Toronto Maple Leafs: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Jack Kopacka Eyeing Return To North America

Jack Kopacka’s first stint in professional hockey didn’t yield an NHL opportunity so he opted to spend the last four years in Sweden. Now, it appears that he’s looking to return to North America, according to Expressen’s Mattias Persson (subscription link).

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Remembering Mike Gartner’s Short but Speedy Maple Leafs Stop

Every so often, I look at the back of my hockey cards. Today it was Mike Gartner 1988-89 #50. Although it was a card printed before he played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, it reminded me that he was a player who passed through Toronto and never quite got the long-term recognition he deserved.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / August 23

Did the Maple Leafs Make Their Biggest Trade Deadline Move?

Every year around February, it’s the same story with the Toronto Maple Leafs: they need a shutdown defenseman, the trade market gets picked over, and Toronto ends up overpaying for some rental who leaves in July anyway.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Professor Press Box / August 23

Are the Maple Leafs Looking for a Different Kind of Next Goalie?

There is something interesting about the way the Maple Leafs seem to view Patriks Plūminš. He isn't the kind of goaltending prospect who makes everybody stop and say, “Wow, look at that athleticism.” Toronto took him in the fourth round of the 2026 NHL Draft, 149th overall.

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?"

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

The 'Conn Smythe Trophy winners' quiz

The 'Most NHL goals all-time' quiz

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / August 23

How the Maple Leafs Ended the 'Core Four' Problem

For years, Toronto Maple Leafs fans have had the same complaint on repeat. There was too much cap space tied up in the stars, not enough left over for actual depth.

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.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / August 23

How NHL-ready are the Maple Leafs’ top prospects?

When it comes to the Toronto Marlies, there is no shortage of players looking to make the jump to the NHL this season and prove their worth. William Villeneuve, Jacob Quillan, Bo Groulx, and Marshall Rifai are among the Marlies that are easy to list off.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / August 23

What should the Maple Leafs be concerned about heading into 2026-27?

The Toronto Maple Leafs enter the 2026-27 season as one of the NHL’s most improved clubs from last season. General manager John Chayka has absolutely cooked in his first few months on the job, and there’s a lot of positive momentum heading into next season.

Troy Stecher News / The Hockey Writers / August 23

Troy Stecher’s New Maple Leafs Deal Teaches About Life in Toronto

When Troy Stecher was asked what he was looking for on the open market, his answer was wonderfully simple. “A job.” There was a smile attached to it, so there was obviously some humour involved.

Morgan Rielly News / Daily Faceoff / August 23

Why hasn’t Morgan Rielly been traded yet?

In the offseason news that has yet to happen, defenseman Morgan Rielly is still a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs. After the Leafs missed the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in a decade, reports arose that Rielly and the team were looking at the possibility of trading the veteran away from the only team he’s ever known.

Ethan MacKenzie News / TheLeafsnation / August 23

2026-27 TLN Maple Leafs prospect rankings: #6 Ethan MacKenzie

The TLN Maple Leafs prospect rankings were compiled by a panel of six TLN writers, each ranking our top 20 prospects to form a consensus group ranking.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / August 22

The Maple Leafs Just Fixed the Biggest Flaw in Their Power Play

For years, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ power play has followed a familiar script: get the puck to Auston Matthews, find William Nylander, and hope the stars can solve whatever the penalty kill throws at them.

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.

Gavin Mckenna News / NHL Trade Talk / August 22

What Big Adjustments Will Gavin McKenna Face in Toronto?

Gavin McKenna is walking into Toronto with the kind of spotlight most young players never have to deal with. He’s a first-overall pick joining one of the biggest teams in the league.

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

The 'Rookie receiving leader by team' quiz

The '35-passing TD NFL seasons' quiz

The 'NFL Playoffs rushing record' quiz

The 'NFL all-time receptions leaders' quiz

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / August 22

Maple Leafs Relying on Veterans Finding Fountain of Youth in 2026-27

The Toronto Maple Leafs are almost a month away from kicking off their 2026-27 season after a summer of upheaval, both on and off the ice. June’s first overall pick Gavin McKenna and second-year forward Easton Cowan represent the next generation of Leafs who hope to, and need to, make an impact this season.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / August 22

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Plūminš, Bowen, Crocker, Ralph & New Era

There are a couple of interesting Toronto Maple Leafs stories worth looking at today, and neither one is really about Auston Matthews, William Nylander or the big names at the top of the roster.

Colton Sissons News / TheLeafsnation / August 22

Colton Sissons reflects on ‘special experience’ of joining Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs are looking for redemption as the disappointment of the 2025-26 regular season hangs over their heads. With a new management group

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / August 22

The Maple Leafs Are Spending $32 Million on the Players Nobody Talks About

There’s an interesting thing hiding in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ salary numbers right now. Everybody looks at Auston Matthews at $13.25 million and William Nylander at $11.5 million and sees the obvious problem.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / August 22

3 Maple Leafs with the most to prove at training camp

The Toronto Maple Leafs are entering the 2026-27 season with about as new-look of a team as they’ve had in the Auston Matthews era, in every facet. They have a new general manager, a new coach, a new top defenceman, a new starting goaltender, and a shiny first overall pick looking to make an immediate impact.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Pension Plan Puppets / August 22

2026 T25U25 Week 2 Summary

With the T25 fully underway, we revealed 22 through 18. 2026 T25U25: Patriks Plumins is #22 The first goalie to make an appearance in our rankings is one of the new guys.

Morgan Rielly News / TheLeafsnation / August 22

Rielly staying, Leaf milestones, and the contract limit: Leaflets

We are getting dangerously close to the time when interesting things start happening with the NHL. By next week we might even be hearing about captain’s skates and starting the conversations about which players are in the best shape of their lives.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Professor Press Box / August 21

The Maple Leafs Finally Have Something They Haven’t Had in Years

The Toronto Maple Leafs' power play has been one of those things that can make you shake your head. When it was working, it was almost unfair. When it wasn't, it often seemed as though everyone knew exactly what was coming next.

Easton Cowan News / TheLeafsnation / August 21

Easton Cowan eager to prove that he’s ready for 2nd-year breakout with Leafs

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan is pumped to get the 2026-27 season rolling to prove to the hockey world that he and his team will improve. While the previous campaign was a trying one for the Leafs as a whole, one of the few bright spots was seeing Cowan’s progression as the year progressed.

Morgan Rielly News / Pro Hockey Rumors / August 20

Morgan Rielly Expects To Stay With Maple Leafs

Morgan Rielly is the Toronto Maple Leafs’ longest tenured player on the current roster. It appears that the title will remain with Rielly, as he’s not expecting to pack his bags anytime soon.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Athlon Sports / August 20

Maple Leafs' Morgan Rielly Reveals John Chayka Talk, Addresses His Future

Morgan Rielly has spent 13 seasons with the Toronto Maple Leafs, making him the longest-tenured player with the organization. The Leafs’ roster underwent major changes after missing the playoffs last season, with Toronto adding a new starting netminder in Sergei Bobrovsky, landing No.

Gavin Mckenna News / Yardbarker / August 19

Why Maple Leafs fans should be excited about Gavin McKenna's first season

Gavin McKenna arrives in Toronto as an elite playmaker who stands out for his vision, natural talent, and a potential not seen on the Maple Leafs since Auston Matthews.

Why hasn't Dylan Larkin been traded?

Ranking the Eastern Conference's biggest winners this summer

Five NHL players who could thrive with their new teams in 2026-27

The five most improved NHL teams heading into 2026-27

The 'First-overall NHL Draft picks' quiz

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Yardbarker / August 17

Former Maple Leafs defenseman calls out Toronto over Morgan Rielly situation

The Toronto Maple Leafs are one of the franchises most active this offseason, but they still have a pending issue to resolve ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season.

Three chaotic Metropolitan Division storylines for 2026-27 season

Rangers' one-year Braden Schneider extension raises questions

Three keys to a successful Penguins season

The ''EA NHL,'' covers since 2000' quiz