Toronto Maple Leafs: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Benching Gavin McKenna was a baffling decision by Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller

Eight games into the season, Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller benched 18-year-old Gavin McKenna, and the reasoning behind it is certainly head scratching.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Maple Leafs Place Miles Wood On IR

The injury list has been pretty long already this season for the Maple Leafs, who find themselves down several regulars in the early going. Now, one of the players called up to cover for those injuries is injured himself without even playing one game. Per the NHL’s media site, winger Miles Wood has been placed on injured reserve.

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.

Dakota Joshua News / Pro Hockey Rumors / October 16

Maple Leafs Assign Dakota Joshua On LTIR Conditioning Stint

The Toronto Maple Leafs are less than a week away from returning a bottom-six forward. According to the AHL transactions log, the Maple Leafs have assigned Dakota Joshua to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies for a conditioning stint.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / October 16

NHL Injury News: Tanev, Dickinson, Tavares

IN today’s NHL injury news update, the status of Chris Tanev in Toronto remains unclear and the team might have lost another key player in John Tavares.

Kirill Marchenko News / Editor In Leaf / October 16

Kirill Marchenko's breakout game was wasted by the Maple Leafs in horrific fashion

The Toronto Maple Leafs experienced a crushing defeat on all fronts Thursday night, losing 5-4 to their division rival, the Buffalo Sabres, after leading 4-2 heading into the final 10 minutes of the third period.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / October 16

Maple Leafs Have a Bigger Problem Than Hiller Benching Gavin McKenna

On the surface, it’s one game. A rookie sat for a stretch, and the Toronto Maple Leafs lost 5-4 in overtime to the Buffalo Sabers. It’s not ideal, but it doesn’t sound like the end of the world.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Editor In Leaf / October 16

3 defensemen the Maple Leafs should target to stop the bleeding

With Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Chris Tanev out with an upper-body injury and listed as week-to-week, there are many reports that the Leafs are looking

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Daily Faceoff / October 16

Why did Maple Leafs rookie Gavin McKenna get benched?

Much has been made about the final result in The Six on Thursday night, and why one of the team’s young stars was stapled to the pine when the game was on the line.

Jim Hiller on Gavin McKenna benching: 'Probably should've got him out' in third period

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

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.

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The '2nd-most TD-passes by NFL team' quiz

The '35-TD, 10-INT NFL seasons' quiz

The '100-yard, 1-rushing TD games' quiz

The 'Most 100-rushing-yard NFL games' quiz

NHL News / The Hockey Writers / October 16

3 Thoughts on the Maple Leafs’ 5-4 Overtime Loss to the Sabres

The Toronto Maple Leafs are making life difficult for themselves early this season. Thursday night’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres was another example of a team that can score enough goals to win but still hasn’t figured out how to protect a lead.

Gavin Mckenna News / NHL Trade Talk / October 16

Gavin McKenna’s First Big NHL Lesson May Be More Than Hockey

Last night, Gavin McKenna spent almost the entire second half of Thursday’s game on the bench. The Maple Leafs’ rookie played just 6:36 as Toronto lost 5–4 in overtime to Buffalo.

Aatu Raty News / Editor In Leaf / October 16

3 reasons why the Maple Leafs were smart to trade for Aatu Raty

The Toronto Maple Leafs recently made headlines in the trade universe once again, this time acquiring Aatu Raty from the Vancouver Canucks. The deal saw forwards Brandon Buhr and Jacob Quillan head to Canucks for the 52nd overall selection in 2021.

NHL News / Professor Press Box / October 16

Aatu Räty Might Be the Kind of Player the Maple Leafs Need

Sometimes I wonder if the Vancouver Canucks gave up on Aatu Räty a little too soon. I wasn't expecting him to become a top-six forward, but I thought there might be another way for him to stick in the NHL.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / October 16

Jim Hiller Under Fire Over Gavin McKenna Blunder In Toronto

Gavin McKenna played a career-low 6:36 in Toronto’s 5-4 overtime loss to Buffalo, and the fallout has landed squarely on head coach Jim Hiller. While McKenna’s

John Tavares News / Athlon Sports / October 16

Maple Leafs Dealt Injury Blow As John Tavares Leaves Loss to Sabres Early

The Toronto Maple Leafs suffered another injury scare Thursday night when veteran forward John Tavares left their 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres after an awkward third-period collision.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Trade Talk Sports / October 16

Jim Hiller Offers Strange Explanation for Benching Gavin McKenna

For an early regular-season game in mid-October, Thursday night’s Atlantic Division clash between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres was quite the eventful one.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Inside The Rink / October 16

Toronto Makes a Depth Trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs have made a trade. They acquired forward Aatu Räty from the Vancouver Canucks. Heading to Vancouver are forwards Brandon Buhr and Jacob Quillan.

Sergei Bobrovsky News / TheLeafsnation / October 16

Maple Leafs’ Sergei Bobrovsky unfazed following loss to Sabres: ‘We have a really good team here’

For the second time in as many games, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ defensive woes were exposed. After allowing five goals in a loss against the Utah Mammoth

Auston Matthews News / TheLeafsnation / October 16

Auston Matthews cites miscommunication as reason for Maple Leafs OT loss

Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews believes that miscommunication at key moments was a factor in their 5-4 overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Daily Faceoff / October 16

Jim Hiller on Gavin McKenna benching: 'Probably should've got him out' in third period

In a chaotic Thursday evening matchup between the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres, one of the most intriguing storylines was what happened to Gavin McKenna.

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

Kirill Marchenko News / TheLeafsnation / October 15

Instant Reaction: Kirill Marchenko dominant night not enough as Maple Leafs lose in OT

The Toronto Maple Leafs had a great night from Kirill Marchenko overshadowed by an injury to John Tavares and an overtime loss to the Buffalo Sabres. Marchenko’s performance was surely the kind that they envisioned when they made the blockbuster trade for Matthew Knies prior to the start of the regular season.

Aatu Raty News / Pro Hockey Rumors / October 15

Maple Leafs Acquire Aatu Raty

A few hours after clearing waivers, center Aatu Räty is granted a new opportunity. According to a team announcement, the Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired Räty from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forwards Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / October 15

Is a Big Maple Leafs Trade Coming?: Chayka Doesn’t Go Up to Hit Singles

The Toronto Maple Leafs just learned that defenseman Chris Tanev will be out week to week with an injury, leaving the organization in an interesting position.