Toronto Maple Leafs: Breaking News, Rumors & Highlights

Toronto Maple Leafs Bet on Kirill Marchenko With Matthew Knies Blockbuster Trade

On Monday, September 28, just one day before the start of the 2026-27 NHL regular season, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets pulled off a true blockbuster trade that will seriously alter the lineups for both teams going forward.

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The Morning Bark

The Quiz of the Day

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

NHL News / The Hockey Writers / September 28

Grading the Maple Leafs & Blue Jackets’ Trade Involving Marchenko & Knies

The first regular-season games haven’t even taken place yet, and we already have our first whopper of a trade. Earlier today, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets linked up on a deal involving Kirill Marchenko and Matthew Knies.

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.

NHL News / TheLeafsnation / September 28

Instant Reaction: Maple Leafs trade power for pace in Kirill Marchenko-Matthew Knies blockbuster

A day before the season opener, minutes before the 5 PM deadline, the Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets engineered a genuine franchise-altering trade.

NHL News / NHL Trade Talk / September 28

Maple Leafs Land Kirill Marchenko in Stunning Six‑Player Blockbuster for Matthew Knies

In one of the most stunning early‑season blockbusters in recent memory, the Toronto Maple Leafs have acquired winger Kirill Marchenko, forward Miles Wood, and goaltender Elvis Merzlikins from the Columbus Blue Jackets in a multi‑asset deal that immediately reshapes both franchises.

NHL News / Daily Faceoff / September 28

Maple Leafs acquire Kirill Marchenko in blockbuster six-player trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs and Columbus Blue Jackets have swung a major blockbuster trade on the eve of the 2026-27 regular season. Now complete, the deal

Matt Nieto announces retirement from NHL after 12 seasons

Will the Panthers’ goaltending sink their Stanley Cup hopes?

Can the new-look Rangers make the playoffs?

Four NHL teams under most pressure to win the Stanley Cup this season

NHL power rankings: Hurricanes, Avalanche, Lightning at the top

NHL News / Pro Hockey Rumors / September 28

Blue Jackets, Maple Leafs To Swap Kirill Marchenko, Matthew Knies

After a momentary lull in negotiations, the Columbus Blue Jackets and Toronto Maple Leafs have lined up on a notable trade shortly before the roster deadline.

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.

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The '100-receiving-yard playoff debuts' quiz

The 'Multiple 30/30 MLB seasons' quiz

The 'Active NFL catch leaders' quiz

The '4K-yard, 30-TD NFL seasons' quiz

Auston Matthews News / Daily Faceoff / September 28

Auston Matthews skating faster than ever, Leafs GM says

A lot of things have to go right for the Toronto Maple Leafs to get back to the playoffs this season after a bitterly disappointing 2025-26. Offseason additions such as goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and defenseman Darren Raddysh have to step right in and be difference makers.

NHL News / TheLeafsnation / September 28

Report: Maple Leafs to acquire Kirill Marchenko from Blue Jackets for Matthew Knies

According to several reporters, the Toronto Maple Leafs are working on a trade that will send Matthew Knies to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for Kirill Marchenko.

NHL News / TheLeafsnation / September 28

Maple Leafs acquire Kirill Marchenko from Blue Jackets for Matthew Knies in 6-player blockbuster

The Toronto Maple Leafs have completed a blockbuster trade with the Columbus Blue Jackets on the eve of the new NHL season. The full trade has the Maple

Gavin Mckenna News / Maple Leafs Hotstove / September 28

Early Signs of Hiller’s System, McKenna and Nylander’s Fit Together, and the Opening-Night Lineup – Maple Leafs Notebook

As we await more details on a possible Kirill Marchenko blockbuster… In my earlier piece, I looked at why this Maple Leafs season could go in so many directions.

Dakota Joshua News / Daily Faceoff / September 28

Leafs’ Dakota Joshua out week-to-week with injury

Unwanted news for an important depth player in The Six. When speaking to the media on Monday, Toronto Maple Leafs general manager John Chayka announced that forward Dakota Joshua is out week-to-week with an undisclosed injury, though multiple reports have labeled Joshua out with a lingering core injury.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / TheLeafsnation / September 28

John Chayka expresses belief that Matthew Knies’ game will turn corner when new season begins

The Toronto Maple Leafs wrapped up their final practice of preseason on Monday, a little over 24 hours before they’re set to take on the Montreal Canadiens at home for the season opener.

Brody Pepoy News / Professor Press Box / September 28

The Maple Leafs May Have Selected Another Interesting Prospect

Every now and then, a prospect gets a little more interesting simply because somebody takes the time to watch him closely. That seems to be happening with Brody Pepoy.

Zack MacEwen News / TheLeafsnation / September 28

Zack MacEwen among notables in Maple Leafs’ projected opening night lineup

There are few surprises ahead of Tuesday’s season opener, but Zack MacEwen appears to have made the opening night roster for the Toronto Maple Leafs. MacEwen was placed on the right wing of the fourth line during Tuesday’s practice, with Brandon Duhaime on the left and Teddy Blueger at centre.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / NHL Trade Talk / September 28

Berube Has Defiant Response to Rumors About Maple Leafs and Auston Matthews

Former Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has responded to criticism of his system and his handling of Auston Matthews, and he isn’t walking any of it back.

John Chayka News / NHL Trade Talk / September 28

John Chayka Has Given Leafs Fans Plenty to Think About

The regular season starts tomorrow, and the Toronto Maple Leafs seem like a brand new team. New general manager John Chayka has been busy since May, so here are three things his summer has shown us.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Editor In Leaf / September 28

The Maple Leafs' season will live or die in October

The Toronto Maple Leafs are known for their slow starts, but they can't afford that this year if they want to get back into the playoffs. Over the past five years, the Leafs have barely been an above .500 team, with their best record being a 6-4-1 start in 2024.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / Editor In Leaf / September 28

Maple Leafs’ waiver-wire luck could pay off in a big way down the road

Prior to the start of the 2026-27 NHL season, the Toronto Maple Leafs began finalizing their Opening Night roster by placing various players on waivers.

John Tavares News / TheLeafsnation / September 28

What does a successful 2026-27 season look like for John Tavares?

Ever since he signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the summer of 2018, John Tavares has been everything the Leafs could have asked for and more. He’s routinely floated around the 70-point mark, he served as captain for the first half of his contract, and above all else, he’s been a consummate pro the entire way.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / September 28

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Bobrovsky, Raddysh, McKenna, Paul, Rielly & Knies

The preseason is winding down, and soon the Toronto Maple Leafs will have to stop being an interesting collection of new players and start being a hockey team.

Jack Roslovic News / Editor In Leaf / September 27

Jack Roslovic might not be long in the Maple Leafs' top six

Jack Roslovic has a chance to stick around in the Toronto Maple Leafs' top six for a while, but it is going to come down to how well he produces. Roslovic has already shown to have some chemistry with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, and his friendship with Matthews is another part of why this line could stay together.

Gavin Mckenna News / Professor Press Box / September 27

Are the Maple Leafs Making Life Easier for Gavin McKenna?

I really like something about Luca Pampena’s work. He doesn't just look at a young player and decide whether they’re good. He starts asking what happens when that player gets put in the right situation.

Toronto Maple Leafs News / The Hockey Writers / September 27

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: A Different Kind of Hockey in Toronto?

The preseason doesn’t usually tell us much about what a hockey team will look like when the games start counting. Too many lineups, too many players trying to make the team, and too many nights when half the regular lineup is in a split-squad matchup someplace else.

Gavin Mckenna News / Trade Talk Sports / September 25

Gavin McKenna Jokingly Says This Is the Maple Leafs’ Year

The Toronto Maple Leafs have the well-documented longest active Stanley Cup drought in the NHL at 59 years, but an offseason full of additions has some feeling like this could finally be the year it ends in 2026-27.