The holiday break is over and the Toronto Maple Leafs return to action on Saturday night when they host the Ottawa Senators at Scotiabank Arena. In the Leafs’ final game prior to the break, they defeated the Pittsburgh Penguins 6-3, a win the team hopes to build on as play resumes.
“It’s definitely nice winning before you go into the break, the guys are feeling good today and you get a little bit of time away and reset, regroup and come back even stronger,” Scott Laughton said. “We have a big stretch coming up against our division, so it’s important to get off on the right foot.”
When the puck drops tonight in Toronto, the game will be a milestone for Laughton as he will be skating in career game 700, a moment that isn’t lost on a player who had to work his way back to the National Hockey League after being sent to the American Hockey League.
“I think back on the start of my career, playing full years in the NHL then going back to the minors, I wasn’t really sure if I was coming back up, so I was thankful for the opportunity to get back to where I am,” Laughton said. “700 games means a lot.”
Over Laughton’s 700 games, the forward has played for both the Leafs and Philadelphia Flyers, recording 112 goals and 162 assists. Laughton has become an NHL mainstay since 2009-10 after being selected in the first round at the 2012 draft.
“I feel very fortunate and grateful to play every day and come to the rink every day in the best league in the world,” Laughton said. “It’s amazing to do this as a job.”
Leafs head coach Craig Berube spoke at morning skate on the milestone night for the 31-year-old. Berube was coaching the Flyers when Laughton’s career was just getting started in 2014-15.
“He’s had a really good career, really enjoyed being around him and he’s still going,” Berube said. “It just shows the determination and dedication that he has.”
Another player that will be experiencing a milestone tonight is Laughton’s former teammate and captain Claude Giroux, who will be skating in game 1300 tonight. Giroux was the Flyers’ longest tenured captain in franchise history in 2021. Giroux is in the midst of his fourth season with the Ottawa Senators and even at age 37, continues to put together strong seasons. Through 36 games this season, Giroux has recorded seven goals and 18 assists, good for fifth on the Senators in points.
“He’s a great friend and we were teammates for a really long time,” Laughton said of Giroux. “We spent a lot of hours together throughout the eight years. “He’s a really special player who seems like he hasn’t lost a step, he sees the game so well.”
Puckdrop is set for 7 pm EST.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs went into the holiday break on a high note and kept the good times rolling in their first game out of it, taking a 7-5 win over the Ottawa Senators to collect another important two points.
Auston Matthews had his best game in a while, with a goal and two assists, and his line with Max Domi and Bobby McMann contributed five points at even strength. It was a needed performance for the Maple Leafs captain, who had been held without a point in four straight games.
“Nice to get the job done,” Matthews told reporters following the game. “You knew it was going to be a physical game, a fast game, and yeah, you’d like to obviously not get it as tight as it was at the end, but, you know, good on the guys to close the job and get it done.”
The Leafs have scored 13 goals in their past two games, with seven on Saturday and six against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday. Matthews said that the team’s improved performance in front of their own net and the opposing team’s net has been a big help.
“I think the power play helps, obviously, and I think just all four lines are playing hard,” Matthews continued. “Winning battles at both net fronts, get into the opposing team’s net and outnumbering guys. And, you know, we’re making plays when there’s plays to be made. And when there’s not I think we’re doing, you know, a pretty good job of taking care of pucks.”
Max Domi followed his two-point effort on Tuesday against Pittsburgh with a three-assist night against the Senators to give him five points in his last two games. He acknowledged the impact his line made tonight but made sure the rest of the team got their credit as well.
“I think we had all four lines going, but Auston was on a mission tonight and Bobby was competing hard,” Domi said. “So, yeah, big goal for sure, but we had everyone going.”
The Maple Leafs improve to 17-15-5 on the season and will have an opportunity to tie the Boston Bruins and Ottawa Senators rather than occupying sole possession of last in the Atlantic Division. From there, they will be only four points back of third place in the division. If the Maple Leafs want to come out on the better end of the newfound parity in the league, they will need more efforts like this from Matthews and the team around him.
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Toronto Maple Leafs forward William Nylander is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury, and will not play in Sunday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, head coach Craig Berube confirmed via David Alter of The Hockey News.
Easton Cowan will re-enter the lineup in Nylander’s no place, with no other lineup changes.
Nylander left Saturday’s game against the Ottawa Senators during the second period and did not return. After the game, Berube confirmed Nylander would make the trip to Detroit, but his status would be re-evaluated.
It’s a tough loss for the Maple Leafs, as Nylander leads the team in scoring with with 14 goals and 41 points in 33 games. Toronto’s star winger left Saturday’s game shortly after this incident:
Nylander was mired in a month-long scoring slump, before exploding against the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 23 with a two-goal, four-point performance.
It’s just not going in, that’s the way it is. I don’t know if I’ve felt like this before, or had a stretch like this. I’m not sure, I don’t feel like I’ve had that in the NHL, at least,” Nylander said following a 5-1 loss to the Dallas Stars on December 21.
Cowan is now afforded another chance to remain in the lineup, and he’s been one of the Leafs’ most impactful players during his rookie season. The 20-year-old has posted four goals and 11 points in 26 games. Cowan was rendered a healthy scratch for the Maple Leafs’ past three games, a decision that drew criticism from fans and analysts alike.
“The conversations with him (have been) we won last game, just be patient,” Berube said of Cowan, prior to Saturday’s game. “But we definitely do not want him sitting out too long. That’s not good for his growth. I think he helps us. I think he’s a good player and he’s only gonna get better.”
Toronto will look to continue its winning streak, against an Atlantic-leading Detroit side, powered by star defenceman Moritz Seider.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs are at a point in their season where there doesn’t feel like there’s any leeway with any losses. Perhaps at the start of the year, when they were coasting through their annual October blues, but those October blues have stuck around through November and well into December, so when they lose a game lately, it’s harder and harder to justify them.
That said, Sunday night’s loss to the Red Wings wasn’t the type of game that produced spicy soundbites from the postgame. In fact, head coach Craig Berube kept a positive attitude towards what he’s seen from his team lately.
“It was a hard-fought game, I liked a lot of our game tonight,” Berube told reporters following the game. “The guys competed hard, it was a good game both ways. The goalie was good. There was a lot of good. We could have executed on a couple plays better.”
After a couple of games that involved trading goals with the opponent and a much higher-octane pace, Sunday’s game against the Red Wings was a much tighter, defensively approached outing. Berube says that he’s happy with his team picking up five of six points and stressed that the process has been much better lately.
“It’s good, this game was a hard-fought game, Detroit played well, too.” Berube continued. “I thought our first period and most of the second, in the last five minutes of the second they started to push a little bit, and we turned pucks over and couldn’t get out of our zone. Other than that, it was a good game.”
The Maple Leafs will host former head coach Sheldon Keefe and the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday for their final game of 2025 before opening the calendar year with a date against the Winnipeg Jets. Berube is confident that if the Leafs continue to bring the efforts they have lately to every game, things will start to look a lot better for them.
“I thought our guys came in with the right attitude in the back-t0-back games. They competed hard and worked. There were a lot of good things, but we fell short by one point.”
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Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Marshall Rifai has cleared waivers and will report to the Toronto Marlies, according to multiple sources.
Rifai is working his way back from wrist surgery that has kept him sidelined for the entire season to date, and was placed on waivers on Sunday in order to report back to the American Hockey League. The 27-year-old defenceman has played in one game for the Marlies this season and had 13 points in 63 games for the AHL squad in 2024-25.
Rifai has been under contract in the Maple Leafs’ organization since 2022-23 but has never really gotten a shot in the NHL, with two games of action in 2023-24 and nothing since then. In those two games, however, he was sturdy and didn’t draw any attention to his game, which is always key in evaluating a rookie NHL defenceman.
The Maple Leafs originally signed Rifai to a two-year extension worth $775,000 annually back in July 2024, which has him under contract until the end of the 2026-27 season. With the amount of injuries the Maple Leafs have seen pile up both up front and on the defensive corps, Rifai could be one of the next people who gets a look under head coach Craig Berube. Rifai’s game has always been centred around low-event, physical hockey, which fits right in with what Berube looks for, specifically from his defencemen.
The Quebec native has been involved in some fireworks in the Leafs organization already, going back to last preseason when he fought Montreal Canadiens forward Juraj Slafkovsky after throwing a hit that injured Canadiens prospect David Reinbacher. For the time being, he will report to the Marlies and get some games under his belt as he continues to work towards a chance from Treliving and Berube.
The Maple Leafs will play their last game of the calendar year when they host the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday.
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Nick Robertson deserves to be in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ lineup each, and every game.
The shifty winger continues to develop into a complete player under Craig Berube’s system, and recently, Robertson’s elevated his game, and is quickly becoming one of the most important players on the Maple Leafs’ roster.
Robertson’s up to eight goals, and 17 points in 36 games this season, and despite all the work he’s put in to become a 200-foot player, for one reason or another, it’s been tough for the former second-round pick to get regular playing time under Berube. With performances like we saw last weekend against the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings, Robertson deserves to be a top-nine regular for the rest of this season.
It hasn’t been an easy start to his NHL career, but give Robertson credit for toughing it out, putting in the work, and rounding out his entire tool box. The shot is lethal, we all knew that from day one, but Berube has been challenging Robertson to become more consistent when it comes to puck battles, physicality, and playmaking – three areas that have stood out immensely of late. He’s becoming more patient with the puck on his stick, looking to make a play instead of prioritizing getting a shot on net from distance. It’s leading to more o-zone time for his line, which keeps the momentum in the Maple Leafs’ favour, and keeps Berube happy.
Robertson ranks 21st on the Leafs when it comes to average ice-time per game, meanwhile, ranks sixth in goals. With consistent playing time there’s little doubt Robertson can be the next layer to Toronto’s core, and be relied upon for secondary scoring. He also brings an element of speed to Berube’s forward group, a team that desperately could use more of it. The issue with Robertson was that in years past, he’s been an ‘unguided missile’ on the ice. Now, he’s still as fast as ever, but he’s more efficient with his effort, which has helped a tremendous amount for an uptick in his physicality. Despite missing multiple games as a healthy scratch, the 5-foot-9 Robertson has landed more hits than Scott Laughton, Morgan Rielly, Auston Matthews, and Max Domi.
After the Maple Leafs 3-2 overtime loss to the Red Wings Sunday night, Berube was asked about what he’s seen lately out of Robertson’s game, and it’s becoming quite obvious things are trending in the right direction.
“Nicky’s skating and attacking, and he’s doing a lot of good things. Hounding everywhere, and he’s getting his opportunities, scored a goal tonight, had a couple of other chances. It’s all work for him, when he’s skating and working, he’s a good player.”
Berube hasn’t been the only one singing Robertson’s praise of late, as John Tavares also touched on his recent strong stretch. The veteran centre likes what he’s seeing out of Robertson’s game, and feels he’s a very important piece for the team’s success.
“I think all year, Robby’s taken a major step in his play, and the way he plays in all facets,” Tavares said. “When you do a lot of good things in a lot of areas, and the way he uses his speed, and has really become strong on the puck, and strong on his feet, and the way he’s battling and competing. The physical element of his game, how he’s just getting in there, and disrupting things, it leads to good things offensively. And, we all know what a threat he is with the way he can shoot the puck.”
Maple Leafs trade talks shouldn’t include Robertson
While Robertson’s certainly elevated his game, and so has the majority of his teammates recently, Brad Treliving is still on the prowl for a top-six forward. Considering his age and untapped potential, Robertson is someone other teams will ask about, but at the end of the day, Treliving should be holding on to Robertson, and extending him on a long-term deal to stay in Toronto.
Robertson should be kept as an integral piece for the Maple Leafs and frankly, given more opportunity to consistently shine. Treliving should have Robertson over top of Matias Maccelli, Max Domi, Calle Jarnkrok, and Steven Lorentz on the Maple Leafs’ depth chart, and should avoid giving up on him, especially now with the way he’s been able to evolve his skillset in all three zones.
Robertson’s consistency is going to be the biggest factor for more minutes, so if he’s able to continue to garner Berube’s trust, don’t be surprised to see him among the Leafs’ leaders in goal scoring this season. He has 30-goal potential, but until he’s given consistent minutes and a huge bump in ice-time, he’ll have to make due with what’s provided.
Berube would be wise to play Robertson more, while Treliving needs to lock him up long term. Robertson’s shown that he’s coachable, he’s committed to his craft, and he provides a skillset the Maple Leafs need in their lineup on a nightly basis to be successful.
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Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is ruled out of Tuesday’s game against the New Jersey Devils with a lower-body injury, the team confirmed prior to warm-ups.
Matthews was previously considered a game-time decision, after sustaining the injury during Sunday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings. The 28-year-old went to the dressing room late in the second period after blocking a shot from Red Wings captain Dylan Larkin and returned for the third period.
Toronto is already without William Nylander, Dakota Joshua and Chris Tanev for Tuesday’s game.
It’s a tough loss for the Maple Leafs, as Matthews previously missed five games this season due to injury. Matthews has recorded 15 goals and 27 points in 33 games, with a plus-four rating, posting four points in his past two games.
“Nylander is day-to-day still. He’s doing better but still day-to-day. Matthews will be a game-time decision. Tanev is lower-body, it’s not the same injury. He’s getting evaluated today so we’ll have a better timeline later today on him,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said Tuesday morning.
Toronto adjusted its lines during Tuesday’s morning skate. Matthew Knies and Max Domi will be centred by John Tavares, Scott Laughton will be flanked by Matias Maccelli and Bobby McMann, Nicolas Roy centres the third line with Easton Cowan and Nick Robertson, while Steven Lorentz, Jacob Quillan and Calle Jarnkrok formed the fourth line.
Quillan was called up from the AHL’s Toronto Marlies prior to Tuesday’s game and participated in the morning skate.
“I love Quillan’s energy and his speed,” Berube said of Quillan on Saturday morning. “He’s a young kid, but he could come in and provide what we need, I think tonight and going forward. I think he’s getting close to being an NHL player and a full time one with his ability. I mean, it’s a good opportunity for him tonight.”
Quillan previously played two games for the Maple Leafs this season, but did not record a point. The 23-year-old recorded five goals and 23 point in 26 games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies this year.
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Stop the presses! After the Toronto Maple Leafs hired assistant coach Steve Sullivan on December 26, to replace the outgoing Marc Savard, the team’s once-dormant power play has caught fire. Toronto has scored four goals since Sullivan’s hiring through three games, clicking at a 50 percent rate. While the small sample won’t appease skeptics, or economists, the Leafs are displaying proof of concept that there’s been real change under Sullivan’s oversight. Matthew Knies was moved to the bumper role, and may be the greatest beneficiary of the new changes.
“It wasn’t working at the net-front this year with him,” Berube explained prior to a December 30 game against the New Jersey Devils. “He’s got a good shot. We just kind of moved him and JT and split them up. JT spent a lot of years playing the net-front, and making plays from there and doing good things from around there, so that was the reason for the switch.”
Knies was off to a slow start, relative to his own standards, while accounting for the fact that he still hasn’t entered his prime. In the new role on the power play, Knies is being forced to read and react with quicker intuition, while operating as a playmaker from the mid-range. Berube’s ideal power play consists of Knies and John Tavares jamming home pucks from point-blank range, and the man advantage is now working to their strengths.
Here’s an example from the December 27 game against the Ottawa Senators, where Knies scored on the man advantage. Knies was placed on the second power play unit, in an attempt to provide some greater balance. Nicolas Roy and Nick Robertson establish position in the offensive zone and work the cycle, before getting the puck over to Max Domi. Domi waits patiently on the wing (this is his greatest quality) as Knies inches into the bumper spot, fires the pass over, and like clockwork, the puck is in the back of the net.
Knies spent the morning skate on the power play working out of the bumper, and the Leafs ran a set play, although Domi denied that contention post-game. And this may count as a footnote: Knies scored a very similar goal at 5-on-5 later in the game, cutting through the middle of the ice, before dangling Senators goaltender Leevi Merilainen for a 6-4 lead.
Very Knies!!!!
: Sportsnet | NHL pic.twitter.com/MuiwP7jJJn
— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) December 28, 2025
It was a sign of real balance, after the first power play unit put the Leafs on the board. Matias Maccelli was added to the top unit, and his controlled entries and patience with the puck are easily identifiable. After flubbing an entry briefly, Maccelli worked in conjunction with Tavares to win the puck, getting it quickly to Auston Matthews. Matthews takes one look as William Nylander races to the net, for a picturesque goal. This illustrated the type of chemistry the Maple Leafs were sorely lacking all season, and Knies spoke to this idea after the 7-5 victory over the Senators.
“I mean, obviously, he’s a great player. He’s really good in the bumper,” Maccelli told The Leafs Nation after the morning skate on December 30. “He’s got a great shot. He finds the open ice there, he’s been really good, winning battles in the corner and getting the puck back after shots.”
The Steve Sullivan era is off to a flying start!!!!
— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) December 28, 2025
“I was in a different spot on my goal, and I think that goal by Willy was just an entry play,” Knies said after the game. “We executed and found a way to score. So, little things like that, execution, structure, be in the right spots, it’s what helped us today.”
Toronto continued this format the following night against the Detroit Red Wings and once again, Knies scored from the bumper. Auston Matthews fired a shot with some velocity that went wide, and Tavares went to work, retrieving the puck from behind the net. It’s an ideal way for Knies to use his combination of speed, size, and soft hands in front of the net.
WE LOVE POWER PLAY GOALS!!!!!
— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) December 29, 2025
“I think it’s a different look,” Knies said following a 4-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils on December 30. “I don’t think I’ve been there for quite some time. It’s a different look for us, and creating different opportunities and trying to keep us pretty unpredictable for the other team. I think we’re doing a good job of that and the other unit was doing a heck of a job putting the puck in the back of the net.”
“We’re shooting the puck a little bit more,” Bobby McMann added post-game, coming off his best performance of the year, while working on the team’s second power play unit. “At 5-on-5 we are shooting a little bit more, and I think that translates a little bit on the power play. To score, you’ve got to shoot it, so it’s got to get inside, and we’ve been trying to push into the middle as much as we can.”
“Obviously, he’s done a good job of putting a couple in the last couple of games, and getting some looks there,” Tavares said of Knies after the December 30 morning skate. “We’ve changed a few things up and it’s led to some good opportunities, and the puck going in the net. We want to keep that up, and great to see him playing the way he is and contributing offensively. It’s a big part of his game and he’s a real key player for us in a lot of areas.”
We’ll need to see a larger sample, and the power play’s recent success is a collective accomplishment, but Knies’ new role seems to be the impetus. Knies is using his frame really well, and during morning skates, it’s evident how he can either jam home packs from the inner slot, while working in conjunction with Tavares or Nicolas Roy at the net-front, or turn his back to the net to reset plays back to the point.
“When I watch it, and I am looking at it, it is just more direct and crisp,” Berube said following the December 30 victory. “The passes are better. They’re not looking for a different option. Pucks are going to the net, and we’re recovering and resetting them again. That is the biggest difference I see right now on the power play, and then the goals are around the net. That is where you score goals.”
When Knies is at the top of his game, the Maple Leafs’ offence reaches a new gear. Knies’ role in the bumper has been the accelerant towards the Maple Leafs’ recent uptick, which could be a catalyst towards a real second-half climb through the standings.
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Auston Matthews has been under the microscope for the Toronto Maple Leafs all season, and not in a good way. The New Years Day bout between the Maple Leafs and the Winnipeg Jets might have been the game that turns things around for him.
Whenever the Leafs and Jets play, there’s a decent chance it will be a barn burner. The two teams have been softly linked ever since the Matthews/Patrik Laine draft, and while that’s about as far in the rearview mirror as you can get, they formed a bit of a rivalry when they shared a division in the one-off North Division season in 2020-21 and since then, you can find more entertaining games between the two teams than not.
Anyway, back to Thursday night’s game and what Matthews did. On paper, he scored a hat trick and added an assist to give him his first hat trick of the season and his first real burst of life in 2025-26. He entered the game with 15 goals and 27 points in 33 games, which aren’t bad totals but well below the standard he’s set for himself. He exits the game with 18 goals and 31 points in 34 games, and a level of confidence that can hopefully be used as a building block on what’s been a tough season for both him and the team.
Matthews’ goals featured some variety, with a deflection for the first one, a last-second wrister to close out the second period, and a deke around Eric Comrie following a puck recovery by Easton Cowan for the third. Matthews is scoring goals of all types when he’s at his best, and he looked closer to the 69-goal version of himself in this game than he did all of 2024-25.
It was a bad start for Woll, who allowed four goals on 18 shots and got pulled in favour of Dennis Hildeby, but the Leafs recognized that their team play wasn’t the reason they were down and banned together to pick up their goaltender. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Matias Maccelli, and Troy Stecher added the goals around Matthews.
The Leafs may have yet to win more than three games in a row, and even with this win, it’s only two win in a row, but you can say from watching them lately that the process is much better and has been consistently good since the win over the Penguins right before Christmas. Their next opportunity to keep the momentum going will come Saturday night against the New York Islanders.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs kicked 2026 off in style on Thursday, defeating the Winnipeg Jets 6-5 in a rollercoaster of a game.
Leading the way for the Leafs to start the new year was Auston Matthews. In his return to the lineup, he had his first hat trick of the season and added an assist to help the team back from a 4-1 deficit in the second period. Speaking postgame, Matthews shared his thoughts on the whole wild affair.
“That was great. It’s always fun to win, but especially given that it was really back-and-forth,” Matthews said. “I thought getting down early, we just stuck with it. I don’t think we were necessarily playing bad, but caught a couple bad breaks, and we just didn’t give up. We just kept pushing shift-by-shift and just kind of clawed our way back into the game.”
Matthews now has four goals and eight points in three games since returning from the holiday break. As he buried the go-ahead goal and eventual game-winner late in the third, Matthews was noticeably thrilled, and he spoke about that celebration after the game.
“I think it’s kind of just in the moment,” he said. “Obviously with the situation of the game, the back-and-forth and clawing our way back, it’s an exciting moment. I think it’s nothing that you’re really thinking about or planning, it just kind of happens.”
A HAT TRICK FOR PAPI!!!!!!!
— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) January 2, 2026
With the hat trick, Matthews now has 419 career goals, putting him just one back from tying Mats Sundin as Toronto’s all-time goalscoring leader. It’s a significant moment for the 28-year-old forward, who talked about the honour he feels donning the blue and white sweater nightly.
“It’s special just to be in the same sentence as (Sundin),” Matthews said. “Obviously guys like him and a number of others that came before us paved the way. I’ve worn the jersey and I think we all take a lot of pride in wearing the jersey and realize how special it is. So it definitely means a lot.”
Matthews will next get a shot at tying Sundin’s record on Saturday night, when the Leafs face off against the New York Islanders.
Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson has been named to Sweden’s men’s Olympic hockey team.
Ekman-Larsson has recorded seven goals and 25 points in 40 games this season for the Maple Leafs, emerging as arguably their best defender during the 2025-26 campaign.
“He’s been one of Toronto’s best defensemen so far, if not the best,” Sweden head coach Sam Hallam said to NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger in December. “We’re looking closely and following him. The way he’s kind of maneuvered his career from what happened in Vancouver, ending up in Florida, winning the Cup, and then bringing that level of game to Toronto, we’re following him closely. And it’s great to see. He’s making my job difficult.”
O for Olympian
Oliver Ekman-Larsson has been named to Team Sweden for the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026! pic.twitter.com/r0RsQMQ12y
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) January 2, 2026
READ MORE: Maple Leafs’ Oliver Ekman-Larsson making strong bid for Sweden’s Olympic team
Ekman-Larsson joins Maple Leafs teammate William Nylander on Sweden’s roster. Nylander was one of the first six players named to the team, and will operate as one of the offensive focal points during the tournament, ranking third among Swedish skaters with 41 points this season.
Representing Sweden at the #MilanoCortina2026 #WinterOlympics…pic.twitter.com/4zkB5heEgs
— NHL (@NHL) January 2, 2026
“Any time you can play for your country, it’s a special thing,” Ekman-Larsson said of his Olympic candidacy in December. “But you can’t let that sway your concentration of what’s immediately ahead of you. And that’s to win games for the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
Ekman-Larsson was not named to Sweden’s roster at the 4 Nations Face-Off and played his way on the Olympic team, after a stellar first half of the season. It’s a well-deserved honour for the 34-year-old, who has been turning back the clock with his resurgent campaign.
Here is Sweden’s full roster:
Forwards: Jesper Bratt, Leo Carlsson, Joel Eriksson Ek, Filip Forsberg, Pontus Holmberg, Adrian Kempe, Gabriel Landeskog, Elias Lindholm, William Nylander, Elias Pettersson, Rickard Rakell, Lucas Raymond, Alexander Wennberg, Mika Zibanejad
Defencemen: Rasmus Andersson, Philip Broberg, Jonas Brodin, Rasmus Dahlin, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Gustav Forsling, Victor Hedman, Erik Karlsson
Goaltenders: Filip Gustavsson, Jacob Markstrom, Jesper Wallstedt
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What a year 2025 was for the Toronto Maple Leafs. From having a new voice behind the bench in Craig Berube, pushing the eventual Stanley Cup champions to the brink of elimination, to powering through a ton of adversity and injury woes, it’s been a wild calendar year in Toronto.
There’s certainly been a number of ups and downs the Maple Leafs have navigated throughout the year, and heading into 2026, they’re 18-15-6, three points out of a playoff spot, and filled with uncertainty on, and off the ice. General manager Brad Treliving is never shy to ask around to gauge the trade market, he’s already fired an assistant coach, and he’ll have lots of decisions to make with the roster heading into the next 12 months.
Let’s dive into some bold Maple Leaf predictions for 2026:
Maple Leafs make the Stanley Cup Playoffs
It’s not the boldest start but the Leafs have 42 games left on their 2025-26 schedule, and have been playing much better hockey of late, even though they’re 5-4-1 in their last 10 games. They’ve battled, they’ve bought in, and they’re a confident bunch heading into 2026.
Goaltending continues to be a strength, regardless of who is in the crease. This is going to be a huge factor for their case to make the playoffs. Joseph Woll must stay healthy, because it doesn’t sound like Anthony Stolarz is anywhere close to returning. Dennis Hildeby has filled in nicely with a .914 save percentage, and the team will need his strong play to continue.
Health seems to be the biggest influence heading into the new year. The Maple Leafs are among the league leaders in man games missed, their two best players didn’t play the last game of 2025, and the back end continues to be without a couple of key pieces in Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo.
It’s going to take a collective effort to stick to Berube’s structure, but if they can manage to maintain the cohesiveness, and the buy in, these Maple Leafs will be among the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference.
Robertson, McMann, Stecher receive contract extensions
Nick Robertson is becoming one of the most important forwards for the Leafs this season, and has been turning heads of late with his evolution into a complete, 200-foot hockey player. His hard work, commitment to his craft, and his dedication to buy into what Berube is selling will lead to a future with this hockey club. Robertson’s a pending restricted free agent, and expect to see a long-term extension coming for the speedy winger.
Bobby McMann, 29, is in a much different boat as he’s unrestricted at the end of the season, and while he struggled out of the gate, he’s been one of the best Leafs’ forwards to end 2025. McMann has a rare combination of size and speed, and with a consistent role among Berube’s top-nine, he’s going to be in the team’s long-term plans moving forward. Look for McMann to land a multi-year extension in 2026.
Troy Stecher became the talk of the town after being claimed off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. Stecher’s been praised by his teammates for his competitiveness, and willingness to sacrifice whatever it takes to help the team win. In 21 games so far, Stecher is averaging over 20 minutes of ice-time per game, and is giving the Maple Leafs an element of speed, and grit from the right-side of their blueline, which is something this team has lacked for years. Look for the 31-year-old Stecher to continue to bump some of his teammates down the pecking order, and receive a two-year contract extension in 2026.
Maccelli, Laughton not extended after season
The boldness has risen, as Matias Maccelli and Scott Laughton will not be given contract extensions to play in Toronto after this season. In Maccelli’s case, there’s an outside shot he’s traded before the deadline in March, but regardless, he’s a pending restricted free agent, and look for the Leafs not to provide him a qualifying offer, or move him on the trade market.
Maccelli’s had his moments, and he’s as skilled as anyone among the Leafs forwards, but with his size, lack of speed, grit, and determination, Treliving would be wise to move on, and find Berube a player that fits more closely into the team’s structure.
Laughton is a tough one because the Leafs gave up a ton to acquire him, but he’s amounted to a fourth-line centre, with some flashes of brilliance. Laughton had a hard time getting accustomed to playing for his childhood team, he struggled last season, he got off to a tough start this year, and while he’s turned it around of late with his two-way impact, look for Laughton to move on to another chapter of his hockey career this summer outside of Toronto.
Domi, Stolarz, or Rielly traded at some point in 2026
Before the trade deadline? Perhaps if we’re discussing Max Domi’s future, but when it comes to Leaf trade candidates for 2026, you can circle Domi, Anthony Stolarz, and Morgan Rielly as the top three.
Domi’s been tough to watch at times with his care for the puck, lack of physicality, and detail orientation in his own end. He absolutely loves being a Maple Leaf more than anyone on the team, but that only gets you so far. We’ve seen numerous times over the years that sometimes, growing up a Leaf diehard doesn’t result in production on the ice wearing the blue and white. Domi has two seasons left on his deal at $3.75 million AAV, and owns a 13-team no-trade clause. Treliving would be wise to sell low if he has to.
Stolarz is a tough one because he just continues to struggle with injuries, which has been the constant theme for him throughout his NHL career. The best ability is availability, and heading into 2026, Stolarz is once again not available to help his teammates. With Woll and Hildeby under contracts at a very reasonable combined AAV for not only 2026-27, but also 2027-28, Treliving should see what value Stolarz has on the trade market. Yes, his extension hasn’t even kicked in, but he wasn’t given full no-trade protection, and only has say against half of the teams. Goaltending is a position of strength for the Leafs, and Treliving would be wise to try and land an impact forward, or power-play quarterback for a package centered around Stolarz.
Morgan Rielly is next up on the trade candidate list, and if you polled Leafs Nation at the moment, he’s probably going to lead the results in one player who needs a change of scenery the most. Rielly’s the longest tenured Leaf, he’s overpaid, which isn’t his fault, and while he’s chipped in with 25 points in 38 games, it’s his declining defensive-zone skillset that’s frustrating the fan base this season. If the Leafs are in the playoff mix creeping closer to the trade deadline, don’t expect to see Treliving ask Rielly for a list of teams he’d accept a deal too, but come summertime, there could be an uncomfortable conversation coming between the veteran defenceman and GM.
Auston Matthews leads Team USA in scoring
The Olympics are just around the corner, and with all the noise on Matthews’ lack of production this season, it feels very ‘Leafy’ if he was to suit up for Team USA and absolutely pop off with his American teammates.
Matthews didn’t play the Leafs’ final game of 2025, due to some soreness from blocking a shot the previous game. It’s been an up-and-down year that has many questioning if he’s fully 100 percent healthy, and there’s been a ton of speculation that his lack of production is centred around a nagging back injury that could eventually require surgery. Frankly, who knows, only Matthews can tell you exactly what’s going on and he’s not interested in doing that, so switching gears from blue and white to red, white, and blue, look for Matthews to turn back the clock and shine for Team USA.
The American and Leafs’ captain didn’t score in the 4 Nations Faceoff, but he chipped in with three assists. Look for Matthews to get an early goal in the Olympics, and ride the wave all the way into the gold medal game. Seeing Matthews catch fire on the international stage will send Leafs Nation into a tailspin, but regardless, the Olympics are going to be some of the most entertaining hockey games in history, and look for the Leafs’ captain to be right in the middle of it all.
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It was a tale of two prodigies on Saturday night, as New York Islanders rookie phenom Matthew Schaefer spoiled a record-setting night by Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews.
Matthews scored twice in the second period, surpassing Mats Sundin for the Maple Leafs’ franchise record for goals. Toronto’s bench poured onto the ice to mob Matthews afterwards. Although the game ended in crushing fashion, Matthews is rounding into form, with five goals in his past two contests.
Here is Matthews’ record-setting goal:
THE LEAFS ALL-TIME GOALS LEADER IS AUSTON MATTHEWS!!!!!!!
— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) January 4, 2026
Matthews’ first goal was a thing of beauty as well, blazing to the outside before tucking the puck past David Rittich to tie the game. It was an incredible night for Matthews, but it was spoilt in the end by Schaefer.
MATTHEWS IS TIED WITH SUNDIN!!!!!
— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) January 4, 2026
We’ve been burying the lede: Schaefer is as exciting as any player entering the league, since Matthews. We were readily anticipating tonight’s contest, and Schaefer exceeded expectations. With the game and storyline belonging to Matthews, Schaefer upstaged his elder, scoring twice, including a beautiful game-winner in overtime.
Schaefer wins it in OT
— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) January 4, 2026
Schaefer’s first goal was tremendous, using his all-world speed to make the Leafs look downright silly. The rookie sensation took off through the neutral zone and swept around Morgan Rielly, before tucking the puck past an outstretched Joseph Woll. It may have been the finest goal of Schaefer’s rookie season, and we’ll argue in this space that he should’ve been selected to Canada’s Olympic team this week.
Schaefer ties it
— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) January 4, 2026
Of course, there are other parts to discuss. Toronto controlled play in the first period, then Adam Pelech opened the scoring for the Islanders in the second frame, before Matthews notched two consecutive goals. Schaefer tied the game in the third period, Nick Robertson restored the lead, before Emil Heineman forced overtime with just over four minutes remaining in regulation.
Anything that doesn’t involve Matthews or Schaefer may be reduced to noise. Matthews is one of the most prolific goal scorers of his generation and can be firmly considered one of the greatest players in franchise history. He’s in the middle of his career, although he now faces the toughest challenge he’s encountered in a decade, in trying to steer the Leafs back to the playoffs.
There may be no ceiling for Schaefer. He’s having one of the best rookie campaigns in recent memory and the Islanders are suddenly one of the NHL’s most exciting teams to watch. It was a tale of two prodigies, and the 18-year-old got the last laugh on Saturday.
Former Toronto Maple Leafs president Brendan Shanahan will lead a review of men’s junior hockey in Ontario, Hockey Canada announced in partnership with Hockey Eastern Ontario, Hockey Northwestern Ontario and the Ontario Hockey Federation, on Saturday.
Shanahan is tasked with improving the experience of junior hockey in Ontario, with an emphasis on improving skills, characters and building sustainable plans for the modern athlete. He will file two reports to a six-person committee, which includes an interim report, followed by a final report to be presented at a later date in 2026, per a release issued by Hockey Canada.
“As a player, parent and executive, Brendan’s experience in the game is second to none and we are extremely appreciative of his commitment to lead this important project that will strengthen the experience for everyone involved with men’s junior hockey in Ontario,” Hockey Canada president Katherine Henderson said in a release. “Brendan is tremendously proud of his Ontario roots, and he has the full support of Hockey Canada and our three Ontario Members as he works to deliver recommendations that will benefit junior hockey in his home province for generations to come.”
“Playing hockey for Team Canada was one of the greatest honours of my career, so to work on this project with Hockey Canada and its three Ontario Members to help give back to the game in my home province is an opportunity that I am very grateful for,” Shanahan said. “Throughout this review, I’m looking forward to learning from those involved in junior hockey in Ontario and better understanding their visions for how we can build a stronger system for everyone participating in our great game.”
Shanahan operated as the Maple Leafs’ president from April 2024-May 2025. Following the 2024-25 season, Shanahan’s contract was not renewed by the Maple Leafs. Shanahan was reportedly interested in a vacancy with the New York Islanders, before the club hired Mathieu Darche as their next general manager.
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Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev could miss the remainder of the regular season, The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reports.
Tanev will meet with a surgeon in the coming weeks and if he undergoes surgery, he is expected to be out until late April or May, Pagnotta reports.
The 36-year-old sustained a groin injury during a December 28 game against the Detroit Red Wings, and has not played since.
“Chris Tanev is going to miss some time, significant time,” Berube said on December 31. “Groin. They’re looking at things going forward here, so I’m not going to speculate on what they’re going to exactly do, but he’s going to be out a while.”
Tanev previously suffered an upper-body injury against the Philadelphia Flyers on November 1, and has played in 11 games, recording two assists this season.
It would be a tough loss for the Maple Leafs if Tanev misses the rest of the regular season. Toronto is in danger of missing the playoffs for the first time during the Auston Matthews era, while Brandon Carlo is still working his way back into form from a foot injury that has kept him out of the lineup since mid-November.
Tanev signed a six-year contract with the Maple Leafs worth an average annual value of $4.5 million in July 2024. Last season, Tanev emerged as the Maple Leafs’ best defenceman, operating as a true shutdown option. Toronto has struggled defensively throughout the year in part due to injuries, and it will be a tough task to rally back into the playoffs without the veteran blue liner. Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Jake McCabe are leading the blue line, Troy Stecher is playing the best hockey of his career, while the rest of the defence corps have struggled to find any consistency.
Toronto resumes its schedule Tuesday against the Florida Panthers, and will practice Monday, where Tanev’s status is expected to be updated formally by the team.
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The Toronto Maple Leafs have placed forward William Nylander on injured reserve retroactive to December 27th, the team announced on Monday. In a corresponding move, they have recalled 27-year-old defenceman Marshall Rifai.
Nylander left the game against the Senators on December 27 with what the team described as a lower-body injury after getting tangled up with Senators defenceman Artem Zub. Despite being floated as a game-time decision in most of the games since then, Nylander isn’t quite ready to return yet, head coach Craig Berube said at morning skate on Saturday prior to their game against the New York Islanders.
“He’s progressing,” Berube told reporters. “I think he’s trending in the right direction, and now my hope is maybe he’s back with us Monday on the ice practicing”.
Nylander had been struggling prior to his injury before popping off for two goals and two assists against the Pittsburgh Penguins two days before Christmas. He scored the opening goal for the Leafs against the Senators but left in the second period of that game. He currently has 41 points in 33 games to lead the Leafs in scoring.
Rifai, meanwhile, has yet to skate in an NHL game in 2025-26 and hasn’t dressed for one since the 2023-24 season. The move to recall him was more than likely related to Jake McCabe’s injury against the New York Islanders on Saturday, given that he’s left-handed and well-suited to step in for McCabe should he miss any time. The defenceman has skated in five games for the AHL’s Toronto Marlies this season, tallying two assists. He previously missed the first two-and-a-half months of the season after undergoing wrist surgery during preseason.
Despite Nylander’s addition to the injured reserve, it doesn’t sound like he’ll be out much longer. According to David Alter of The Hockey News, the move was purely roster management-related. Their next game is at home on Tuesday when they host the divisional rival Florida Panthers.
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Toronto Maple Leafs prospect Ben Danford will be going home with a bronze medal in his first and only World Junior tournament.
After Canada suffered a crushing defeat in a back-and-forth semi-final thriller against Czechia, they came out with vengeance against Finland and beat them 6-3 to capture the third place title at the tournament. In doing so, they avoided going three years without a medal for the first time since 1979-1981 and will enter the 2027 World Juniors as a top-three team.
Montreal Canadiens prospect Michael Hage and top 2026 NHL Draft prospect Gavin McKenna finished the game with four points apiece and helped Canada pull away after the game was 3-2 for them following the first period. Los Angeles Kings prospect Carter George impressed in his return to the net after a couple of rough games early in the tournament, stopping 27 of 30 Finnish shots in the win.
Danford finished the tournament with one assist in seven games and delivered essentially the exact performance people were expecting from the Maple Leafs’ 2024 first round pick. He’s not an overly offensive defenceman and was always projected to be used in a defensive-heavy role, eating minutes on the penalty kill and defending leads in the final minutes of games, and that’s exactly what he did.
Danford, who turns 20 in February, will now return to the stacked Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL and continue his pursuit of a Memorial Cup. The former Oshawa Generals captain was traded there shortly after the start of the season and has 12 points in 15 games since joining the Bulldogs. He will look to pursue a job with the Toronto Marlies following the conclusion of this season, and with some strong play early on next season, could see his NHL debut not far down the line after he impressed in limited preseason action in 2025-26.
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