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William Nylander of the Toronto Maple Leafs celebrates his goal against the Boston Bruins with teammate Timothy Liljegren during the second period in Game Six of the First Round of the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs (Photo by Kevin Sousa/NHLI via Getty Images)

Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Nylander, Woll, Stolarz & Rielly

Originally posted on The Hockey Writers | By The Old Prof | Last updated Feb 3, 2026 12:05 PM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs opened the night with a jolt, and for once, it wasn’t the opponent catching them flat-footed. William Nylander buried a breakaway just 35 seconds in, the kind of early punch Toronto hasn’t landed often during their recent slide.

Nylander didn’t stop there. Two assists followed, giving him a tidy three-point night in the city where he was born. For the first time in a while, the Maple Leafs looked faster, more confident, and more in control of the game’s rhythm.

Matias Maccelli and Troy Stecher chipped in as the Maple Leafs built a 3–0 lead and finally resembled a team reconnecting with its own identity. Joseph Woll did his part, making 28 saves and pushing his career record against the Calgary Flames to a perfect 5-0-0. He needed to keep things calm, and he did — making some sharp (and occasionally unusual) saves along the way. Bobby McMann polished things off with an empty-netter, sealing Toronto’s second straight win after that tough six-game stumble.

The Flames pushed back thanks to Nazem Kadri and Joel Farabee. Each collected a goal and an assist, but Calgary never really managed to take control of the game. Toronto now sits seven points behind the Boston Bruins for the final playoff spot, and while the gap remains a challenge, this win at least keeps the door open heading into the Olympic break. The eight-game winning streak over Calgary — the longest active run Toronto has against any opponent — doesn’t hurt the mood either.

Item One: Nylander Has Emerged as Toronto’s Big-Moment Player

It’s easy to get swept up in Auston Matthews’ scoring pace or Mitch Marner’s (when he was in the Blue and White) history as a playmaker, but nights like this keep raising the same question: Is Nylander becoming the Maple Leafs’ most reliable pressure performer? A breakaway goal in the opening seconds, two more assists, and a tone-setting presence right from the jump.

Nylander gave his team exactly what it needed after the 0-5-1 stretch. His career numbers against Calgary now sit at 13 goals and 23 assists in 26 games, and he always seems to find one more gear when the team needs a lift.

What stands out is how settled his game looks. He used to carry that old label — fair or not — as a high-skill guy who didn’t always show urgency. This season, he’s been the opposite. He reads the moment and plays as if he’s aware of what’s required. Toronto’s chase for the Bruins’ playoff spot will need contributions across the board, but Nylander’s ability to flip a game in transition might be the hinge.

The trip wraps up in Edmonton, and it’s another measuring stick for him. If he keeps producing in these high-leverage spots, the talk about him may shift again — from elite winger to the engine that gets this team moving when things tighten up.

Item Two: Stolarz Draws In Against the Oilers in Tough Back-to-Back

There’s really no time to bask in the Calgary win. The Maple Leafs are right back at it in Edmonton tonight, and the game is a tough one. Woll carried the load on Monday, so the net now belongs to Anthony Stolarz for the second half of the back-to-back. It’s a tough ask.

Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Anthony Stolarz (Marc DesRosiers-Imagn Images)

Edmonton sits near the top of the league in scoring, and they’re known for overwhelming tired teams, especially on home ice. For Toronto, this is one of those games that tests the team’s depth and ability to stick to structure.

Stolarz is still trying to settle in after his upper-body injury. His two starts since returning haven’t gone smoothly. He’s had a 0-2-0 stretch with nine goals allowed on 51 shots. That said, he hasn’t exactly had a comfortable environment in front of him. Toronto is hoping for a more settled defensive performance and a more predictable night in front of their own net. The Oilers don’t need many chances to score, and their pace can punish any coverage gaffs.

If the Maple Leafs can manage the moment, stay organized, limit the chaos, and support their goalie, this game could carry more emotional weight than the standings show. Two straight wins already changed the energy. A strong showing in Edmonton would send them into the Olympic break with some hope.

Item Three: Rielly Sidelined Through Olympic Break and Toronto Patches Its Blue Line Again

Toronto will be without Morgan Rielly until at least after the Olympic break, as Craig Berube confirmed the veteran blueliner aggravated a lingering injury during the game in Vancouver. His absence takes away the team’s most dependable puck-mover and biggest-minute defender, and it comes at a time when every point feels big.

Morgan Rielly, Toronto Maple Leafs (Amy Irvin / The Hockey Writers)

Berube noted that Rielly still needs further evaluation before anyone can determine the full extent of the issue. For now, Toronto enters a familiar mode. They are patching the blue line, leaning on depth, and hoping the committee approach holds together through the final two games of the trip. The timing isn’t ideal, especially for a team trying to clean up its defensive game after an uneven stretch.

The Olympic break does offer one silver lining: there’s more than three weeks for Rielly to recover. But the truth is, no one knows whether he’ll be ready when play resumes. With the Maple Leafs chasing a playoff spot and operating without much margin for error, Rielly’s status hangs over the team like a question mark. The next few weeks will shape whether Toronto returns rejuvenated or still searching.

What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?

A trip-ending test in Edmonton, a battered blue line, and an emerging star in Nylander all lead into an Olympic break that might arrive at just the right moment. The Maple Leafs have steadied themselves with two straight wins. Now the question is whether they can carry that momentum into one more tough night before everything pauses.

The Olympic break has squeezed the schedule so tightly that the Maple Leafs aren’t the only team paying the price. Toronto’s injury list keeps growing, but plenty of other clubs are getting squeezed in the same way. It’s shaping up to be one of those odd NHL seasons where the standings wobble, a few unexpected teams sneak in, and a couple of familiar teams fall out. How it all settles is anyone’s guess — but it’s going to be a conversation all the way to the finish.