pm,
TABLE serves up morning treats, creative eats, and lively after-work events. With a
private terrace overlooking Toronto’s elevated park, guests enjoy stunning views
alongside year-round programming that includes food tastings, cooking classes, live
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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/craig-berube-says-matthew-knies-missed-game-blues-lingering-issue

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs’ Joseph Woll grateful for ‘special’ first win of the season

It was a special night for Joseph Woll on Tuesday, as not only did he pick up his first win of the season, he beat his hometown St. Louis Blues for the first time in his NHL career.

Woll stopped 28 of 29 shots in front of the home crowd at Scotiabank Arena, and hundreds of family and friends watching back in Missouri. Woll admitted postgame to reporters that it felt extra special for it to come on his first win of the season.

“Yeah, pretty sweet,” Woll said. “Pretty cool games these first two games playing at United Center, and then playing against St. Louis. So, it’s special one.”

Woll takes nothing for granted in his young career. It’s been an interesting start for his 2025-26 season, and he’s quickly gone from a conditioning stint to get his legs back under him after a long layoff, to holding down the starter’s crease with Anthony Stolarz on the shelf. Regardless, Woll’s up for the challenge, he showed it against the Blues, and as soon as the horn sounded in victory, he jumped right into reflection mode.

“Pretty sweet. Pretty nice to win at home with the fans like that. I always try to look around and take it in, really, when we win like that, especially in overtime.”

Woll kept the Maple Leafs in the game and was a big reason the contest made it to overtime. That’s when John Tavares and William Nylander took over, as both veterans put on a show during the final shift of the game. Tavares held off three Blues’ defenders in the corner and bought himself time, and then made an exceptional area pass with his skates to find Morgan Rielly, who then slid it over to Nylander, and the rest is history.

“He’s a beast, John in the corner, and I was just kind of mesmerized watching Will. Fired me up, so it was pretty cool.”

It wasn’t all pretty for Nylander on Tuesday night, as he opened the game by batting the puck past Woll, to give the Blues a 1-0 lead on his own goal. It was a head-scratcher, as many were left wondering why Nylander tried to play the puck back towards his goal, so close in tight. Woll heard from him shortly after during a TV timeout.

“Not much, he made up for it, so we’re all square. One for one.”

Woll’s posted a .934 save percentage early on, which is a great sign for a Leafs’ team who could use some consistency in net. Woll’s expected to carry a heavy workload with Stolarz unavailable, so don’t be surprised to see him start on Thursday, when the Maple Leafs host the Columbus Blue Jackets.

PRESENTED BY TABLE FAIR + SOCIAL​

TABLE Fare + Social is a vibrant food hall in the heart of Toronto’s financial district,
offering a unique dining and social experience just steps from transit and the
arena—perfect for pregame meals before tip-off. Open weekdays from 11am to 10pm,
TABLE serves up morning treats, creative eats, and lively after-work events. With a
private terrace overlooking Toronto’s elevated park, guests enjoy stunning views
alongside year-round programming that includes food tastings, cooking classes, live
music, and pop-up events designed to spark connection and creativity.
Follow along @Tablefood hall or tablefoodhall.com

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-joseph-woll-grateful-first-win-season

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Scott Laughton feeling energized ahead of return to Maple Leafs lineup

The Toronto Maple Leafs‘ injury list has started to look more like a grocery list over the past week or so, but they’ll have a little bit of relief when they host the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. Forward Scott Laughton is expected to return to the lineup after suffering an injury in a home game against the Boston Bruins a couple of weeks ago.

Speaking to the media ahead of his return, Laughton talked about his energy and how he’s looking to feed off of linemates Easton Cowan and Steven Lorentz.

“We’ve chatted about it already a little bit this morning, I’m just going to find that again and continue to talk,” Laughton said when asked about his chemistry with Lorentz and Cowan from preseason. “I’ve been playing with Stevie [Lorentz] since I got here, Cowboy [Easton Cowan] has been playing with a lot of energy, and we’ve got to continue that.”

Laughton was at his best when playing alongside Lorentz down the stretch of last season and into the playoffs, and those two paired with Cowan provided some intrigue after a solid preseason. Obviously, they didn’t get to play with eachother after Laughton went down with an injury, but he said that he understands the job his line has to do.

“Read off each other and play with energy,” Laughton continued. “Play with speed, be good on the forecheck, kind of change momentum in games and keeping teams in the O-zone, things like that.”

Laughton missed the first month of the season after blocking a shot with his foot in preseason, and he was injured in just his second game back after taking a hit from Boston Bruins defenceman Nikita Zadorov. When asked about his reaction to the hit, he brushed it off and said he took more issue with some of the hits in the second game between the two teams.

“I honestly thought he was backing up when I took a peek,” Laughton explained. “He stepped up, I lost the puck a little bit and he’s 6-foot-7, so there’s going to be some contact there and he got the best of me. I had more of an issue with a couple of his other hits in Boston, but yeah, I thought it was a clean hit.”

Laughton was then asked if Zadorov had reached out to him at all following the hit.

“No, I wouldn’t really want him to, either.”

Laughton is no stranger to adversity in Toronto, first battling it with himself, and now he returns to the lineup at a time where the Leafs are expected to string some wins together after recently snapping a five-game winless streak on Tuesday night. Despite this, he’s feeling good and excited to return and contribute.

“I feel good about my game,” he said. “I feel good about where my energy is, my comfortability and everything like that. So, just need to get in here and get going a little bit, help these guys out.”

The Maple Leafs have one more game at home before they hit the road for a six-game trip away from Scotiabank Arena, and Laughton is ready to jump in and help swing the pendulum back in their favour.

“Those kinds of wins kind of bring you together throughout the season and can change the momentum and things like that, so it was a big win for us. We’ve got to keep it rolling here.”

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TABLE Fare + Social is a vibrant food hall in the heart of Toronto’s financial district,
offering a unique dining and social experience just steps from transit and the
arena—perfect for pregame meals before tip-off. Open weekdays from 11am to 10pm,
TABLE serves up morning treats, creative eats, and lively after-work events. With a
private terrace overlooking Toronto’s elevated park, guests enjoy stunning views
alongside year-round programming that includes food tastings, cooking classes, live
music, and pop-up events designed to spark connection and creativity.
Follow along @Tablefood hall or tablefoodhall.com

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/sco...gized-ahead-return-toronto-maple-leafs-lineup

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Instant Reaction: Overtime blunder clouds over otherwise solid effort from Maple Leafs

Are we counting moral victories still? The Toronto Maple Leafs lost again, but for the second game in a row, they didn’t look bad. In fact, I’d go as far as to say they had a good game tonight and probably deserved better than the single point they got for an overtime loss. But alas.

I can pinpoint several players who had a great game for the Maple Leafs tonight. John Tavares looked vintage, assisting on Dakota Mermis’ first goal of the season and as a Maple Leaf and then tying the game in the third period. Easton Cowan looked as comfortable as a 20-year-old NHLer could, routinely getting shots on the top line with Tavares and William Nylander and setting up the former’s tying goal. And Scott Laughton showed how much the team was missing his presence both in the bottom six and on the penalty kill, generating some decent scoring chances and laying his body on the line for some crucial shot blocks near the end of the game.

All of this was undone by a simple giveaway in overtime by Max Domi. He was looking for Oliver Ekman-Larsson at the front of the net but it ended up right on Zach Werenski’s stick, who then found Adam Fantilli streaking down the boards to eventually ice the game. Fantilli, a noted Toronto boy who grew up cheering for Boston, gave twice the effort he usually does to beat ice his hometown team with two goals and an assist by the end of the night. Joseph Woll was good for a second straight game, too, stopping 27 of 30 shots and doing everything he could to keep the Leafs in the game.

The Blue Jackets have become a quiet thorn in the side of the Maple Leafs in the past few years, winning five of their last six games against Toronto. They don’t see each other all that often given that they’re in separate divisions, and nights like this render Toronto lucky that they don’t see each other more often.

Still, this is a game the Leafs can use to build positive momentum from despite the loss, which isn’t something that we’ve been able to say much this season.

PRESENTED BY TABLE FAIR + SOCIAL​

TABLE Fare + Social is a vibrant food hall in the heart of Toronto’s financial district,
offering a unique dining and social experience just steps from transit and the
arena—perfect for pregame meals before tip-off. Open weekdays from 11am to 10pm,
TABLE serves up morning treats, creative eats, and lively after-work events. With a
private terrace overlooking Toronto’s elevated park, guests enjoy stunning views
alongside year-round programming that includes food tastings, cooking classes, live
music, and pop-up events designed to spark connection and creativity.
Follow along @Tablefood hall or tablefoodhall.com

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/ins...under-clouds-solid-effort-toronto-maple-leafs