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Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Cowan, Matthews, Marchenko, McKenna & Stolarz

Toronto Maple Leafs forward Gavin McKenna skates against Seattle Kraken defenseman Brandon Montour (Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images)

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Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Cowan, Matthews, Marchenko, McKenna & Stolarz

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By The Old Prof | Last updated Oct 31, 2026 9:35 AM ET

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The Toronto Maple Leafs face the Vancouver Canucks on Saturday, looking to finish their western road trip on a better note. They’ve lost two straight, including a frustrating 5-4 defeat against the Seattle Kraken, where Auston Matthews tied the game late only to see Brandon Montour score the winner with 32.7 seconds remaining.

That’s a tough way to lose a hockey game. Toronto worked its way back into it, but couldn’t get the job done when it mattered. The good news is that there are some encouraging developments involving the younger players. With injuries taking away a couple of important forwards, the Maple Leafs are getting a look at what their younger talent can bring. Vancouver, meanwhile, is having a much harder time finding its footing.

Easton Cowan and Gavin McKenna Are Getting Their Opportunity

Toronto’s forward group has been feeling the absence of John Tavares and Kirill Marchenko. Marchenko was placed on injured reserve Thursday after leaving the Calgary Flames game with a lower-body injury. He’s expected to miss at least two more games, and his absence is a significant one. He had six goals and 14 points in his first 14 games with the Maple Leafs.

But injuries also create opportunities, and Toronto’s younger players are beginning to make the most of theirs. Easton Cowan has settled into a top-six role and extended his point streak to five games against Seattle. Gavin McKenna, meanwhile, recorded three points in that game, becoming the youngest Maple Leaf to do so since 1944.

That’s a pretty interesting development. Nobody should expect young players to replace everything Tavares and Marchenko bring to the lineup, but they don’t have to. They need to contribute, play with confidence, and show they can handle a little more responsibility. McKenna sounded encouraged by his performance and wants to carry that approach into the next game.

For Toronto, that’s an important part of the season. The Maple Leafs need their established players, but they also need to know what they have in the younger group. These opportunities can tell them quite a bit.

Can the Maple Leafs Take Advantage of Vancouver’s Struggles?

The Canucks are having a difficult time right now. They’ve gone eight games without a win, posting a 0-6-2 record, and their latest disappointment came Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. Vancouver appeared to be heading toward consecutive victories before giving up three goals in just 2:50 in the third period.

That’s a difficult way to lose, particularly for a team already struggling to find confidence. Head coach Manny Malhotra pointed to details and faceoff execution as problems, while the Canucks continue to deal with the league’s worst goals-against record. Their goaltending hasn’t helped. Kevin Lankinen has struggled, and Leevi Meriläinen could get another opportunity between the pipes.

Toronto will turn to Anthony Stolarz, who has won his last two starts and stopped 66 of 70 shots. That’s encouraging, although the Maple Leafs shouldn’t assume Vancouver will simply roll over. A struggling team still has plenty of reasons to respond, especially on home ice.

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz (Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images)

There is also a possibility that Chris Tanev returns against his former team. He’s been upgraded to day-to-day with an upper-body injury. His availability would give Toronto another experienced option on defence.

What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?

This is a game Toronto should take seriously. The Canucks are struggling, but the Maple Leafs have their own issues to sort out. Their offence has been inconsistent, and 22 shots against Seattle was a season low. They’ll need more from the forward group, particularly with Tavares and Marchenko unavailable.

The encouraging part is that Cowan and McKenna are showing they can help. Stolarz is also giving Toronto some steady goaltending. A win in Vancouver wouldn’t erase the frustrations of the road trip, but it would be a useful way to finish it. More importantly, it would give the Maple Leafs something positive to carry home.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.

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