Maple Leafs News & Analysis

NHL eight-year contracts end September 15. Toronto has no eligible player, and the seven-year cap that follows lands on the Auston Matthews extension.

Auston Matthews has a full green light for camp, Chayka says — 100 per cent physically, six months after surgery on a Grade 3 MCL tear in his left knee.

John Chayka's Maple Leafs overhaul gets its first real test as camp opens Wednesday. The roster he spent 19 weeks building has 15 days to look like a plan.

The John Tavares Maple Leafs accountability moment: clearly we were not very good. What it means for a room that turned over nine spots.

The Gavin McKenna Maple Leafs debut lands Saturday at 6 p.m. ET against Ottawa's rookies in Gatineau. Toronto released its Prospect Challenge roster Thursday.

Chris Kreider is a free agent after Anaheim terminated his contract. The Chris Kreider Maple Leafs fit is real, but Toronto sits $2.75M over the cap ceiling.

The Morgan Rielly trade market never materialized, and Rielly has now said Toronto means more to him than ever. Why keeping him was always the right call.

Gavin McKenna will live with John Tavares this season. He is the third Leafs prospect the Tavares family has hosted, and the cheapest edge Toronto has.

The William Villeneuve waivers problem is Toronto's quietest roster risk. He needs waivers to reach the Marlies, and 31 teams saw his Calder Cup run.

The Red Wings GM search lost front-runner Jeff Greenberg. Detroit enters camp with an interim GM who cannot trade, and Toronto gains in the Atlantic.

Fraser Minten's $7.2-million deal created the comparable Toronto did not want. What the Easton Cowan next contract should actually cost the Maple Leafs.

The Fraser Minten contract, seven years and $50.4 million, closes the book on Toronto's Carlo trade. Boston still holds an unprotected 2028 Leafs first.

Connor Hellebuyck is reportedly ready to sit out 2026-27 if the Jets don't trade him by Sept. 16. For the Maple Leafs, only his destination matters.

Maple Leafs trade protection leaves John Chayka about eight movable players on the roster. Toronto leads the NHL in clauses — and it costs him a deadline.

Zack MacEwen signed with the Maple Leafs for $875,000 a year. Coming off ACL surgery into a bottom six with seven bodies for four jobs, waivers loom.

The Maple Leafs injury report before camp: Matthews cleared from knee surgery, Tanev still awaiting clearance, Domi's back and the $2.75M cap problem.

Reilly Smith Maple Leafs PTO: 988 games, a Cup ring and a Mimico address. The free camp invite that fits Chayka blueprint better than Laine.

Maple Leafs 2027 draft picks: both own firsts are owed out. One conditional Colorado first is the only trade chip John Chayka controls.