Toronto Maple Leafs: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

NHL insider predicts massive bounce-back season for Auston Matthews

As the calendar turns to September, the buzz in the air means one thing: the Toronto Maple Leafs' season is just around the corner. With training camps on the horizon, hockey insiders are returning from summer vacations to offer their insights into the year ahead.

Features

The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Nylander, Matthews & Hiller’s Biggest Challenges

The Toronto Maple Leafs already know what William Nylander can do with the puck. He has spent years proving that. Even in a season when almost everything around him seemed to go sideways, Nylander scored 30 goals and 79 points in just 65 games.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / September 1

Chris Johnston believes Auston Matthews’ usage will be changed under Jim Hiller

TSN’s Chris Johnston believes that Auston Matthews’ role under new Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller will be vastly different to how former head coach Craig Berube deployed him.

Gavin Mckenna News / TheLeafsnation / September 1

What does a successful 2026-27 season look like for Gavin McKenna?

The future outlook for the Toronto Maple Leafs changed immeasurably when the team won the right to select Gavin McKenna at the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery. McKenna is the most hyped prospect to enter the NHL since Connor Bedard due to his outstanding playmaking ability and offensive talent.

Macklin Celebrini 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

Jacob Quillan News / Pension Plan Puppets / September 1

2026 T25U25: Jacob Quillan is #11

For a lot of his hockey career, Jacob Quillan has been not quite enough to get noticed, and as he turns 25 in this coming hockey season, he may not be quite enough to get an NHL job.

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.

Gavin Mckenna News / TheLeafsnation / September 1

Gavin McKenna tops Daily Faceoff’s top 75 NHL-affiliated skater prospects ranking

There’s approximately one month remaining before the NHL regular season begins, and thus, there’s approximately one month left of seeing Toronto Maple Leafs crown jewel Gavin McKenna on prospect rankings.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Professor Press Box / August 31

Whatever Happened to ex-Maple Leafs and ex-Oilers Tyler Ennis?

Eight years ago, when I was just getting started writing about hockey, one of my very first posts was about Tyler Ennis — a guy most Toronto Maple Leafs fans probably weren't thinking twice about.

William Nylander News / Professor Press Box / August 31

Nylander and Berube Spoke Different Hockey Languages

One of the stranger things about William Nylander’s 2025-26 season was that it was sometimes difficult to understand what we were watching. Here was a player who finished with 79 points in 65 games, produced at nearly a 100-point pace, and remained one of the most dangerous offensive players on the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / August 31

Toronto Marlies sign Matthew Barbolini to professional tryout

Before training camp gets underway, the Toronto Marlies announced they signed Matthew Barbolini to a professional tryout. Through 62 games with the Marlies

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL on ClutchPoints / August 31

Maple Leafs’ glaring roster flaw that must be fixed ahead of 2026-27 NHL season

The Toronto Maple Leafs endured a miserable season a year ago that has led to monumental changes in the organization. Many observers thought the Leafs had an excellent chance of rising to first place in the Atlantic Division prior to the start of the season, but that perception disappeared quickly.

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.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Professor Press Box / August 31

The Expectations Have Changed for the Maple Leafs. Well, Good!

The ancient story of David and Goliath is one of those stories that has escaped its original setting and become something bigger than itself. We use it to describe an underdog facing a seemingly unbeatable opponent.

Gavin Mckenna News / Editor In Leaf / August 31

One thing Gavin McKenna can do to make history for the Maple Leafs

Since being selected first overall, the hype around Gavin McKenna has been non-stop. Everyone is excited to see what the 18-year-old from Whitehorse can do in his freshman season.

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The 'Last 3-HR game by MLB team' quiz

The 'FBS college football nicknames' quiz

The '10-time Pro Bowlers' quiz

The 'Most TD passes in first two seasons' quiz

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / August 31

3 Last Minute PTO Targets the Maple Leafs Should Consider

As it stands, the Toronto Maple Leafs have little room to move when it comes to salary cap and roster spots. Still rumours have swirled late this offseason that they could have interest in former second overall pick Patrik Laine and other depth free agents that remain on the board.

Tinus Luc Koblar News / The Hockey Writers / August 31

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Järnkrok, Koblar & Two Sides of Hockey’s Journey

The Toronto Maple Leafs are still a few weeks away from getting down to the serious business of another NHL season, but hockey news has a way of finding us anyway.

Calle Jarnkrok News / TheLeafsnation / August 31

Calle Jarnkrok signs 3-year contract with Brynäs IF

Calle Jarnkrok signed a three-year contract with Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League, the team announced Monday. Jarnkrok is returning to his hometown club, where he could play through the lineup and provide veteran leadership.

Calle Jarnkrok News / Daily Faceoff / August 31

Former NHLer Calle Jarnkrok signs three-year contract in Sweden

A veteran depth player is heading overseas. On Monday, Brynäs IF of the Swedish Hockey League announced that the club has signed forward Calle Jarnkrok to a three-year contract, which will carry through the 2028-29 season.

Calle Jarnkrok News / Pro Hockey Rumors / August 31

Calle Jarnkrok Signs With Brynäs IF In Sweden

According to a team announcement, Calle Jarnkrok has signed with Brynäs IF in the SHL. The soon-to-be 35-year-old forward returns to where it all began, signing a three-year contract with his boyhood club through 2028-29, which he had played for from 2007 to 2013.

NHL News / TheLeafsnation / August 31

3 Maple Leafs prospects overseas to keep an eye on in 2026-27

The Toronto Maple Leafs have underwent a significant amount of changes over the past couple of months, and while the revamped front office, new coaching

NHL News / The Hockey Writers / August 30

The Real Maple Leafs Comparison to Makar’s Record Deal Isn’t Who You Think

If the money were equal, there’s no debate that Cale Makar is a far better bet than Darren Raddysh. Honestly, it’s a no-brainer. But this week, we learned the money isn’t equal.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / August 30

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Raddysh, Tavares, Matthews, Knies & Roslovic

The Toronto Maple Leafs have spent much of the summer talking about getting bigger, tougher and harder to play against. That makes sense. After another disappointing regular-season finish, nobody needed to tell the new management group that something had to change.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Editor In Leaf / August 30

5 Maple Leafs players under the most pressure next season

After missing the playoffs for the first time in a decade, the Toronto Maple Leafs underwent massive changes in the offseason. John Chayka and franchise legend Mats Sundin were hired to lead a new front office and reshape the organization.

Connor Hellebuyck News / NHL Trade Talk / August 28

Hellebuyck to Toronto Could Create More Problems Than It Solves

The Toronto Maple Leafs don’t exactly need another goalie. At least, that’s what they would probably say right now. They already have Sergei Bobrovsky.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Inside The Rink / August 28

Maple Leafs Add Goalie Prospect to System

The Toronto Maple Leafs have been very busy this summer. New general manager John Chayka hasn’t stopped since taking over the GM job. He has been reshaping the team and completely rebuilding the Leafs’ depth.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / August 28

Will Maple Leafs Realize They Made a Huge Goaltending Mistake?

The Toronto Maple Leafs decided that 37-year-old goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was their guy. To the tune of $7 million per season over three seasons, the organization signed the veteran netminder after a down season, hoping he’d bounce back and be the answer in goal this coming season.

Auston Matthews News / NHL Trade Talk / August 27

Can the Maple Leafs Win With Auston Matthews Leading?

When I wrote about the Toronto Maple Leafs’ depth this week, my argument was pretty simple: give Auston Matthews a real supporting cast and stop asking him to be a shutdown defensive stopper.

Auston Matthews News / Daily Faceoff / August 28