Toronto Maple Leafs: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

10 years after his four-goal debut, Auston Matthews is still Toronto’s golden boy

On this day in 2016, the Toronto Maple Leafs opened their season against the Ottawa Senators in a game that doubled as the NHL debut of a notable rookie.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Leafs to face Mammoth without 'heart-and-soul guy' Chris Tanev

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be forced to cope with a familiar hole on their blue line when they visit the Utah Mammoth in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Viral Sports News / October 12

Maple Leafs Expected to Trade for 29-Year-Old Defenseman

The Toronto Maple Leafs entered the 2026-27 season with a clear need for reliable defensive depth, and that requirement has grown more urgent after Chris Tanev left Saturday’s game with an upper-body injury.

NHL News / Maple Leafs Hotstove / October 12

Jim Hiller on the Leafs’ ability to withstand the loss of Chris Tanev: “They fought like crazy on Saturday night… The guys responded well”

After Monday’s practice, Jim Hiller discussed Chris Tanev’s injury, Marshall Rifai’s call-up, the defense pairings, the team’s skating through six games, and the hot starts for Auston Matthews and William Nylander.

Washington Capitals News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The 'Most goals in NHL history' quiz

How many of the 22 players in NHL history with at least 600 career goals can you name in five minutes?

The 'Conn Smythe Trophy winners' quiz

The '2026-27 NHL captains' quiz

The ''EA NHL,'' covers since 2000' quiz

NHL News / Yardbarker

The biggest draft bust for every NHL team

People love a good mid-round draft pick that pans out, and in the NHL you used to see those fairly often, but that’s obviously partially luck. If the Red Wings thought Nicklas Lidstrom was going to become a top-five defenseman in history, they wouldn’t have waited until the 53rd pick to take him.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / October 12

Leafs practice notes: John Tavares rejoins Maple Leafs in Utah, Oliver Ekman-Larsson takes maintenance day

John Tavares is set to return to the Toronto Maple Leafs’ lineup for Tuesday night’s game against the Utah Mammoth. Tavares missed the Maple Leafs’ game against the Colorado Avalanche on Saturday night to be with his wife for the birth of their fourth child, head coach Jim Hiller said over the weekend.

Nick Blankenburg News / Professor Press Box / October 12

Maple Leafs Nick Blankenburg Earned a Bigger Chance

Sometimes the best compliment you can give a defenceman is that you didn't notice him. That was my reaction to Nick Blankenburg during the Toronto Maple Leafs' 6-3 win over the Colorado Avalanche.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Professor Press Box / October 12

Maple Leafs May Have a New Offensive Leader, and That's Good

Something interesting is happening with the Toronto Maple Leafs, and it goes beyond William Nylander’s five-point night against Colorado. For years, we’ve pretty much known where the conversation starts when we talk about the Maple Leafs’ best player.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Daily Faceoff / October 12

Leafs’ Chris Tanev placed on injured reserve; Marshall Rifai recalled

The Toronto Maple Leafs will be without one of their top blueliners for the foreseeable future. The team announced Monday that defenseman Chris Tanev has been placed on injured reserve retroactive to Oct.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / October 12

The Maple Leafs May Be Finding a New Way to Win

Something interesting is happening with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season, and it isn’t just about goals or wins and losses. It’s about skating. Speed isn’t everything in hockey.

Auston Matthews News / TheLeafsnation / October 12

Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews named NHL’s 1st star of the week

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is putting the league on notice, quite literally. Matthews was named the NHL’s first star of the week, after registering three goals and nine points over a three-game span.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The defining figure for every NHL franchise

People will talk about the “Mount Rushmore” for a franchise, which is to say the four people, usually four players, that most define the franchise. Not always the four-best players, but the four that evoke the essence of the franchise.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Maple Leafs Hotstove / October 12

More talent, more excitement, and plenty to figure out: Assessing the Maple Leafs after six games

Six games into the new season, the Maple Leafs are 3-2-1. It’s easy to forget, but they had the exact same record after six games last season, too. On their current road trip last season, it started much the same way — blowing a lead against Vegas but picking up a point, beating Colorado, then […]

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / October 12

5 things Maple Leafs fans should be thankful for

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! We sincerely hope you’re spending this long weekend with family, food and visions of merriment. It’s an exciting time for the Toronto Maple Leafs, who are coming off a thrilling 6-3 victory over the Colorado Avalanche.

Click here to get Yardbarker's Quiz of the Day emailed to you!

The 'QB season rushing-TD leaders' quiz

The 'Rushing TDs by active NFL WRs' quiz

The 'Most 3-HR MLB Playoffs' quiz

The 'NFL most receiving-1st downs' quiz

Christopher Tanev News / Professor Press Box / October 12

Maple Leafs’ Chris Tanev Problem Is Bigger Than One Injury

You can learn a lot about a hockey team by watching the players whose absence makes everyone nervous. Chris Tanev is one of those players. When Auston Matthews describes a teammate as a “heart-and-soul” guy, you know we're talking about somebody who brings more to the rink than his name on the lineup card.

Easton Cowan News / TheLeafsnation / October 12

Time and Space: Easton Cowan is taking the leap

Easton Cowan is one of the bridge pieces between the Toronto Maple Leafs’ win-now timeline, and a bright, uncertain future. Cowan was the positive surprise of the Maple Leafs’ 2025-26 season and the 21-year-old is in terrific form.

Auston Matthews News / The Hockey Writers / October 12

Maple Leafs’ Matthews Bounce Back is Due to Two Key Factors

The Toronto Maple Leafs are six games into their season and while there are plenty of things to be excited for; one thing that fans should be elated about is the play of captain Auston Matthews. Coming into the season, many were hoping that Matthews could have a rebound after two very sub-par seasons that weren’t to his standards.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / October 12