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Auston Matthews, Toronto Maple Leafs (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Matthews, Groulx, Tverberg & Pezzetta

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By The Old Prof | Last updated Mar 12, 2026 1:25 PM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs return home Thursday night looking to do something they haven’t done in more than a month — win a hockey game. Unfortunately, the timing isn’t great. The Anaheim Ducks are arriving in Toronto playing their best hockey of the season. They’ve gone 8-2-0 over their last 10 games and look like a team that believes it belongs in the playoff conversation.

Meanwhile, the Maple Leafs are moving in the opposite direction. Since the Olympic break, the club has dropped eight straight games (0-6-2). Toronto’s last win came all the way back on Feb. 3 when they beat the Edmonton Oilers 5-2. Since then, the losses have piled up, the offence has cooled off, and confidence has clearly taken a hit.

Tuesday’s 3-1 loss to the Montreal Canadiens followed a pattern fans have seen too often lately. The Canadiens jumped on Toronto early, taking a 2-0 lead in the first period while outshooting the Leafs 18-5. The Maple Leafs struggled to check Montreal off the puck, and when they did manage to get possession, they didn’t create much with it.

The frustrating part is that the team hasn’t been completely terrible. There have been stretches where Toronto looks like itself again. But those stretches have been short — a few good shifts here, maybe a good period there — and that’s simply not enough to win in the NHL.

Item One: Matthews’ Scoring Drought Becoming a Real Concern

Another storyline hanging over the Maple Leafs right now is Auston Matthews’ scoring drought. The captain was held off the scoresheet again on Tuesday, extending his goalless streak to 12 games. That leaves him just one game shy of the longest scoring drought of his NHL career.

From the old eye test, Matthews doesn’t look all that different from the player Maple Leafs fans are used to seeing. He’s still getting chances. But right now he just looks snakebit. Matthews himself has admitted it feels like he’s doing everything but actually scoring. For a player who normally drives the Maple Leafs’ offence, that kind of stretch can be incredibly frustrating. And the reality is the Leafs need him to break through. When Matthews isn’t scoring, Toronto’s margin for error shrinks quickly.

It’ll be interesting to see whether any lineup adjustments help spark him. There’s also some curiosity about whether a player like Easton Cowan might eventually get a chance to play alongside Matthews and bring some fresh energy to the line. Sometimes slumps end because of a lucky bounce. Sometimes they end because a linemate helps create something new. Either way, the Maple Leafs fans are hoping Matthews finds the net again soon.

Item Two: Groulx Brings Energy in Return to the Lineup

One of the few bright spots from Tuesday’s game was the play of Benoit-Olivier Groulx. The forward was recalled from the American Hockey League (AHL) Toronto Marlies and stepped into the lineup for his first NHL game since April of last season. Right away, he looked comfortable and was one of the more noticeable Maple Leafs on the ice.

Benoit-Olivier Groulx, Toronto Marlies (John Mrakovcich/Hartford Wolf Pack)

At one point, Groulx picked up the puck in his own zone and simply drove straight up the ice toward the Canadiens’ net. No hesitation. No second-guessing. He just went. It was the kind of play that showed confidence and urgency, two qualities the Maple Leafs have been searching for lately.

Head coach Craig Berube seemed to notice as well. As the game went on, Groulx got some shifts when the Maple Leafs were pushing for offence. He finished the night with two shots on goal in just over 14 minutes of ice time.

The 24-year-old has been excellent for the Marlies this season, leading the team with 27 goals and 50 points. After dealing with injuries and limited opportunities over the past few years, he admitted getting back to the NHL felt rewarding. If the Maple Leafs continue looking for energy and secondary scoring, players like Groulx may end up getting more opportunities.

Michael Pezzetta has also been recalled from the Marlies. He’s not known for scoring, but the former Montreal Canadiens winger—one of general manager Brad Treliving’s ‘DNA’ type additions—brings size, toughness, and the physical energy the Leafs have been missing.

Item Three: Ryan Tverberg Heating Up with the Marlies

Another Marlies forward quietly putting together a strong stretch is Ryan Tverberg. Tverberg had a big night Wednesday, scoring a goal and adding two assists in the Marlies’ 5-1 win over the Syracuse Crunch. It was another step forward in what has been a strong second half of the season for the 24-year-old.

Ryan Tverberg, when he was with the University of Connecticut. (Image courtesy of UConn Athletic Communications)

After a slow start, Tverberg has found his offensive rhythm with 14 points in his last 17 games. This season, he has nine goals and 24 points in 50 games. Tverberg was selected by the Maple Leafs in the seventh round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft after the team acquired the pick from the Boston Bruins. He later spent three seasons at the University of Connecticut before turning pro with the Marlies.

He hasn’t received an NHL call-up yet, but when a team struggles to generate offence, productive AHL players naturally start drawing attention. With Tverberg also set to become a restricted free agent after the season, the Maple Leafs will soon need to decide how he fits into their future plans.

What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?

Right now, the team simply needs a win. Sometimes a losing streak ends because a team dominates a game. Other times, it ends because the puck finally bounces the right way once or twice. Either way, Toronto needs something to change the mood around the room.

At the moment, it’s hard to say exactly what Toronto is hoping for. Some analysts suggest the Maple Leafs’ long-term goal might be to creep toward the bottom of the NHL. But losing game after game has to be frustrating — it’s a delicate balance between head and heart. It has to be tough sledding for this team in a lot of ways.