Maple Leafs News & Analysis

Chayka says the Maple Leafs defence could be upgraded and Toronto has the capital to do it. Why patience is right, but only until mid-November.

Simon Edvinsson trade request explained: why the 23-year-old fits Toronto's ageing blue line, what Chayka could offer, and why an offer sheet is off the table.

Darren Raddysh had five giveaways in the opener, then four shots in a win. Our take: Hiller should split Raddysh and Rielly before it costs Toronto points.

The Maple Leafs defence is why this season ends in April. Toronto allowed 299 goals and the most shots per game last year — and barely touched the blue line.

The Rielly-Raddysh pairing is Toronto's plan, not an experiment. Jim Hiller wants two offence-first defencemen together, started in the offensive zone.

Erik Karlsson contract talks have not begun in Pittsburgh. He hits free agency in July 2027, the same summer Toronto's cap room finally arrives.

Morgan Rielly is back with the Leafs main group after a viral condition — and Jim Hiller put Emil Andrae on his left. That pairing is the real story.

The Darren Raddysh partner question got answered at Leafs camp: Oliver Ekman-Larsson, not Jake McCabe. Why that is the right call, and what it means for Rielly.

The Morgan Rielly viral condition slows his start to Leafs camp. He should be ready for September 29, but 13 days leaves no time to catch up.

The William Villeneuve ACL surgery ends Toronto's quietest roster problem. He is out long-term, and the Leafs no longer have to risk him on waivers.

A Morgan Rielly trade never got close, John Chayka says. Inside the quote, the contract that blocked it and where Rielly fits in Jim Hiller's first Leafs camp.

The Nick Blankenburg PTO gives Toronto a ninth defenceman before camp opens. At 50 contracts and over the cap, Chayka has no room to sign him.

Chris Tanev Maple Leafs update: not cleared six days before camp, but planning to skate day one after core muscle surgery ended an 11-game season.

Minnesota has five days to sign Quinn Hughes to an eight-year deal before the CBA caps term at seven. Why the Quinn Hughes contract matters in Toronto.

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.

The Zeev Buium contract beat the NHL eight-year deadline at $9.38M per season. Toronto let the window close with nobody worth signing.

The Chris Tanev injury update: still not medically cleared six months after core muscle surgery, with Maple Leafs training camp opening Sept. 17.

Toronto has eight NHL defencemen for seven spots. The Maple Leafs defence waiver crunch means exposing a real player before opening night on September 29.