Toronto Maple Leafs: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Joe Pavelski: The Maple Leafs' Most Interesting Coaching Candidate

Just when it seemed the Toronto Maple Leafs' coaching search couldn't get any more interesting, a new name entered the conversation—and it wasn't one many people expected.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

The Maple Leafs’ 'Fix It Now' Approach Needs to Change

My grandfather used to tell a simple joke. A man goes to the doctor and says, “Doctor, it hurts when I wave my arm like this.” And the doctor looks at him and says, “Then don’t do it.” It’s a funny line, but it sticks because it’s really about behaviour.

Joe Pavelski News / NHL on ClutchPoints / June 7

Maple Leafs rumors: Joe Pavelski enters head coaching chat

The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for a new head coach. It appears a new candidate is entering the mix for that job. Former NHL player Joe Pavelski is reportedly set to interview with the team, per Sportsnet.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / 6IX ON ICE / June 7

Remembering ‘Trader Cliff’: How Cliff Fletcher forever changed the Toronto Maple Leafs

Cliff Fletcher, former GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs and a Stanley Cup champion, sadly passed away on Friday, June 5, 2026, at the age of 90. His death was confirmed by the Leafs without providing a cause.

Mitch Marner News / Yardbarker Quizzes

The '20-point Stanley Cup Playoffs' quiz

How many of the active NHL players to rack up at least 20 points in a single Stanley Cup Playoff run can you name in six minutes?

The 'Stanley Cup captains since 2000' quiz

The 'Conn Smythe Trophy winners' quiz

The 'Most 5-point NHL games' quiz

NHL News / TheLeafsnation / June 7

Maple Leafs will reportedly interview Joe Pavelski for head coach

An unconventional, big-ticket name has entered the Toronto Maple Leafs’ search for their next head coach. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reports that former San Jose Sharks and Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski will get an interview for the job.

NHL News / Yardbarker

The 25 greatest rookie seasons in NHL history

There have been successful rookie seasons in NHL history, and there have been superior efforts worth celebrating time and time again. Here's our list of the 25 notable seasons from those with official rookie status, as deemed by the NHL, in reverse chronological order.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / June 7

How the Marlies’ Calder Cup playoff run is shaping the future Leafs core

It’s 25 degrees and banners for the upcoming FIFA World Cup are sprouting up through Liberty Village, but it’s Hockey Night in Toronto throughout this first week of June, amid ample evidence that summer is underway.

NHL News / Yardbarker / June 6

Golden Knights' Mitch Marner records fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup Final history

The biggest knock on Vegas Golden Knights forward Mitch Marner during his time with the Toronto Maple Leafs was that he was not a big-game player and did not play his best when the lights were brightest. He is obliterating that narrative in the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs.

John Tortorella doubles down on controversial challenge that backfired

Winners, losers from Game 1 of 2026 Stanley Cup Final: Golden Knights' Tomas Hertl plays hero

Winners, losers from Game 2 of Stanley Cup Final: Hurricanes storm back to tie series

The '20-point Stanley Cup Playoffs' quiz

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / June 6

Ivar Stenberg dreams of being drafted by Maple Leafs

Ivar Stenberg’s name keeps popping up toward the top of the 2026 draft board, and he didn’t exactly hide how much it’d mean to hear his name called by the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Leafs not planning to trade first overall pick

What we can infer about the Maple Leafs’ draft strategy from John Chayka’s media availability

Maple Leafs GM John Chayka calls Gavin McKenna ‘a really nice young man’ after visit to Whitehorse

The '1961-64 Toronto Maple Leafs' quiz

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / June 6

What Should the Maple Leafs Prioritize Most this Offseason?

The Toronto Maple Leafs likely aren’t as bad as this past season’s results would suggest. It was a bit of an adjustment without Mitch Marner, and Craig Berube’s system slowly got further and further away from what was right for the roster he inherited.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Professor Press Box / June 6

Is Chris Tanev Facing a Jake Muzzin-Type Turning Point?

In his December Sportsnet column, Nick Kypreos shared what he’d heard about Chris Tanev’s injury and drew a comparison that immediately caught my attention: Jake Muzzin.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / June 6

The Maple Leafs Already Know What Matthews Wants

When Auston Matthews and William Nylander suggested that the Toronto Maple Leafs bring in a couple of mobile, puck-moving defencemen in exit interviews, that wasn’t just a roster wishlist.

Gavin Mckenna News / NHL Trade Talk / June 6

McKenna to Toronto? Early Draft Noise Has Maple Leafs Taking Him No. 1

The early noise coming out of the NHL Scouting Combine suggests the Toronto Maple Leafs may already be trending toward making a defining decision at the top of the draft.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / June 6

Chris Pronger believes moving on from Matthew Knies would signal long-term rebuild

The Toronto Maple Leafs became the talk of the hockey world Friday when The Fourth Period’s David Pagnotta reported that a deal was in place to send forward Matthew Knies to the Montreal Canadiens. The reported deal was Knies for a package that included prospect Alexander Zharovsky, another unnamed prospect, and two first-round draft picks.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / June 6

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Roy, McKenna, Chayka & Why Ahokas Might Matter

There seems to be even more uncertainty surrounding the Toronto Maple Leafs now than there was when their season officially ended. That’s saying something, because right after the final whistle in May, the debates were already in full swing about whether this team needed a rebuild, a re-tool, or something in between.

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

The ''Madden' cover athletes' quiz

The 'Last 30-point NBA Finals game' quiz

The 'Most 1,400-yard NFL seasons' quiz

The 'Most field goals-per-game by playoffs' quiz

Matthew Knies News / 6IX ON ICE / June 6

The Toronto Maple Leafs dodged a bullet by not submitting the Matthew Knies trade in time

In the NHL, offsetting penalties are known as “the Gretzky rule” because, in the early 1980s, the Edmonton Oilers would intentionally take penalties to get to 4-on-4, and then Wayne Gretzky would dominate even more than he already did with the extra room on the ice.

Gavin Mckenna News / TheLeafsnation / June 6

Leafs director of amateur scouting Mark Leach previews Gavin McKenna, 2026 class, draft tendencies

Toronto Maple Leafs director of amateur scouting Mark Leach met with reporters on Friday at the NHL Scouting Combine to discuss Gavin McKenna, the 2026 class overall, and what he’s searching for in potential draft picks.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Forkball / June 6

Maple Leafs’ Chayka Confident Auston Matthews Stays in Toronto

The future of Auston Matthews has become a major talking point after the Toronto Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time in a decade. However, newly appointed general manager John Chayka believes the franchise centerpiece remains fully committed to bringing success back to Toronto.

NHL News / TheLeafsnation / June 6

Marlies score 5 unanswered goals to defeat Penguins, take 3-2 lead in AHL’s Eastern Conference Finals

After a commanding 5-1 victory over the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, the Toronto Marlies are one win away from advancing to the Calder Cup. Landon Sim,

Easton Cowan News / Maple Leafs Hotstove / June 5

John Gruden on Easton Cowan bouncing back with a goal and an assist in a Game 5 Marlies victory: “That is what big-time players do”

Toronto Marlies head coach John Gruden discusses his team’s 5-1 win over the WBS Penguins in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference final. The Marlies now lead the series 3-2.

John Chayka News / Maple Leafs Hotstove / June 5

John Chayka on his patient process for hiring the Leafs’ next head coach: “It has been a while since the organization has done a full search”

At the 2026 NHL Draft Combine, John Chayka spoke to Ryan Leslie about his takeaways from the combine, his meetings with Ivar Stenberg and Gavin McKenna, his discussions with Auston Matthews, the coaching search, and his first month on the job.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Pro Hockey Rumors / June 5

Hall Of Fame NHL Executive Cliff Fletcher Passes Away

The Toronto Maple Leafs announced that legendary former NHL general manager Cliff Fletcher passed away at age 90. A member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, Fletcher brought the Calgary Flames a Stanley Cup in 1989.

John Chayka News / TheLeafsnation / June 5

What we can infer about the Maple Leafs’ draft strategy from John Chayka’s media availability

Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka met with reporters at the NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo to discuss draft strategy, top prospects, and new hires to the organization among other topics.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / June 5

Don’t Expect Maple Leafs to Reopen Knies-to-Canadiens Trade Talks

The failed Matthew Knies trade, which exploded onto the NHL news scene late Thursday night, is no longer an option. At least, not according to NHL insider Elliotte Friedman, who confirmed the report of the trade on his latest 32 Thoughts podcast, but says the Maple Leafs won’t be interested in the same deal under new management.

Matthew Knies News / Pro Hockey Rumors / June 4

Canadiens nearly acquired Matthew Knies at NHL trade deadline

Around the trade deadline, it was reported that the Montreal Canadiens had completed a significant trade with an unidentified team; however, the other team was unable to file the trade by the 3 p.m.

Dylan Larkin trade request shows how far once-proud Red Wings have fallen

Assessing trade destinations for disgruntled Red Wings center Dylan Larkin

Four teams that could land Dylan Larkin in a blockbuster trade

Potential trade destinations for Oilers’ Darnell Nurse

The 'Last 70-assist season by NHL team' quiz

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Daily Faceoff / June 4

Maple Leafs close to narrowing down coaching candidates

After dismissing previous head coach Craig Berube, new Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka is in the midst of his first major decision at the helm of one of the NHL’s most storied franchises.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / June 4

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Roy, Danford, Matthews Waits & Leadership Signals

The Toronto Maple Leafs are spending the summer talking about change, evaluating options, and trying to thread the needle between “win now” and “fix what’s been broken for too long.” It’s a delicate balance, but for fans, it’s a bit of a heyday for speculation.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / 6IX ON ICE / June 4

Reliving the biggest “what ifs” from the Toronto Maple Leafs core four era

Over the years, the Toronto Maple Leafs have made numerous bad moves that have left the fans wondering “what if?” There are so many moves that look terrible in hindsight, such as leaving Jared McCann unprotected in the expansion draft, trading away Nazem Kadri, letting Zach Hyman walk in free agency, and much more.