News Maple Leafs Team Notes

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Craig Berube expresses pride in William Nylander’s two-way game in return vs. Canucks

The Toronto Maple Leafs brought another complete effort to the table in a convincing 5-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday night, bringing them to a record of 7-0-2 in their last nine games.

William Nylander was one of the stars of the show in the dominant win, scoring a goal and adding two assists in his first game since December 27. The team obviously missed his skill and production in that time, but head coach Craig Berube made sure to shout out Nylander’s play on both sides of the puck following the game.

“He’s a skilled guy, he’s got a lot of talent,” Berube told media following the game. “Tonight, Willy, he’s got three points, and for me, it was the work. He was skating, he was back-checking, stripping people of pucks, and when he does that stuff he can be a great player.”

Another player who got a ringing endorsement from Berube was Brandon Carlo, who was an integral part of the team’s performance on the penalty kill after shutting down six Canucks power plays. The Leafs clearly missed Carlo’s presence on the back end while he was out with an injury, and in his third game back, Berube commented on how important he is to their special teams.

“Having Brandon Carlo back has been a big, big, big help,” Berube said. “What he does back there on the PK, just defending and being the big body he is, I thought he had a really solid game tonight and he’s been solid since he’s been back.”

Berube was also thrilled at his team’s response in front of their own net, defending their goaltender and answering the bell, physically, when necessary. Max Domi dropped the gloves with Canucks defenceman Marcus Petterson and won the fight handily, and even rookie Easton Cowan came close to getting into his first NHL tilt.

“Great job by Max, and you can just see everybody, I call it a pack of wolves,” Berube said. “Get in there, stick up for your teammates, your goalie, Cowboy [Easton Cowan]’s in there, it’s good. We’re tight right now and we’ve gotta keep being tight.”

The Maple Leafs are back in action on Monday when they hit the road for a visit with the Colorado Avalanche.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/cra...lander-commitment-two-way-game-return-canucks

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Leafs lineup news: Woll projected to start vs. Avalanche, Stolarz joins team for morning skate

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Joseph Woll is projected to start Monday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche via lines posted by David Alter of The Hockey News. Woll is coming off a 5-0 shutout against the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday.

Woll has posted a 10-4-2 record in 17 appearances, with a .921 save percentage this season.

Anthony Stolarz was a full participant in the Leafs’ morning skate for the first time since sustaining an upper-body injury on November 11. Stolarz is currently on long-term injured reserve, while Dennis Hildeby operates as the backup. It’s an encouraging sign for the Maple Leafs, while Woll and Hildeby have emerged as an upper-tier goaltending tandem this season.

Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube stated there’s a chance that Stolarz will return before the Olympic break.

Berube did not make any amendments to his lines from Saturday’s game. Auston Matthews will centre the first line, with Matthew Knies and Max Domi on the wings. Domi was celebrated for winning his fight against the much-larger Canucks defenceman Marcus Pettersson on Saturday.

Easton Cowan, Nicolas Roy and Nick Robertson have found real chemistry on the third line, while Bobby McMann’s speed, energy, and opportunism is blending in well on the fourth line, where Scott Laughton remains on fire in the faceoff dot. Laughton has been central to the Leafs’ elite penalty kill this season and a catalyst for the team’s recent turnaround.

Calle Jarnkrok, Matt Benning and Philippe Myers are the projected scratches for Monday’s game.

Monday’s game poses a real test for the resurgent Maple Leafs, as the Avalanche are a genuine juggernaut, sporting a league-best 33-4-7 record.

Maple Leafs’ projected lines vs. Avalanche​

Matthew Knies-Auston Matthews-Max Domi

Matias Maccelli-John Tavares-William Nylander

Easton Cowan-Nicolas Roy-Nick Robertson

Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Bobby McMann

Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo

Jake McCabe-Oliver Ekman-Larsson

Simon Benoit-Troy Stecher

Joseph Woll (projected starter)

Dennis Hildeby

Anthony Stolarz

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tor...tart-colorado-avalanche-stolarz-morning-skate

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs’ Nick Robertson ruled out vs. Avalanche with lower-body injury

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nick Robertson left Monday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche with a lower-body injury and will not return.

Robertson was slow to get up, after blocking a shot from Avalanche defenceman Josh Manson during the first period. The play was eventually halted, and Robertson eventually skated to the locker room with the assistance of trainers. Robertson was later seen speaking with trainers, via Sportsnet’s broadcast. Shortly before the second period, Robertson was officially ruled out of the game. Bobby McMann was moved up to the third line in Robertson’s absence.

It would be a tough loss if Robertson further time. Robertson is playing some of the best hockey of his career, finding real chemistry on the third line with Easton Cowan and Nicolas Roy. After the game, Sportsnet’s Luke Fox reported that Robertson walking around without any issue.

Robertson has recorded 10 goals and 22 points in 43 games this season, on pace for the best statistical output of his career.

“Nicky’s skating and attacking, and he’s doing a lot of good things,” Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube said of Robertson’s game in December. “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.”

“I think all year, Robby’s taken a major step in his play, and the way he plays in all facets,” John Tavares said of Robertson. “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

Robertson signed a one-year contract worth $1.825 million with the Maple Leafs in August, avoiding arbitration. He has proven his value in the lineup throughout the year, while playing with consistent speed and tenacity.

It’s likely that the Maple Leafs will provide a further update on Robertson’s status after Monday’s game. If Robertson cannot play Tuesday against the Utah Mammoth, Calle Jarnkrok is the likeliest option to replace Robertson in the lineup.

PRESENTED BY OFF THE ROSTER​

Introducing Off The Roster—Toronto Sports, Unfiltered! Toronto sports fans, your new favourite conversation has arrived. Hosted by Cabbie Richards, Lindsay Dunn, and Dan Riccio, Off The Roster dives into the city’s legendary plays, brutal trades, OG jerseys, celebrity tweets, and everything in between. Raw, fun, and totally unfiltered, this is Toronto sports like you’ve never heard it before. Tune in live every weekday morning on the Nation Network YouTube channel, or catch episodes wherever you stream podcasts. Proudly brought to you by our founding partner, PROLINE. Off The Roster—the new sound in the 6ix.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-nick-robertson-out-avalanche-lower-body-injury

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Craig Button thinks commitment to hard work is driving Leafs’ hot streak: Leafs Morning Take

For the first time since November 7th, the Toronto Maple Leafs are back in a playoff spot.

Incredibly, Craig Berube’s bunch delivered in a big way on Monday night in the ultimate heat-check game. William Nylander netted the OT winner as the Leafs outlasted the Avalanche 4-3 to snap Colorado’s ridiculous 17 game home win streak.

Obviously, we were pretty jacked to kick off the Tuesday edition of Leafs Morning Take. That was a really inspiring effort, too bad many people on the east coast likely missed it because of how late it took place. At any rate, there’s definitely reason for optimism as the Leafs get set for the second half of their back-to-back in Utah, the final stop before the franchise’s first showdown with Mitchell Marner.

Meantime, in the opening block of the podcast, we also touched on Jay Rosehill’s favourite athlete, LeBron James. In case you missed it, LeBron announced he’ll be wearing a special-edition patch for the rest of the season to commemorate his record-setting 23rd NBA campaign. On top of that, we also dove into the coaching shakeup in Columbus, where Dean Evason was fired and 70-year-old Rick Bowness came out of retirement to become the Blue Jackets’ new head coach. Yeah — we’re very versatile podcasters.

Joseph Woll was dynamite, turning aside 31 shots and improving to 9-1-1 over his last 11 appearances. The Leafs also killed off a crucial penalty late in regulation, setting the stage for William Nylander’s OT heroics. All in all, it made for a fun conversation as we broke down everything that unfolded. There’s a reason Colorado owns the NHL’s best record — they gave Toronto all it could handle. We also raved about Auston Matthews’ patented curl-and-drag snipe and Bobby McMann’s burst of speed on a breakaway to beat Trent Miner. Easton Cowan had a big goal in the first period to kick off the scoring, too. Unfortunately, the Leafs lost Nick Robertson early in the game after he blocked a shot in the leg. That said, Sportsnet’s Luke Fox spotted Robertson walking around “fine” after the game. Hopefully, it was just a stinger, or something.

After that upbeat chat, TSN Hockey Analyst Craig Button stopped. Firstly, he dished on the statement overtime win in Denver and what’s truly changed during the team’s 10-game point streak. With the Leafs back in a playoff spot for the first time in a while, Craig shared how his view of this team has evolved, why winning “the hard way” matters, and his thoughts on Dougie Hamilton as a potential fit in Toronto — answering “unquestionably yes” when asked. We also touched on the development of Easton Cowan and Ben Danford.

Lastly, we hit on the back-end of the back-to-back as the Leafs visit Utah. All eyes on Matias Maccelli, who will make his return to Utah after being dealt to the Leafs last summer. In November, Maccelli had one and one – as part of a 5-3 win – against the Mammoth in their visit to Scotiabank Arena. Dennis Hildeby will get the call in goal.

As always, we’ll have a full game recap coming up on Wednesday’s edition of Leafs Morning Take. Plus, former NHLer and Spittin’ Chiclets co-host Ryan Whitney is expected to join us, 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/cra...s-driving-leafs-hot-streak-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

4 takeaways from Leafs-Mammoth: Hildeby delivers sub-par start as exhausted team runs out of gas

The second night of a road back-to-back is always perilous, and the Toronto Maple Leafs simply ran out of gas in a 6-1 loss to the Utah Mammoth. Dennis Hildeby started in goal, while Calle Jarnkrok replaced the injured Nick Robertson, but those were the only two changes from Monday’s thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over the league-leading Colorado Avalanche.

Jarnkrok registered the Leafs’ lone goal during the third period, but the result was already secured. Dylan Guenter scored twice for Utah, while Michael Carcone, JJ Peterka, Jack McBain and Daniil But added singles.

Hildeby submitted a sub-par start, but he also wasn’t afforded any run support or defensive stinginess from his teammates, as Toronto’s 10-game point streak came to a close. There isn’t much predictive value from this game either, as the Maple Leafs are looking ahead to Thursday’s charged game against the Vegas Golden Knights.

Here are four takeaways from the Maple Leafs’ loss to the Mammoth:

Dennis Hildeby delivers sub-par start against Mammoth​

To be clear, pinning this loss solely on Dennis Hildeby would be entirely unfair. Toronto looked slow and disconnected from the outset of the contest, and Hildeby did not receive any real support. Hildeby has been excellent throughout the season, and this isn’t a referendum on his campaign thus far, but he couldn’t keep his team afloat Tuesday.

Utah’s Michael Carcone opened the scoring, and Hildeby needed to be better. Although it was a comedy of errors from the Maple Leafs, with William Nylander, Matias Maccelli, Auston Matthews and Simon Benoit all scrambling for position, Hildeby was late to track the puck and should’ve made the stop with a clean look.

Carcone opens the scoring

: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/G6FGbJXnV0

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) January 14, 2026

Dylan Guenther wired a laser off the rush for the game’s second goal. There was plenty of velocity on Guenther’s shot, but Hildeby should’ve tracked the shot better and used his size to cut off the rising trajectory.

Guenther makes it 2-0

: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/dUJRdoxX4h

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) January 14, 2026

JJ Peterka also beat Hildeby with a shot that he should’ve been able to track down, during the second period.

4-0

: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/PUxZEw4ZV1

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) January 14, 2026

We’re not putting all the blame on Hildeby, as the Maple Leafs were completely exhausted and there were few standouts. It was far from his best game of the season, and it’ll be compelling to see when Hildeby will get his next start, with Anthony Stolarz skating with the team while recovering from an upper-body injury.

Matias Maccelli makes minimal impact in return to Utah​

Matias Maccelli has been afforded a fresh start with the Maple Leafs. Ater a rocky opening few months, where he was benched for the majority of December, Maccelli has found new life on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander, while controlling the entries on the first power play unit. Unfortunately for Maccelli, Tuesday’s game wasn’t one of his best nights.

Maccelli didn’t make an impact at 5-on-5, whether he played with Tavares and Nylander, or with Auston Matthews and Max Domi. He was relatively quiet during the first two periods, before coming on strong midway through the third period, setting up Matthews for a great chance where the Leafs’ captain hit the crossbar. Aside from this sequence, it wasn’t the high-octane game Maccelli was looking for, and he was one of the worst skaters on the ice against his former team. Burn the tape!

Calle Jarnkrok scores after replacing Nick Robertson in lineup​

Calle Jarnkrok was projected to be a healthy scratch, before Nick Robertson was ruled out, after being listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury. Jarnkrok made the most of the opportunity, registering Toronto’s lone goal during the third period.

It would be somewhat irresponsible to advocate for further playing time, after scoring in what amounted to garbage time, but Jarnkrok was indeed one of the best Leafs in an otherwise forgettable effort. Jarnkrok isn’t the player he used to be, but he still has clever instincts and hockey intelligence, which are qualities that are needed on a successful fourth line. And perhaps Jarnkrok just needs some rhythm after all: he scored during Toronto’s first three games, then was rendered a healthy scratch for most of December and January, where his form was diminished. It’s an encouraging sign during a game that lacks true positives.

Jarnkrok gets the Leafs on the board!

: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/eqnrBHNvep

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) January 14, 2026

An awful night for Morgan Rielly, Brandon Carlo, Troy Stecher and Simon Benoit​

Troy Stecher has been excellent for the Maple Leafs since joining the team in mid-November. Stecher’s mobility, competitiveness, and ability to get easy exits helped Toronto overcome its porous defence through the opening two months. We’ve singled him out several times in this space for his strong play. Stecher simply wasn’t good enough on Tuesday, particularly off the rush, where he allowed way too much space off the rush. Simon Benoit did nothing to help Stecher, and both players were disconnected in the defensive zone.

5-1

: TSN | NHL pic.twitter.com/HkcWnRNQba

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) January 14, 2026

Morgan Rielly and Brandon Carlo have been subject to criticism throughout the season, although both veterans were turning the corner. Rielly and Carlo’s spatial sense were awful on Tuesday, and both partners crashed into each other on Guenther’s second goal of the contest. They were slow, they were late to contest dangerous passes through the crease, and while Carlo has been significantly better since returning to the lineup, after undergoing foot surgery in December, this was his worst showing of the 2026 calendar year.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/4-t...-hildeby-sub-par-start-exhausted-team-out-gas

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Ryan Whitney says he wouldn’t want to play the Leafs in the first round —if they get in: Leafs Morning Take

For a variety of reasons, Tuesday night’s performance in Utah was about as predictable as packed gyms in January.

Following their emotional OT win in Colorado, the Leafs fell flat against the Mammoth in the second game of their four game road trip. Dylan Guenther and Jack McBain notched three points apiece as Utah cruised to a convincing 6-1 victory. From the opening puck drop, you could tell it was going to be a rough night for Craig Berube and company, who dropped their first game in regulation since December 21st. With that, both the four game win streak and ten game point streak came to a screeching halt. All in all, vibes were still fairly high to kick off the Wednesday edition of Leafs Morning Take. In fact, we both agreed to park it. That’s all they can do. This was a scheduled loss, and that’s fine. That said, it’s imperative that the Leafs get right back on the horse on Thursday night in Sin City. More to come on that.

Another day, another former Flame has been linked to the Toronto Maple Leafs. Dougie Hamilton, who played for Brad Treliving in Calgary, is available for trade, and according to TSN’s Pierre LeBrun on TSN’s “Insider Trading,” the Leafs would certainly be a potential fit. In the grand scheme of things, Toronto’s reported interest shouldn’t be surprising. Hamilton’s big, he can play the right side, and most importantly, he can run a power play. Check, check, and check. Having said all that, it only makes sense if New Jersey is willing to retain a significant portion of the two years remaining on his deal at $9 million per season—and isn’t asking for much in return. There’s a lot of moving parts to this, but naturally, we did debate the topic. It would make a lot of sense —at least on paper.

Suffice it is to say, Matias Maccelli’s return to Delta Center didn’t go too well. Just like the rest of his team, he wasn’t good. Hell, he even received a few boos. Go figure. Save for a few shifts to start the second period, the Leafs didn’t have much jump. It felt like they were cooked once John Tavares was stopped on that second period breakaway. Everything went downhill from there. Toronto surrendered 23 high danger chances. Dennis Hildeby allowed six goals on 39 shots. He wasn’t as dialled as he’s been, but the loss shouldn’t be pinned on him. They had nothing. Meantime, the power play’s starting to struggle again. They’re 2-for-14 with the man advantage over the past six outings.

After that, former NHLer and current co-host of Spittin’ Chiclets Ryan Whitney stopped by the pod to weigh in on the surging Maple Leafs. He hit on the Utah letdown, Toronto’s hot run, the Hamilton rumours, the Marner game, and if he thinks the Leafs will make the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Of note, Whitney did note that he wouldn’t want to play the Leafs in the first round —if they get in.

David Pagnotta will sub in for Jay Rosehill as co-host on the Thursday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Join us at 11 AM ET for a full preview of one of the most anticipated regular season games in recent memory. Also, die-hard Leafs fan Jackie Redmond, who does great work for both WWE and TNT, will stop by to share her thoughts ahead of the big game.

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/rya...first-round-if-they-get-in-leafs-morning-take

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Vibes, not stats, are driving Maple Leafs hot streak

All good things, right? The Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 8-0-2 run might be over, and somewhat predictably with the second half of a back-to-back but it’s worth taking a look at how things went so right and if it is a sustainable path to the playoffs.

If the Maple Leafs were going to be a playoff team this season they needed a hot streak to undo a rough first half of the season. The post Marc Savard firing 8-0-2 streak meant that as of the morning of January 14th, fans can look at the standings and see Toronto sitting in a playoff spot. Mission accomplished.

What is interesting is how the sausage was made. The Maple Leafs have had a 103.8 PDO over that stretch. There has been strong goaltending over that time but most notably it’s the 12.5% shooting percentage has made them particularly lucky. What is interesting is that the Leafs have the fourth-lowest Corsi for percentage (CF%), 7th lowest shots-for percentage, 10th lowest expected goals for percentage (xG%), and 6th lowest high danger Corsi (HDCF%) in the league at 5-on-5 during this time. These numbers are very much in line with what the Leafs have put up throughout the first half of the year and are typically numbers that equate to a team missing the playoffs or relying on a PDO heater to carry them as far as they can go. Essentially, this is Randy Carlyle hockey.

Those 5v5 numbers oversimplify things a little bit and special teams tell an important story as well. The Maple Leafs have a 31.2 power play conversion rate over those ten games, good enough for 4th best in the league over that time, and a 91.7% kill rate when shorthanded, which has been the best in the league since December 23rd. The penalty kill has climbed to being the third best in the league this season and after having a powerplay that was dead last in the NHL, the Leafs are now 24th in the league, which is still not great but is one heck of a dead cat bounce.

If the numbers don’t make sense at a team level, they start to on a player by player bias. For one, William Nylander has a 55.56% shooting percentage and 10 points in the four games he’s played. Auston Matthews has been the team’s leading scorer with 14 points in nine games, and eight of those points are goals. Matthew Knies has a 25% shooting percentage and nine points, John Tavares has nine points, and with the big dogs barking, Nick Robertson, Max Domi, Bobby McMann, Matias Maccelli, and Nicolas Roy have all seen their games elevate as well. And, while the Leafs might still be getting out-chanced at 5-on-5 or at best are trading chances at 5-on-5, the opportunity to win games via special teams takes advantage of the fact that chances from Matthews are worth more than chances from most players around the league, and creates an encouraging trade off for the Maple Leafs. It’s perhaps the only way that the numbers make sense.

The thing is players aren’t numbers, they are people, and vibes matter. This team did receive a wakeup call with the firing of Marc Savard. This team has had to come to terms with the fact that Matthews was under delivering to start the year and William Nylander had hit a rough patch before Christmas. Things weren’t working on special teams and the fact that Steve Sullivan gave the team the opportunity to try something new was taken the right way and embraced by the team who have run with the restart in the best possible way.

Does that mean that people shouldn’t be concerned about the Leafs?

Absolutely not. Peak performances from the top part of the depth chart will only go on for so long and the Leafs have six other teams within two points of them in the wild card race, three of which have a game in hand over the Leafs. The fact that 18 points in 10 games was required to get Toronto back to the playoff bubble shows how bad the first 35 games went this season and a dip in that direction or even having the rest of the bubble outplaying the Leafs could still result in an unfortunate ending to the 2025-26 season.

For now, the team is embracing vibes. They are catching breaks, which is a rarity for the Leafs, and they are finding confidence. If some of that sticks beyond this ten game stretch, the Leafs might overachieve compared to their numbers.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/vibes-not-stats-driving-toronto-maple-leafs-hot-streak

 

[JJ]

OH LOOK THE LEAFS ARE HOT FOR A FEW WEEKS AND SUDDENLY EVERYONE'S ACTING LIKE THEY'RE GONNA WIN THE CUP

Listen, I've watched this movie before. Every. Single. Year. The Leafs go on some run, Toronto media loses their minds, and then April rolls around and they're golfing while the rest of us are watching actual playoff hockey.

You wanna talk about "vibes not stats"?? THAT'S YOUR STRATEGY?? Buddy, the Buffalo Sabres have been running on vibes for a decade and look where that's gotten us! At least we KNOW we stink!

But seriously - 4th lowest Corsi, 7th lowest shots-for percentage, getting outchanced at 5v5... these are the numbers of a team that's gonna come crashing back down to earth HARD. You can't just ride a 12.5% shooting percentage forever. Matthews and Nylander aren't gonna shoot 55% all season.

And now Robertson's hurt? The one guy who was actually playing with some jam and tenacity? Classic Leafs luck right there.

The funniest part is Ryan Whitney saying he "wouldn't want to play the Leafs in the first round IF they get in." That's a pretty big IF there, Whit. They're hanging on by a thread in the wild card with six teams breathing down their necks.

But hey, enjoy the vibes while they last Toronto. We'll be here waiting when reality sets in. GO BILLS... wait wrong sport. Whatever, same energy - at least Josh Allen actually delivers in big moments!

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Brian Burke believes Mitch Marner deserves a welcome reception during 1st game back in Toronto

Former NHL executive Brian Burke believes that Mitch Marner’s first game against the Toronto Maple Leafs at Scotiabank Arena is a huge deal for everyone involved. Marner made his controversial exit from the Leafs on June 30th in a sign-and-trade deal with the Vegas Golden Knights, which resulted in him signing an eight-year, $12 million contract. Toronto acquired Nicolas Roy in the trade.

Marner and the Golden Knights host the Maple Leafs on Thursday, his first game against his former club, before returning to Scotiabank Arena on January 23. The 28-year-old left the organization as the Maple Leafs’ sixth-leading scorer in franchise history, registering 741 points over the first nine seasons of his NHL career. Although Marner and the Leafs will likely view the first matchup as just another game, Burke feels that it will be hard for everyone not to care about his return to Toronto next week.

“I think it’s a big deal for everyone. This is a high-quality player. Mitch Marner was a great Leaf when he was here in Toronto. He was a great Leaf, he was a great player. He is a good kid, too,” Burke said during an appearance on The Sheet with Jeff Marek on Thursday.  ”His tenure ended unceremoniously, and I think people were not happy with him at the end. But this is a great Leaf, and I hope he gets a nice reception when he comes back next week.”

There was an expectation that Marner, along with Auston Matthews, William Nylander and John Tavares, would lead the Leafs to their first Stanley Cup since 1967 when the quadrant first formed in 2018. Yet, the best the ‘Core Four’ could achieve was two playoff round wins in 2024, which were followed up by a second-round elimination at the hands of the Florida Panthers in 2025, where Marner was dismal down the stretch. Marner was booed nearly every time he touched the puck towards the end of what ended up being his final game with the Leafs.

“I love the fan base there, I loved how passionate they were. I loved how they welcomed me and obviously stuff didn’t go as great as we planned. But that’s how sometimes things happen,” Marner said to the Toronto Star’s Kevin McGran. “I’m grateful forever to have worn that jersey. But I’m happy for this new chapter. It’s a new chapter in my life. I’m focused on here.”

Marner’s legacy in Toronto as it stands is that he was a skilled-winger who was productive in the regular season and had a strong two-way game, but was the poster child of the Leafs’ playoff futility. While the losses were obviously not entirely on him, his struggles when the lights shone bright were put under the microscope given his high cap-hit and critical role on the team.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/bri...e-reception-1st-game-back-toronto-maple-leafs

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Toronto Marlies goaltender Artur Akhtyamov named to 2026 AHL All-Star Classic

Toronto Marlies goaltender Artur Akhtyamov was named to the 2026 American Hockey League All-Star Classic on Thursday. The festivities take place from Feburary 10-11 in Rockford, Illinois.

Akhtyamov, the Maple Leafs’ fourth-round pick in 2020, has appeared in 21 games with the Marlies this season, posting a record of 13-7-1 with a .898 save percentage, while his 13 wins rank 4th among all AHL goaltenders.

The 24-year-old was called up twice this season by the Maple Leafs, who have dealt with injuries to both Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll. Akhtyamov was originally called up on November 13, then re-assigned on November 14 without appearing in a game.

The second call-up took place on December 6, with Akhtyamov appearing in relief of Dennis Hildeby during a 6-3 loss against the Edmonton Oilers on December 13. Akhtyamov turned aside all five shots during the goaltender’s NHL debut. Akhtyamov was sent back to the AHL on December 16, when Woll was activated off injured reserve.

Woll spoke after Akhtyamov’s debut, offering up confidence in the belief he has of Akhtyamov’s ability in the net.

“From the first time I saw him, I thought he was sick,” Woll said on December 12. “He’s a good goalie, man, you watch him out there. The Russians are feeding their guys something different. He’s been great, super laid-back guy, always smiling.”

Marlies head coach John Gruden offered a similar sentiment to that of Woll on Thursday after practice when speaking to the media.

“We know the importance he has been to our group, it’s nice he’s being rewarded,” Gruden said about Akhtyamov. “He improves every day, he comes to work every day and prepares himself physically and mentally.”

Akhtyamov will make it a fourth straight year that a Marlies goaltender has been selected for the All-Star Classic. In 2023, Woll was named to the North Division team, and then Hildeby was selected to represent the Marlies during the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.

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Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-marlies-artur-akhtyamov-2026-ahl-all-star-classic

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs’ Anthony Stolarz believes he’ll be back shortly after dealing with nerve issue

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Anthony Stolarz revealed that he was suffering from a nerve issue, and should be back in the lineup shortly, according to Sportsnet’s Anna Dua.

Anthony Stolarz said it was a nerve issue that kept him out. Feels good, thinks it’ll be a “couple more practices” before he’s ready to be back

— Anna Dua (@AnnaNoelleDua) January 16, 2026

Stolarz has been out of the lineup since leaving a November 11 game against the Boston Bruins due to a previously undisclosed upper-body injury. The veteran goaltender has been skating with the team during this week’s road trip, and is progressing towards an unspecified return date. Stolarz posted a 6-5-1 record in 13 appearances this season, with a .884 save percentage.

After head coach Craig Berube revealed Stolarz suffered a setback in his recovery on November 20, the goaltender went and saw a specialist, before carefully working his way back into practice sessions.

“I don’t have a date like targeted, but he’s on this trip so he can get time with us and be around us and get practice time with us. So, that’s good,” Berube said prior to Monday’s game against the Colorado Avalanche. “I think he’s getting pretty close. Just needs the reps, needs the conditioning, that sort of thing.”

Assuming Stolarz will require ‘a few practices’ as he stated, it seems possible that he could return for Wednesday’s game against the Detroit Red Wings, although the Leafs are exercising full caution.

Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby have both performed admirably in Stolarz’s absence. Hildeby is projected to start Saturday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, after Woll started Thursday’s overtime loss to the Vegas Golden Knights.

Throughout the year, the Maple Leafs faced several injuries and received some worrisome news on Friday. William Nylander is doubtful to play Saturday against the Winnipeg Jets, after aggravating a lower-body injury during the first period of Thursday’s game. Nylander previously missed six games with the lower-body injury and returned to the lineup on January 10 against the Vancouver Canucks.

Toronto will conclude its four-game road trip Saturday, before hosting the Minnesota Wild on Monday.

PRESENTED BY OFF THE ROSTER​

Introducing Off The Roster—Toronto Sports, Unfiltered! Toronto sports fans, your new favourite conversation has arrived. Hosted by Cabbie Richards, Lindsay Dunn, and Dan Riccio, Off The Roster dives into the city’s legendary plays, brutal trades, OG jerseys, celebrity tweets, and everything in between. Raw, fun, and totally unfiltered, this is Toronto sports like you’ve never heard it before. Tune in live every weekday morning on the Nation Network YouTube channel, or catch episodes wherever you stream podcasts. Proudly brought to you by our founding partner, PROLINE. Off The Roster—the new sound in the 6ix.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-anthony-stolarz-believes-shortly-nerve-issue

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Report: Maple Leafs started preliminary extension talks with Bobby McMann

The Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly had preliminary extension talks with forward Bobby McMann, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger.

“I know there has been [conversations] with Bobby McMann,” Dreger said during an appearance on First Up on Friday. “ Just ‘what does an extension look like for you, let’s start batting this around.’  I don’t think that they’ve swapped numbers.”

McMann is in the midst of a solid campaign, sitting seventh on the team in scoring with 24 points (14 goals and 10 assists) in 46 games played, along with 100 hits and 20 blocks. His 14 goals have him third on the team behind only Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares. McMann is in the final year of a two-year contract that carries an AAV of $1.35 million.

The Leafs have invested a significant amount of time in McMann’s development since he signed with the Toronto Marlies on an AHL contract in 2020. It’s paid off in spades as he has emerged as a reliable utility player who can be just as effective on the top line as he can on the fourth line. Dreger says that this, along with McMann’s scoring abilities, means his next contract will likely have an AAV that starts with a five.

“ If you wanna be cheap and get a discount, it’s probably 4.8, 4.9. But I would submit that’s a hard 20-goal scorer,” he said. “Then you have to look at some of the other attributes that Bobby McMahon has brought to the table. He’s developed with the Toronto Map Leafs, check that box. He’s got flat-out breakaway speed, check that box. He’s got size? Yep. [Craig] Berube loves him. Obviously, check that box.”

Dreger later said that the Leafs have lots of reasons to want to get this deal done sooner rather than later, especially considering McMann is expected to take a significant pay raise in the offseason. If the Leafs are unable to get a deal done before July 1st, there is a good chance he could be a hot commodity in a light free agent class. In the meantime, the Leafs will continue to enjoy the bargain value that McMann provides up and down the lineup.

“Speed. A lot of good things. He has such great speed, and he uses it extremely well,” Berube said of McMann on January 12. “I know we lost Robby, so I ended up moving Bobby onto a bunch of different lines, which is nice. He can play anywhere, and he does the job. Defensively, he was outstanding with his stick and his speed. He broke some plays up.”

PRESENTED BY OFF THE ROSTER​

Introducing Off The Roster—Toronto Sports, Unfiltered! Toronto sports fans, your new favourite conversation has arrived. Hosted by Cabbie Richards, Lindsay Dunn, and Dan Riccio, Off The Roster dives into the city’s legendary plays, brutal trades, OG jerseys, celebrity tweets, and everything in between. Raw, fun, and totally unfiltered, this is Toronto sports like you’ve never heard it before. Tune in live every weekday morning on the Nation Network YouTube channel, or catch episodes wherever you stream podcasts. Proudly brought to you by our founding partner, PROLINE. Off The Roster—the new sound in the 6ix.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/report-toronto-maple-leafs-preliminary-extension-talks-bobby-mcmann

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Leafs lineup news: Hildeby starts vs. Jets, Nylander, Benoit out, Jarnkrok re-enters lineup

Toronto Maple Leafs goaltender Dennis Hildeby will start Saturday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets, head coach Craig Berube confirmed to travelling reporters.

Hildeby posted a 4-6-4 record with a .884 save percentage this season.

Berube also confirmed that William Nylander will miss Saturday’s game, and is considered doubtful for Monday’s game against the Minnesota Wild with a lower-body injury.

“That’s a good question. I can’t answer that. With the last one, I thought it would be quicker, and it obviously wasn’t. We’ll just see how he feels going forward. I can’t really answer that question,” Berube said of Nylander after Friday’s practice, when asked about a timeline for his return.

Calle Jarnkrok will re-enter the lineup, after being rendered a healthy scratch for Thursday’s game against the Vegas Golden Knights. Jarnkrok has recorded six goals in 28 games, scoring the Leafs’ lone goal in Tuesday’s loss to the Utah Mammoth.

Simon Benoit will also miss a second consecutive game due to a lower-body injury. Benoit was listed as day-to-day. Philippe Myers will likely remain in the lineup in Benoit’s absence.

Jacob Quillan is reportedly expected to join the team Saturday, but it’s unclear whether he’ll be immediately slotted into the lineup. Quillan did not record a point in three appearances with the Maple Leafs this season. He has recorded eight goals and 27 points in 28 games with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies.

Toronto will be looking to get back in the win column, after surrendering a 5-3 lead in an overtime loss to Vegas on Thursday. Berube called out his team after blowing yet another third-period lead, following the game.

“We got off to a great start and I thought we played really well tonight for the most part of the game,” Berube said. “We just gotta be smarter in certain situations, that’s what it boils down to tonight. I think we played a solid game tonight, but we made some mistakes that we don’t need to make in the third period.”

Maple Leafs’ projected lines vs. Jets​

Bobby McMann-Auston Matthews-Max Domi

Matias Maccelli-John Tavares-Matthew Knies

Easton Cowan-Nicolas Roy-Nick Robertson

Steven Lorentz-Scott Laughton-Calle Jarnkrok

Morgan Rielly-Brandon Carlo

Jake McCabe-Troy Stecher

Oliver Ekman-Larsson-Philippe Myers

Dennis Hildeby (confirmed starter)

Joseph Woll

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/tor...arts-jets-nylander-benoit-out-jarnkrok-lineup

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Maple Leafs, Jets emerging as potential trade partners

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Winnipeg Jets could wind up doing some business together ahead of this season’s trade deadline, and it has everything to do with depth on defence, and the Jets’ disappointing year.

Winnipeg exited Saturday’s 4-3 overtime loss to the Leafs with a 19-22-6 record, sitting second last in the Western Conference, and with the Maple Leafs in the market to upgrade on their blueline, these two teams could quickly realize they align as trade partners.

As far as who could be involved, the Maple Leafs could have interest in one of Logan Stanley or Luke Schenn from the Jets, or potentially, both. Let’s start with the 6-foot-7 Stanley, a former first-round pick, the rugged blueliner is having a career season, recording eight goals and 15 points through his first 45 games.

The towering Stanley is a presence on the ice and would give the Leafs another defenceman who doesn’t mind using his body, blocking shots, or dropping the gloves when called upon to protect himself or his teammates. Stanley is logging 16:15 of ice-time per game and primarily plays 5-on-5, however, given his long reach, and willingness to eat pucks, Craig Berube could see him as an option for the Leafs’ second penalty-kill unit.

Stanley’s two-way game has always been underrated, he’s a fluid skater, and finally this season he’s broken out, creeping closer to double digits in goals. He has a booming slap shot and has been able to get it off more this season, resulting in him chipping in with some much-needed secondary scoring, which is likely one of the many reasons he’s seeing more ice-time.

Stanley is a pending unrestricted free agent, and is set to hit the open market for the first time, so it’s likely he sees it through and hears from other teams on July 1st. This could be a pure rental addition, however, at 27 years old and coming into his own with his unique skill set and towering presence, Stanley could be someone Leafs’ general manager Brad Treliving considers keeping around.

Winnipeg would be wise to sell high on Stanley, so if there’s a bidding war, I’d expect the Leafs would likely pass on paying a steep price. But, if Jets’ general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff keeps his price tag reasonable of a couple of prospects, or mid-round draft picks, perhaps the Maple Leafs could make an offer involving their 2026 third-round pick and perhaps a b-level forward prospect.

Another route that Treliving could consider is moving on from Simon Benoit and shipping him to Winnipeg. He’s been inconsistent, he brings a lot of the same style of play as Stanley, and with him being under contract for next season at $1.3 million, perhaps the Jets, who are looking to retool and not rebuild, would consider giving Benoit a shot as a cheaper alternative to re-signing Stanley long term, at a much higher AAV.

Could Luke Schenn come back for a third stint?​

Recently there’s been lots of speculation that the Maple Leafs are considering bringing back Schenn for another stint. Schenn, 36, has been in and out of the Jets lineup of late, including being healthy scratched in Toronto, in what would have been his 1,100 career NHL game. Perhaps there’s a sour taste in his mouth and given the Jets are out of it, Cheveldayoff could be doing right by his veteran and moving him into a situation he’s comfortable with for a playoff chase.

Schenn, like Stanley, is a pending unrestricted free agent, however, Schenn’s owed $2.7 million annually, and if Treliving does pounce here, the hope is that Winnipeg would be open to retaining some of his cap hit to give the Leafs more flexibility to add up front as well. Treliving can’t go into this trade deadline, add Schenn at full price, and expect to move the needle.

Schenn has slowed down as time has passed, but he’s still as defensively sound as they come and is an intimidating presence on the ice, while being an absolute perfect teammate off the ice. He’d be a huge upgrade for Toronto over Philippe Myers and even Benoit, for that matter. And, with Chris Tanev potentially missing the entire season, Schenn can fill in that role for the Leafs.

TSN’s Chris Johnston recently commented on the potential of Schenn once again ending up in blue and white, and was wise to point out he’s played well with Morgan Rielly in the past.

“There’s already some rumblings around that they’re even looking at a third trip through with Luke Schenn right now,” he said. “Obviously at this stage of Luke’s career, I think that the acquisition cost would be more modest and worked really well with him and Morgan Rielly. So we’ll see if that’s something that comes to fruition, but certainly have heard some talk in that direction.”

Adding Schenn would cost just a late-round pick, but again, considering his cap hit, and the Leafs lack of cap space prior to the trade deadline, Treliving will need to get creative in order to add and fill gaps on his roster, while also leaving flexibility to make multiple moves. Ideally, ahead of the trade deadline Toronto adds at least one defenceman and somehow lands a top-six forward.

Keep an eye on the Maple Leafs and Jets, as two of Canada’s teams could be doing some business together. With the Olympic roster freeze less than a month away, this business could be coming sooner, than later.

PRESENTED BY OFF THE ROSTER​

Introducing Off The Roster—Toronto Sports, Unfiltered! Toronto sports fans, your new favourite conversation has arrived. Hosted by Cabbie Richards, Lindsay Dunn, and Dan Riccio, Off The Roster dives into the city’s legendary plays, brutal trades, OG jerseys, celebrity tweets, and everything in between. Raw, fun, and totally unfiltered, this is Toronto sports like you’ve never heard it before. Tune in live every weekday morning on the Nation Network YouTube channel, or catch episodes wherever you stream podcasts. Proudly brought to you by our founding partner, PROLINE. Off The Roster—the new sound in the 6ix.

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/toronto-maple-leafs-winnipeg-jets-emerging-potential-trade-partners

 

[Toronto Maple Leafs]

Auston Matthews having fun with boos on the road, praises Ekman-Larsson’s dominant game vs. Jets

Auston Matthews is finding his game at the absolute perfect time, and that’s great news for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Toronto’s captain was a force in Saturday night’s 4-3 overtime win against the Winnipeg Jets, giving everyone flashbacks of just how good he can be when he’s at the top of his game. Matthews played over 21 minutes in Saturday’s contest, scoring on a blistering wrist shot, proceeded to set up Max Domi’s overtime winner, all while hearing it from the Jets’ faithful. But, as the saying goes, they don’t boo nobodies.

“I don’t mind,” Matthews said post-game. “I mean, I think they’re not booing for no reason, so I kind of just take it as it is and just have fun with it because, a lot of times it’s fun, especially when you’re out on the right side of it like tonight.”

The Maple Leafs showed a ton of character in Winnipeg, ending their four-game road trip on a serious high. Matthews played a huge role in the comeback, as the Leafs were down 2-0 in the second period before he proceeded to score less than 30 seconds later. Winnipeg took a 3-1 lead early in the third period but the Leafs competed, completing the comeback.

“Just battled, competed for a full 60 minutes,” Matthews stated. “I don’t think we ever got down. When we were down throughout the game, I just thought period after period we built our game, and got better as the game went on.”

After the game Matthews was quick to praise Leafs defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson. The veteran blue liner had a fantastic game against the Jets, making key defensive plays to eliminate Jets’ scoring chances, while also racking up a goal and two assists, and a plus-four rating in over 25 minutes of ice time.

“Really nice play by ‘O’ to break up that play in the neutral ice to give us an opportunity to go down there on an odd man rush,” Matthews said when asked about what he saw on the game winner.

“He did it all for us, he does it all for us every night. He kills, he runs the power play, plays big minutes against top lines, and he had a huge night for us. Obviously, that goal, and then the sifter there that Bobby tipped, and then like I said, breaking that play at the end there. He was unbelievable tonight for us.”

Confidence is riding high as there’s a positive vibe around the team currently. If Matthews and Ekman-Larsson continue to be at the top of their games, the Leafs are in very good hands.

“It’s big, it’s big for the confidence. We get to go back on home ice now for a week, week and a half, and this was a tough road trip. Playing some good teams, a lot of travel, this was a tough building to play in here, especially at the end of a road trip. It’s nice to collect these points, get on the good side of it, and be able to get back home feeling good about ourselves, and we’re right back to work Monday.”

Source: https://theleafsnation.com/news/aus...un-bood-road-ekman-larsson-dominant-game-jets