Toronto Maple Leafs: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

5 takeaways from Leafs-Blue Jackets: Marchenko outduels Knies, Matthews, Cowan lead commanding win

It doesn’t appear that the Toronto Maple Leafs circled their calendars for Tuesday’s showdown against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but on the second night of a back-to-back, they delivered their best performance of the young season.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Game Review: Maple Leafs’ rush offense comes to life, Easton Cowan shines, Morgan Rielly turns back the clock in blowout win over Columbus

Given the Maple Leafs’ speed, skill, and finishing ability up front — and generally how dangerous they’ve looked offensively early in the season — this was a stat that made absolutely no sense through 10 games: Early trend with the Maple Leafs…Excellent goal differential with play established in the offensive zone.

Auston Matthews News / Trade Talk Sports / October 21

Matthews at 700: A Goal, a Win, and a Place in NHL History

Auston Matthews reached game No. 700 on Tuesday night, and he marked the occasion the way you might expect. He scored, helped the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Columbus Blue Jackets 6-2, and added another little piece to an already remarkable NHL career.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Maple Leafs Hotstove / October 20

Jim Hiller after Easton Cowan’s three-point night in Columbus: “He’s exceeded my expectations, and I had high expectations for him… But he told me this is what he was going to do”

After a 6-2 win in Columbus, head coach Jim Hiller discussed Easton Cowan’s breakout season so far, Jake McCabe’s injury, Marshall Rifai stepping in on the blue line, and strong nights from Kirill Marchenko and Morgan Rielly.

Alexander Ovechkin 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 / Field Level Media / October 20

Ex-Blue Jackets power Maple Leafs' victory in Columbus

Easton Cowan and ex-Blue Jacket Jack Roslovic each had a goal with two assists while Kirill Marchenko also scored in his return to Columbus as the Toronto Maple Leafs rode a four-goal second period to a 6-2 win on Tuesday.

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.

Jake McCabe News / Daily Faceoff / October 20

Leafs’ Jake McCabe leaves game against Blue Jackets with injury

The Toronto Maple Leafs picked up their second win in as many nights on Tuesday with a convincing win on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets, but it came at a cost.

Easton Cowan News / TheLeafsnation / October 20

Instant Reaction: Easton Cowan puts on a show as Maple Leafs’ offence comes alive in Columbus

The Toronto Maple Leafs took the first meeting against the Columbus Blue Jackets since the two teams completed a blockbuster on the eve of the 2026-27 season.

Jake McCabe News / TheLeafsnation / October 20

Maple Leafs’ Jake McCabe ruled out vs. Blue Jackets due to injury

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake McCabe was ruled out of Tuesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets prior to the start of the third period, the team confirmed.

Auston Matthews News / NHL on ClutchPoints / October 20

Auston Matthews joins exclusive Maple Leafs club during Blue Jackets clash

The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to an okay start in 2026-27. Toronto currently owns a record of 4-4-2 and are taking on the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday.

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.

NHL News / NHL Trade Talk / October 20

Insider Says No-Go on Cowan, But Do Maple Leafs Consider Trading Him for Simon Edvinsson?

With Simon Edvinsson reportedly seeking a trade out of Detroit, Toronto faces a tough question: would you give up Easton Cowan to get him? Elliotte Friedman reported on 32 Thoughts that he didn’t see Cowan as a piece the Maple Leafs were willing to move.

Auston Matthews News / NHL Trade Talk / October 20

Why Does Matthews Look Different as Maple Leafs Captain?

Sometimes you watch a player and get the feeling something has changed. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but there’s something different about the way he carries himself.

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

The 'Most NBA games played' quiz

The 'Last 30-TD season by NFL team' quiz

The 'Most WNBA double-doubles' quiz

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

Matthew Knies News / Editor In Leaf / October 20

Matthew Knies has a plan for chirping his former Maple Leafs teammates

The Toronto Maple Leafs are visiting the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night and while it was once a completely normal hockey game, it is now steeped in narrative after John Chayka pulled off his early-season blockbuster.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / October 20

10 stats that stand out from first 10 Maple Leafs games

It’s not even Halloween yet, but we’re already 10 games into the 2026-27 Toronto Maple Leafs season. It’s been a polarizing 10 games, but there’s been plenty to discuss from the new-look, high-octane Maple Leafs team.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Lindy's Sports / October 20

Maple Leafs badly need defensive change to make NHL playoffs

So far in the 2026-27 NHL season, the Toronto Maple Leafs have been decidedly mediocre. Through the team’s first 10 games of the season, the Maple Leafs are an average 4-4-2, collecting 10 points through the season’s first 10 games.

NHL News / Daily Faceoff / October 20

Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg are living up to early career expectations

It didn’t take long for the top two picks of the 2026 NHL Entry Draft to meet on the ice. As the San Jose Sharks travelled to The Six to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday, the focal point going into the game is the matchup between the first- and second-overall picks at the 2026 Draft: Gavin McKenna and Ivar Stenberg.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / October 20

The Maple Leafs Found a Way to Win. Can They Keep It Going?

The Toronto Maple Leafs didn’t play a perfect game against the San Jose Sharks on Monday, but they did the job. Their power play came through, the penalty kill did its part, and Sergei Bobrovsky made the saves when the team needed him.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Editor In Leaf / October 20

Maple Leafs play their best game of the year — that nobody watched

The Toronto Maple Leafs played their best game of the season defeating the San Jose Sharks 3-1, in a game that nobody watched. "Nobody" is a broad term because there were over 18,000 fans at Scotiabank Arena and tens of thousand other fans watching on TV, but this game was not available to the general public.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Editor In Leaf / October 20

4 defensemen that could solve the Maple Leafs' biggest problem

Five shifts. That’s all Chris Tanev managed in Denver on October 10 before heading down the tunnel, and he didn’t skate again after the 11:08 mark of the first period.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Larry Brown Sports / October 20