Toronto Maple Leafs: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Gavin McKenna expresses gratitude to teammates following first preseason game: ‘A lot to build on’

It was a quiet night on the scoresheet for Toronto Maple Leafs incoming first overall pick Gavin McKenna, but he had nothing but good things to say about his first time on NHL ice.

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5 takeaways from Maple Leafs-Canadiens preseason opener

TORONTO — All eyes were on Gavin McKenna, as the 18-year-old made his preseason debut for the Toronto Maple Leafs. McKenna did not appear on the scoresheet, but he drew a ton of attention, and was among Toronto’s best forwards in a 4-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens, a scoreline that betrays the competitive balance of the contest.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Editor In Leaf / September 20

Predicting the Maple Leafs' 2026-27 opening night roster

The Toronto Maple Leafs have two of four preseason games in the books. Which means it's time to look ahead and predict the 2026-27 opening night roster.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Editor In Leaf / September 19

Maple Leafs answer several questions in preseason loss to Canadiens

The Toronto Maple Leafs hit the ice for the first time this season in a split-squad session against the Montreal Canadiens. While the Leafs lost both games, one of them, a misleading 4-1 loss, answered several questions everyone had in mind heading into this campaign.

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?"

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NHL News / Maple Leafs Hotstove / September 19

Jim Hiller on Gavin McKenna’s NHL (preseason) debut: “He was in on three or four chances… You will take that every day”

After the Maple Leafs’ 4-1 loss to the Canadiens in the preseason opener, head coach Jim Hiller discussed Auston Matthews’ and Gavin McKenna’s performances, the team’s execution with and without the puck, and Dakota Joshua’s status.

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.

NHL News / TheLeafsnation / September 19

Maple Leafs’ B-squad fall 4-3 in overtime to Canadiens on the road

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost their second of two split-squad games against the Montreal Canadiens to open the newly-shortened preseason, falling 4-3 in overtime.

Darren Raddysh News / Editor In Leaf / September 19

Darren Raddysh scores his first goal as a Maple Leaf in classic fashion

The Maple Leafs have kicked off their preseason Saturday night with a split-squad series of games in between Toronto and Montreal, against the Canadiens.

Matthew Knies News / Editor In Leaf / September 19

Matthew Knies sends clear message about his Maple Leafs future

Toronto Maple Leafs winger Matthew Knies made his thoughts clear about his future with the team. In particular, he sent a clear message to the fanbase, reassuring everyone that rumors were just that, rumors.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Editor In Leaf / September 19

The Maple Leafs’ power play might be full of personal drama

John Chayka and the Toronto Maple Leafs entered the offseason with one focus: adding talent to the roster for a return to the postseason. However, that sudden embarrassment of riches has handed new head coach Jim Hiller a massive tactical headache before the puck even drops.

Jim Hiller News / Editor In Leaf / September 19

Jim Hiller has a clear vision for what he wants the Maple Leafs to become

Jim Hiller's appointment as the Toronto Maple Leafs' head coach drew some concern, as his time with the Los Angeles Kings featured a defense-heavy team.

Sergei Bobrovsky News / Professor Press Box / September 19

What Sergei Bobrovsky Really Brings to the Maple Leafs

Sergei Bobrovsky is expected to get the start for the Maple Leafs against Montreal on Saturday, and sure, that's worth watching. But honestly, the preseason start isn't the interesting part.

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 / The Hockey Writers / September 19

Are the Maple Leafs Really Better? 3 Reasons For Optimism

After an ugly 78-point season that saw the Toronto Maple Leafs miss the playoffs, the organization enters training camp with a new look. The team is quite different, both in its players and its front office, and it has become one of the league’s most divisive teams.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Editor In Leaf / September 19

Maple Leafs’ latest lineup reveals some interesting preseason plans

The wait is finally over. After a long and busy offseason for the Toronto Maple Leafs, filled with a bunch of excitement and hope, the team will finally hit the ice on Saturday for a split-squad clash against one of their biggest rivals, the Montreal Canadiens, as one group will be in Toronto and the other will be in Montreal.

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Steven Lorentz News / TheLeafsnation / September 19

Steven Lorentz details confidence struggles last season ahead of year 3 with Maple Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Steven Lorentz is in a better place heading into his third season with the club. After an up-and-down year with mostly downs (which was certainly not exclusive to Lorentz), the Waterloo native spoke about where things went wrong for him in 2025-26 and how he’s going to apply it to this season under a new head coach.

Jack Roslovic News / TheLeafsnation / September 19

Scenes from Leafs’ morning skate: Jack Roslovic gets majority of reps with 1st power play unit

It was an eventful morning skate, as the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare to host the Montreal Canadiens in their preseason opener on Saturday evening. Toronto’s main group will play at Scotiabank Arena, while its secondary group, led by Oliver Ekman-Larsson and Easton Cowan, will play in Montreal.

Christopher Tanev News / TheLeafsnation / September 19

Chris Tanev cannot wait to play again for Maple Leafs: ‘I’m a competitive person’

For the first time since December 28, Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Chris Tanev will play in an NHL game. The veteran blueliner is coming off a difficult 2025-26 season that was riddled with injuries and resulted in him missing all but 11 games.

NHL News / TheLeafsnation / September 19

Leafs head coach Jim Hiller highlights need for speed, outlines Gavin McKenna’s power play usage

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller is looking for his team to play with renewed pace throughout the year, as the club prepares for its first preseason game against the Montreal Canadiens on Saturday.

Gavin Mckenna News / Field Level Media / September 19

No. 1 pick Gavin McKenna ready for Maple Leafs' debut

No. 1 overall draft pick Gavin McKenna is expected to make his NHL debut Saturday night when his Toronto Maple Leafs host the Montreal Canadiens in a preseason game.

NHL News / NHL Trade Talk / September 19

Matthew Tkachuk Sends a Warning to Former Linemates Now Reunited in Toronto

Jack Roslovic is getting the first crack at skating on the right side of Toronto’s top line alongside center Auston Matthews and left winger Matthew Knies at Maple Leafs training camp — a pairing that comes with some built-in chemistry.

Nick Blankenburg News / TheLeafsnation / September 19

Nick Blankenburg discusses new outlook on life in hockey following 2025-26 season

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Nick Blankenburg feels about the opportunity presented after he signed a professional tryout contract (PTO) with the team.

Auston Matthews News / Professor Press Box / September 19

Auston Matthews Leads the Maple Leafs Without Saying Much

There are many ways to talk about Auston Matthews as the captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs. You can talk about the goals, the records, the pressure, the contract and all the expectations that come with being the guy wearing the C in Toronto.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / September 19

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: McKenna Belongs & Knies Has Something to Prove

The second day of training camp makes it a little easier to separate the noise from the interesting stuff. The sweaters are still clean, nobody has played a meaningful game, and coaches are still moving players around like pieces on a chessboard.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Daily Faceoff / September 18

Leafs' Matthew Knies '100 percent' healthy ahead of 2026-27 season

It is a new era for the Toronto Maple Leafs with John Chayka and Mats Sundin running the front office and Jim Hiller taking over as head coach.

Matthew Knies on conversations with Maple Leafs GM John Chayka: ‘He felt that I was a valuable piece here’

Why the Matthew Knies trade rumours were bogus and should be silenced for good

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

Max Domi News / The Hockey Writers / September 18

The Maple Leafs’ Strange Language Behind Max Domi’s Failed Physical

Sometimes a few words can make a routine injury update much more interesting. That might be the case with Max Domi and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Domi underwent offseason surgery for an undisclosed injury he played through last season.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / September 18

'This Is the Plan for Now': Why the Maple Leafs Are Keeping McKenna Away From Matthews

Gavin McKenna’s long-awaited NHL debut is coming into focus — and it doesn’t include Auston Matthews. At least not yet. The Maple Leafs will open training camp with their 18-year-old phenom skating alongside John Tavares and William Nylander, not on Matthews’ wing.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / September 17

Roslovic Gets the First Shot With Matthews, But It’s Not Gifted

The first day of training camp gave the Toronto Maple Leafs an interesting storyline right away: Jack Roslovic and Easton Cowan could be fighting for the same kind of opportunity.