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Newsletter edition
Saturday, August 22, 2026
37 stories from around the Leafs world.
Top story
Rielly staying, Leaf milestones, and the contract limit: Leaflets
Rielly staying, Leaf milestones, and the contract limit: Leaflets
Colton Sissons reflects on ‘special experience’ of joining Maple Leafs
Colton Sissons reflects on ‘special experience’ of joining Maple Leafs
by Alex Hobson3 Maple Leafs with the most to prove at training camp
by Alex Hobson3 Maple Leafs with the most to prove at training camp
Jonathan Drouin isn't a need for the Maple Leafs, but a PTO could give Toronto a low-risk chance to see what's still there.
Jonathan Drouin isn't a need for the Maple Leafs, but a PTO could give Toronto a low-risk chance to see what's still there.
Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Plūminš, Bowen, Crocker, Ralph & New Era
There are a couple of interesting Toronto Maple Leafs stories worth looking at today, and neither one is really about Auston Matthews, William Nylander or the big names at the
The Maple Leafs Are Spending $32 Million on the Players Nobody Talks About
There’s an interesting thing hiding in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ salary numbers right now. Everybody looks at Auston Matthews at $13.25 million and William Nylander at $11.5 million and sees
Maple Leafs Projected To Be In Playoff Hunt, Matthews Nets 40 Goals Again In Magazine
Maple Leafs Projected To Be In Playoff Hunt, Matthews Nets 40 Goals Again In Magazine
Reign at Current: Gamethread
Reign visit Kansas City at 3:30 PM PT on Ion TV.
Brute Force.
Brute Force.
The Maple Leafs need Jake McCabe to rebound — and he’s a strong candidate to do it [2026-27 Player Preview]
Jake McCabe’s 2025-26 season is a tricky one to unpack. It really was a tale of two halves. Through the Christmas break, McCabe played 36 games, produced 15 points, and the Leafs outscored opponents 28-16 at even strength with him on the ice. The rest of the way, he played 44 games, produced 10 points, [ ] The post The Maple Leafs need Jake McCabe to rebound — and he’s a strong candidate to do it [2026-27 Player Preview] appeared first on Maple Leafs Hotstove .
Maple Leafs Relying on Veterans Finding Fountain of Youth in 2026-27
The Toronto Maple Leafs are almost a month away from kicking off their 2026-27 season after a summer of upheaval, both on and off the ice. June s first overall pick
The Maple Leafs Just Fixed the Biggest Flaw in Their Power Play
The post The Maple Leafs Just Fixed the Biggest Flaw in Their Power Play appeared first on NHL Trade Talk . The Toronto Maple Leafs power play could look a lot different this season, at least it might to their opponents. The post The Maple Leafs Just Fixed the Biggest Flaw in Their Power Play appeared first on NHL Trade Talk .
Patrik Laine's NHL Future Down to 4 Teams
Patrik Laine has been skating a ton in South Florida, while his agent works the phone, searching for a contract for the upcoming season. Laine's the best forward, and biggest wildcard left on the free-agent market, and many around the league are surprised he's yet to sign a contract. Laine is coming off a five-game season, as the Montreal Canadiens essentially turned their backs on the Finnish forward in January, as he admitted he was healthy enough to play, but the team decided he wasn't an option for them down the stretch of the regular season, and into the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Laine's been training a ton in Florida, which is causing many around the league to feel the Tampa Bay Lightning and Florida Panthers are linked. The Panthers are going to be without Brad Marchand to start next year, so there's a hole in their lineup to fill. With the winning, and hard-working culture in Florida, it could be a great place for Laine to turn the page on his career, and play some meaningful hockey, for once. Patrik Laine is skating in South Florida as speculation about his next #NHL stop starts heating up. It’s being reported he could end up in Tampa. Last week Toronto and Dallas were being reported as suitors. Tampa? South Florida? Toronto? Dallas? Somewhere else? Wherever he… https://t.co/0IWdj40yGD pic.twitter.com/GaKClVJqJy Dobber (@DobberHockey) August 18, 2026 Tampa Bay also seems like a great fit, as head coach Jon Cooper could be the exact thing needed for Laine to finally reach his maximum potential. They lost Nick Paul up front, and have some holes to fill, and adding a scoring threat like Laine could go a long way. Two other teams linked to Laine recently are the Toronto Maple Leafs and Dallas Stars. Both teams don't have a ton of cap space to work with, as the Leafs are currently over the cap, but have Max Domi likely heading to LTIR, and Dakota Joshua on the trade market. Laine isn't expected to sign anything more than a one-year deal full of incentives, that would count against the 2027-28 salary cap. The Stars are in need of more scoring up front, and have several Fins who are very familiar to Laine, which could lead to an easier transition. Dallas is also a great place to hide from the wild media noise if things don't go as planned, a much smarter option than joining the Leafs. Where will Laine end up? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Maple Leafs Insider Exposes Morgan Rielly’s Major Weakness
One of the key storylines for the Toronto Maple Leafs this offseason has been what the long-term status of defenseman Morgan Rielly will be. Rielly, who has four years left on his current contract, has heavily been involved in trade rumors, but as of now, remains with the club.According to Maple Leafs Insider Jay Rosehill, [ ] The post Maple Leafs Insider Exposes Morgan Rielly s Major Weakness appeared first on HEAVY .
NHL Network Analyst Projects 3 Destinations Connor McDavid Would Be 'Amenable To'
With a potential decision coming for Connor McDavid in less than a year, many around the hockey world are wondering where McJesus could resurrect himself if he were to leave the Edmonton Oilers . Yes, he is starting a two-year extension this coming season, but most pundits suggest that if he does not sign another extension next summer, the Oilers will not want to go into the final year of his contract with so much uncertainty about whether he'll stay. So it makes sense to say that the countdown begins on Opening Night in September. NHL Network analyst host EJ Hradek has posited three potential destinations for McDavid, based on what he's heard from a couple of sources. 🚨 NHL Network analyst E.J. Hradek names three possible destinations for Connor McDavid if he ever leaves the Edmonton Oilers : Philadelphia, Detroit, and the New York Rangers. Speaking with the Bleed Oil Blue Podcast, Hradek says winning would be the deciding factor.… pic.twitter.com/rbjNkI9DsD — Bleed Oil Blue (@BleedOilBlue) August 17, 2026 Speaking on the Bleed Oil Blue podcast, Hradek said the following: I had heard through a couple of different sources... that IF he were to leave Edmonton and go somewhere else, that perhaps Philadelphia or Detroit would be locations that he would be amenable to. The Rangers also come up because they are going to have a lot of cap space, and it is New York, after all. The Knicks just won the NBA title, and maybe after seeing something like that where there's an outpouring of love in New York, that could influence somebody to maybe do that. Hradek, however, then goes on to contradict his own reporting, in a sense, admitting that if McDavid were to leave Edmonton, "I think he's going to want to go somewhere where… He has a chance to win the ultimate prize. That's why he would leave." No offense to any of those three teams mentioned, but none of the Flyers, Red Wings or Rangers are close to winning a Stanley Cup—and frankly, minor miracles aside, neither would they be a year from now. Others have tried to suggest that McDavid would want to go to the Toronto Maple Leafs or Montreal Canadiens. Toronto is home for the game's greatest player, so that rumor can't be totally dismissed. And the Habs rumors were given some legs this week when Arpon Basu wrote in The Athletic , " the Canadiens would be well-positioned to make a pitch that would satisfy both the Oilers in terms of adding young players and McDavid in terms of providing him with a chance to win." Again, all of this talk has to be shelved for the time being, until we see whether the Oilers can return to true Cup contender status this season. After that, if they're not at that point, then all bets are off.
4 PTO Options for Free-Agent James van Riemsdyk
The NHL free-agent market is dwindling down, and what's left for talent may have to settle for professional tryout agreements. Veteran winger James van Riemsdyk falls into this category, as it's not expected a team is going to offer a guaranteed one-year contract. JVR appeared in 72 games last season for the Detroit Red Wings, scoring 15 goals and 31 points. He's a prolific net-front presence on the power play and still has plenty left in the tank to offer, in a more limited role. JVR isn't a bottom-six option, as he doesn't play a physical game, and has never been known for his defensive abilities. He'll have to win a second-line role in training camp, and there's going to be a number of teams interested in his services. When JVR signs his PTO, expect to see the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Dallas Stars in the mix. The Red Wings are not expected to circle back and have Dylan Larkin's trade request to worry about. The Rangers and Leafs are familiar with JVR, and he knows exactly what to expect with both franchises, but at this point it does feel like the Rangers are leading the race. The Leafs have a wealth of left wingers, so while he's been linked recently, it does appear to be a long shot. JVR made a $1 million last season and is likely in store for the league minimum next year. He was ranked the 43rd best free agent on the market this summer, and now with who's left, sits in the top-10 remaining, based off Daily Faceoff's list . Where will JVR sign? Let us know in the comments.
Gavin McKenna could score 52 points and still miss out on the Calder Trophy
Despite being projected to score 52 points by The Hockey News, Gavin McKenna may miss out on the Calder Trophy given the historical precedence set by other rookies.
Search for Joe Bowen's replacement at the Maple Leafs mic ending soon
Among finalists are longtime Toronto Marlies' play-by-play caller Todd Crocker and Bowen's son David of the OHL Sudbury Wolves
Toronto could eventually be home to a second NHL franchise
The NHL might eventually turn expansion talks to Toronto, though it's unclear if the conversation will ever get to that point.
Morgan Rielly winger talk exposes how uncertain his Maple Leafs role has become
The Hockey Writers recently floated a situational winger role for Morgan Rielly, an unconventional idea that says more about how much Toronto's blueline has changed.