Toronto Maple Leafs: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Matthew Knies Surprised by Blockbuster Trade

Matthew Knies was traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a blockbuster trade for Kirill Marchenko. Rumblings of the Maple Leafs’ winger being dealt to the Blue Jackets were beginning to spread across social media.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller provides scouting report of Kirill Marchenko

It’s an unusual season opener for the Toronto Maple Leafs, after executing a blockbuster trade on Monday. Toronto acquired Kirill Marchenko, Miles Wood and Elvis Merzlikins from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Matthew Knies, Emil Andrae, Steven Lorentz and a 2027 2nd-round pick.

NHL News / NHL Trade Talk / September 29

Big Plans in Toronto Might Have Changed Thanks to the Marchenko Trade

On the eve of the 2026-27 NHL season, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a trade that could have a significant impact on how the team lines up on offence. The

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Professor Press Box / September 29

Maple Leafs New Goalie Helps the Team Before He Even Plays

Sometimes a hockey trade makes sense because of the player coming in; sometimes it makes sense because of what that player lets a team do. Elvis Merzlikins is unlikely to help the Toronto Maple Leafs much on the ice anytime soon.

San Jose Sharks News / Yardbarker Quizzes

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

How many of the players to grace the cover of each EA NHL video game going back to 'NHL 2000?"

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

The 'Conn Smythe Trophy winners' quiz

The 'Most NHL goals all-time' quiz

NHL News / Yardbarker

The best and worst NHL free agency deals since 2000

The NHL has had an interesting new millennium. It was a league sans a salary cap when the 2000s started… and then the owners locked the players out for an entire season.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / September 29

Leafs GM John Chayka explains Marchenko-Knies trade; Miles Wood assigned to AHL’s Toronto Marlies

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka met with reporters Tuesday morning, to discuss the Kirill Marchenko-Matthew Knies blockbuster trade. Minutes before the deadline, Chayka traded Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae and a 2027 2nd-round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets, in exchange for Kirill Marchenko, Miles Wood and Elvis Merzlikins.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Daily Faceoff / September 29

Leafs GM John Chayka apologized to Matthew Knies about summer of trade rumors

In the fallout of the blockbuster deal between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Columbus Blue Jackets, the Maple Leafs general manager is opening up about how things went down.

NHL News / TheLeafsnation / September 29

John Chayka hopeful Kirill Marchenko will be available for season opener vs. Canadiens, pending immigration

New Toronto Maple Leafs star winger Kirill Marchenko is expected to suit up for the season opener against the Montreal Canadiens pending any immigration issues, according to general manager John Chayka.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson News / TheLeafsnation / September 29

What does a successful 2026-27 season look like for Oliver Ekman-Larsson?

It seems like much of the latter half of Oliver Ekman-Larsson’s career has involved a steady rotation of a rough season followed by a redemption tour the following year.

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 / NHL Trade Talk / September 29

Why the Maple Leafs Will Miss Matthew Knies

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a major move on the eve of the 2026-27 season, acquiring Kirill Marchenko, Elvis Merzlikins and Miles Wood from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

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

The '100-receiving-yard playoff debuts' quiz

The 'Multiple 30/30 MLB seasons' quiz

The 'Active NFL catch leaders' quiz

The '4K-yard, 30-TD NFL seasons' quiz

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / September 29

The Leafs Nation’s staff roundtable: 2026 preseason recap and regular season expectations

The Toronto Maple Leafs and the rest of the NHL are set to begin the 2026-27 season on Tuesday, and to say the Leafs have undergone quite the transformation this summer is putting it lightly.

William Nylander News / Editor In Leaf / September 29

William Nylander could be the next Maple Leafs player traded

William Nylander is now the third highest paid player on the Toronto Maple Leafs and for every year he stays with the team, his contract is going to look better and better.

Kirill Marchenko News / The Hockey Writers / September 29

Maple Leafs Improve After Acquiring Marchenko in Blockbuster Trade

As the 2026-27 NHL season approaches for the Toronto Maple Leafs, general manager John Chayka was busy ahead of the season opener, making a massive blockbuster

Zack MacEwen News / TheLeafsnation / September 29

What does a successful 2026-27 season look like for Zack MacEwen?

The emergence of Zack MacEwen as a legitimate option for the Toronto Maple Leafs to start the season was a development that not many saw coming. His signing of a two-year deal with an AAV of $875K flew under the radar, given how many other deals the Leafs got done at the start of the free agent frenzy.

Gavin Mckenna News / TheLeafsnation / September 29

Welcome to the McKennaissance Era

Although the Toronto Maple Leafs executed a seismic trade 26 hours before the 2026-27 season opener, it may be a footnote in the longview of history. Welcome to the McKennaissance Era, where the 18-year-old phenom promises to usher in a new era of Maple Leafs hockey, while taking command of the larger Toronto sports ecosystem.

Sergei Bobrovsky News / TheLeafsnation / September 29

What does a successful 2026-27 season look like for Sergei Bobrovsky?

Sergei Bobrovsky cannot wait to the lead the historical, legendary Toronto Maple Leafs, and the hockey capital of the world is welcoming the future Hall of Fame goaltender with open arms.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / September 29

Maple Leafs fans are split on the Kirill Marchenko-Matthew Knies blockbuster trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off a stunning blockbuster on the eve of the 2026-27 regular season by acquiring a package centred on Kirill Marchenko in exchange for a package centred around Matthew Knies.

Matthew Knies News / TheLeafsnation / September 29

Despite trade to Blue Jackets, Matthew Knies did everything right for Maple Leafs

Turns out, where there’s smoke, there indeed sometimes will be fire. The Toronto Maple Leafs executed an unprecedented blockbuster trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on the eve of the 2026-27 NHL season.

NHL News / Editor In Leaf / September 29

Grading the Maple Leafs’ blockbuster Kirill Marchenko trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs pulled off a massive blockbuster with the Columbus Blue Jackets. They acquired Kirill Marchenko, Evlis Merzlikins and Miles Wood in exchange for Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae and a second-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Lindy's Sports / September 28

Toronto Maple Leafs Bet on Kirill Marchenko With Matthew Knies Blockbuster Trade

On Monday, September 28, just one day before the start of the 2026-27 NHL regular season, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets pulled off a true blockbuster trade that will seriously alter the lineups for both teams going forward.

Auston Matthews News / Daily Faceoff / September 28

Auston Matthews skating faster than ever, Leafs GM says

A lot of things have to go right for the Toronto Maple Leafs to get back to the playoffs this season after a bitterly disappointing 2025-26. Offseason additions such as goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and defenseman Darren Raddysh have to step right in and be difference makers.

Dakota Joshua News / Daily Faceoff / September 28

Leafs’ Dakota Joshua out week-to-week with injury

Unwanted news for an important depth player in The Six. When speaking to the media on Monday, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka announced that forward Dakota Joshua is out week-to-week with an undisclosed injury, though multiple reports have labeled Joshua out with a lingering core injury.

Brody Pepoy News / Professor Press Box / September 28

The Maple Leafs May Have Selected Another Interesting Prospect

Every now and then, a prospect gets a little more interesting simply because somebody takes the time to watch him closely. That seems to be happening with Brody Pepoy.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / September 28

Berube Has Defiant Response to Rumors About Maple Leafs and Auston Matthews

Former Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has responded to criticism of his system and his handling of Auston Matthews, and he isn’t walking any of it back.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / September 28

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Bobrovsky, Raddysh, McKenna, Paul, Rielly & Knies

The preseason is winding down, and soon the Toronto Maple Leafs will have to stop being an interesting collection of new players and start being a hockey team.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / September 27

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: A Different Kind of Hockey in Toronto?

The preseason doesn’t usually tell us much about what a hockey team will look like when the games start counting. Too many lineups, too many players trying to make the team, and too many nights when half the regular lineup is in a split-squad matchup someplace else.