5 takeaways from Maple Leafs-Canadiens preseason opener

McKenna was placed on a line with John Tavares and William Nylander, building familiarity with Toronto’s veteran forwards throughout the week. It’s a clever way to insulate McKenna from the attendant pressure that comes with being the first overall pick, with fans frothing in anticipation over his dynamic offensive arsenal. McKenna was active throughout the game, and almost scored on a 2-on-1 rush during the second period, electing to shoot with Tavares breaking free.

During the third period, McKenna’s impact waned, but he showed good chemistry and a strong ability to interpret space throughout the game. Toronto’s prized rookie provided a candid self-assessment post-game.

“Not the result we wanted, but I think it was a good start. You know, there’s lots to work on. It’s the first game of the year, a little bit scrambly, but I think as we build, it’ll get a lot easier,” McKenna said. “I thought I created a bit, but also had a couple turnovers, which I think it kind of just happens with nerves. I think it was a good start and a lot to build on.

“He was good. You can just tell it’s not easy,” Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews said of McKenna, post-game. “You jump into your first game after very short two practices and then right into a pre-season game in the NHL. But I think he’s got a great head on his shoulders. He’s gonna continue to get better as camp goes on, as he gets more comfortable and adjusts to this pace of play. But he had moments out there where you can tell just how skilled and how talented he is and what he can do.”

Hiller noted that McKenna played well, but he doesn’t want to criticize him too often, as he learns the professional game. McKenna finished the game with three shots, and four shot attempts.

“I would just tell him not to overthink it,” Hiller said post-game. “Clearly he’s a pretty good self-evaluator and he’ll put that pressure on himself. So I’m not going to go ahead and do that to him this early, and we’ll just see how he adjusts himself for the next game. We want him to have the puck. Sometimes in the NHL, you gotta just get right there and surround it and then make plays out of that rather than waiting and seeing if somebody can get it to you. So he’ll figure that part out.”

Darren Raddysh’s slapshot is a new wrinkle for the Leafs’ power play

Darren Raddysh is the cornerstone of the Leafs’ defence after signing an eight-year extension, upon being acquired from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Raddysh was already in midseason form, scoring Toronto’s first goal of the contest, when his slapshot ricocheted off Josh Anderson’s stick, taking a wild change of direction, into the net. It was an apt reward for Raddysh’s stellar showing overall, where he put on a shot-blocking clinic during the early stages of the game.

Raddysh sprawled out to block a shot, breaking up a 2-on-1 rush early in the first period, and closed out the frame with another key stop, getting props from Sergei Bobrovsky on the way to the dressing room. Throughout the game, Raddysh communicated well, and while the power play is a work in progress, the threat of his shot is clearly opening up time and space for his teammates. For two periods, Raddysh was Toronto’s best defenceman, but he often was forced to dig himself out of tough spots, often caused by poor puck play from Emil Andrae. We’ll want to take a larger look at Raddysh, but his offensive game was as good as advertised.

“You know, he’s obviously got a bomb and a big shot threat up there and he’s deceptive,” Auston Matthews said of Raddysh post-game. “I mean, he made some great plays to me tonight. I got to put that in. You can just tell he’s got so much poise up there and really can maneuver and quarterback a power play extremely well and that big shot to kind of cap everything off.”

Auston Matthews’ explosive skating was notable through the contest

Auston Matthews returned to action, after suffering a season-ending injury against the Anaheim Ducks on March 12. Matthews skated with real explosion throughout the game, highlighted by an end-to-end rush in the first period, where he fired a dangerous shot on net. He worked well in conjunction with Matthew Knies throughout the game, established the low cycle, engaged in puck battles when needed, and was Toronto’s offensive catalyst.

“I think the first half of the first period, definitely felt pretty rusty. But as the game went on, I felt better and better,” Matthews said. “As we continue to skate and practice and play one more game, I think the conditioning of the legs kind of get going a little bit more and transitions into game shape a little bit. But all in all, it was a good first game. I thought I had some good moments, good opportunities. Take that and go from there and keep building.”

Matthews finished with a team-best six shots on goal in 22:17 on Saturday. He’s clearly ready for the volume that comes with being an elite No. 1 centre, and though he didn’t score, he put himself in spaces where there were genuine chances. It was unfortunate that Matthews didn’t score, as he was absolutely robbed by Montreal’s Kaapo Kahkonen on the power play during the second period, and looked skyward.

“I thought he was really skating,” Hiller said of Matthews, post-game. “I thought he had the puck, he looked dangerous, he had a lot of looks. So I liked his game. I think if I had to give one moment in the game, it was when he rounded the net, came through, kind of sliced through a couple guys end to end. I hadn’t seen that a lot out of him last year, and so that was a really positive thing to see. He was moving, carrying the puck.”

Ben Danford’s increased opportunity to make the team out of camp

Ben Danford is being afforded every opportunity to make the Maple Leafs out of camp, and helped his chances with a quietly stellar game on Saturday. Danford does all the little things well, but he jumped into the rush for a good shot on goal, drawing an offensive zone faceoff. The 20-year-old is a stay-at-home defenceman, but he showed a renewed ability to generate some offence during the Toronto Marlies’ Calder Cup title run.

During an evening where Emil Andrae struggled in rush scenarios, and could scarcely break the puck out of his zone, Danford excelled. He broke up rush chances, tracked back with fluency, finished his checks without sacrificing positioning, and was an asset throughout the night. The 20-year-old is trending upwards, and we’ll see if he’s ascending through the depth chart, into the No. 6 spot for opening night.

Chris Tanev excels in his return to action after injury-truncated 2025-26

Chris Tanev couldn’t wait to get back onto the ice after a series of injuries limited him to 11 games last season. Tanev spoke about his competitiveness following Saturday’s morning skate, emphasizing how he feels part of the team again, after feeling isolated while watching last season unfold from the press box.

“I think in the game, I’ve done a ton of skating,” Tanev said following Saturday’s morning skate. “It’s gonna be a lot of the quick plays and then little plays under pressure that I haven’t experienced in quite some time.  So be a smart player, move pucks, get up the ice and, have a good skate.”

Tanev started the game with Jake McCabe, and looked no worse for wear. He was excellent on the penalty kill through the first period, making smart reads to intercept pucks, while communicating well with McCabe during rush scenarios. Tanev blocked dangerous passes with relative ease, and he was Toronto’s best defenceman throughout the game, with due consideration to Darren Raddysh.

The 36-year-old blocked three shots, while playing 18:10. Tanev will use the preseason to get back into game shape, but if Saturday was any indication, he could be back in peak form for the Maple Leafs.

“He thinks the game from a defenseman’s perspective, he thinks it as well as anybody,” Hiller said of Tanev, post-game. “To me, being out as much as he did, I would have never guessed, he played quite a bit of minutes. You see him on the penalty kill, he’s breaking up plays, he’s doing what he does. So yeah, he’s just a really important player for us. It’s great to have him back.”