Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Marchenko, Raddysh, McKenna & Lineup Problems

The trouble is what happens further down the lineup. Brandon Duhaime, Teddy Blueger, and Zack MacEwen could become the de facto third line, leaving the coaches to piece together another group from Colton Sissons, Bo Groulx, Vinni Lettieri, and perhaps Dakota Joshua once he’s recalled. Another option would be to move Sissons alongside Duhaime and Blueger, with Groulx centring MacEwen and either Joshua or Lettieri. That’s a lot of shuffling, and it shows just how quickly the available depth can disappear when injuries arrive.

For McKenna, though, this could be an opportunity worth watching. More ice time isn’t automatically better, especially for a young player still learning how to handle the NHL’s pace and physical demands. But if the coaching staff believes he’s ready for a larger role, these circumstances might provide the opening. The question isn’t simply whether McKenna can produce more offence. Can he earn the coaches’ trust, make sensible decisions, and contribute when the lineup around him keeps changing? Those are valuable lessons, even if the results aren’t immediate.

Darren Raddysh’s Surprising Season: Defence First, Offence Still Missing

Raddysh deserves credit for the workload he’s carrying, particularly with Chris Tanev absent. He’s being asked to shoulder important defensive responsibilities, and his overall work without the puck has been encouraging. That’s worth recognizing because it’s easy to judge a defenceman by his point totals and overlook the less glamorous work required to keep a team organized. Right now, Raddysh is giving Toronto useful minutes where it needs them.

The surprise is that the offence hasn’t followed. Raddysh is still searching for his first goal through 14 games, and some of his decisions at the offensive blue line suggest he’s trying to find his confidence. At times, he’ll have traffic in front and a reasonable shooting lane but choose to pass instead. Other times, he’ll put the puck toward the net when there’s little chance of creating a rebound or screening the goalie. Neither choice is necessarily wrong, but the inconsistency is noticeable. He needs to recognize when the opportunity is there and trust his shot.

For Toronto, the balance matters. The Maple Leafs need Raddysh to keep doing the defensive work, particularly while Tanev is unavailable. They also need him to become more decisive with the puck. A defenceman doesn’t have to score every night to be valuable, but finding that balance could make Raddysh a more complete contributor. The encouraging part is that his defensive work gives the coaching staff something to build on while he works through the offensive side of his game.

What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?

The immediate concern is getting through Marchenko’s absence without stretching the remaining forwards too thin. That may mean giving McKenna a larger role, trying different combinations, or asking some depth players to handle more responsibility than originally planned. Injuries don’t always create easy-to-manage opportunities, but they can reveal which young players are ready to take another step. McKenna’s response could be just as interesting as the line combinations themselves.

Raddysh raises a different question. His defensive contribution is encouraging, but Toronto will want more consistency in his offensive decisions as the season unfolds. Neither storyline calls for sweeping conclusions after a handful of games. Still, both remind us that building a dependable team isn’t just about finding star players. It’s also about helping younger players grow, asking veterans to adjust, and valuing contributions that might not show up on the scoresheet. For the Maple Leafs, those smaller developments could matter quite a bit as the lineup continues to change.