The Leafs Nation - News, Roster, Scores, Schedule

Leafs development camp notebook: McKenna steals the show, Nansi’s improved skating, Bilecki’s full circle moment

Arun Srinivasan — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 20:00:27 GMT

After a whirlwind opening day of NHL free agency, the Toronto Maple Leafs conducted their first on-ice sessions of the 2026 Development Camp. Gavin McKenna headlines the 53-man roster, and the 2026 first overall pick more than met the hype. Toronto conducted two separate on-ice sessions, while holding media availabilities with Jack Roslovic, Nick Paul, Colton Sissons and Brandon Duhaime, all of whom signed on Wednesday.

Team Gilmour (Blue) and Team Sittler (White) for the first on-ice day of Leafs Development Camp pic.twitter.com/RLIx8NXgpU

— Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) July 2, 2026

Here is our development camp notebook from the Ford Performance Centre, with interviews, observations from the two on-ice sessions, scrimmage notes, two players who have shown improvement and one player who stagnated.

Everyone's favorite drill, the one leg jump drill pic.twitter.com/hzyJSJDxQ6

— Steven Ellis (@SEllisHockey) July 2, 2026

McKenna’s incredible first step, shot, skating, steals the show on and off the ice

The McKennaissance Era begins @TLNdc @DailyFaceoff pic.twitter.com/gi56QqHQRd

— Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) July 2, 2026

All eyes were on Gavin McKenna, and he exceeded preposterous expectations. Although we didn’t get to watch McKenna in a scrimmage scenario, he was the best player on the ice by a country mile. McKenna’s explosive first step, all-world puckhandling and release were self-evident. He scored on virtually every shot he took, or hit the cross-bar with velocity, against a series of goaltenders who were clearly fooled by his velocity and deception. McKenna’s resting speed is miles ahead of the rest of the camp invites, and he looks every bit worthy of the Nikita Kucherov and Patrick Kane comparisons, in large part due to his hockey intelligence.

McKenna met with reporters following the on-ice sessions, where his quiet confidence and passion for the game reverberated through the ground floor of the facility.

“Super excited. I think you can tell the mindset (John) Chayka and the staff’s got,” McKenna said. “They want to make a statement next year. For me to come in as the first overall pick, to be in that environment to have these veteran guys around me, kind of not have to be that driver and learn from those guys, I’m very lucky and fortunate and I can’t wait to get going and meet all these new guys.”

Maple Leafs assistant general manager Hayley Wickenheiser raved about McKenna’s character, competitiveness and skill set, following the conclusion of the second on-ice session.

“First impressions, he’s an excellent processor,” Wickenheiser said. “I think he’s got a quiet confidence about him that exudes he can elevate his game. Excellent agility, IQ off the charts. The thing I like about Gavin, he’s very grounded.”

“I would say he’s an exceptionally bright kid. I spent several hours with him and he asked a lot of really great questions. He’s a deep thinker and he takes in information really well, and you can tell that he’s very aware of his surroundings.”

It’s incumbent upon all parties to temper expectations about McKenna. That’s not necessarily our responsibility, though. He certainly looks like the second coming of Nikita Kucherov on the ice, with the charisma to command the world’s largest and most attentive hockey market.

yeah man, this is going be hella fun. There’s not a whole lot to observe in drills but Gavin McKenna’s first step, release and puck skills are unreal. He’s just ripping shots with ease past the goalies. He’s scoring or hitting the bar on every shot.

— Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) July 2, 2026

Harry Nansi is camp’s most improved player due to better skating

Harry Nansi was the most improved player that I noticed on Wednesday. Nansi has certainly improved his first step and accelerations, clear weaknesses in his game, as articulated last summer by Maple Leafs director of amateur scouting Mark Leach. Nansi is coming off a season where he posted 13 goals and 56 points in 67 games with the Owen Sound Attack. The 6-foot-3 forward is adept at getting to the net and jamming in pucks at the net-front. If Nansi continues to improve as a skater, it certainly bodes well for his professional development, after earning an amateur tryout with the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, following the end of the OHL season. Nansi was named the OHL’s Western Conference’s most improved player, and he earns this designation as the most improved player at development camp.

William Belle was also a quarter-step quicker than he was last summer, although he needs to be more consistent with his effort level when it comes to his straight-line skating. Belle registered one goal and four points in 34 games with Notre Dame last season. He simply has to produce more often at the NCAA level for him to have a legitimate chance of developing into a real professional option, but it’s worth noting that two members of Toronto’s 2025 class showed some improvements in their skating, when it’s an imperative quality for the new regime.

Nick Moldenhauer appears to be stagnating on poor 1st day

Nick Moldenhauer is the lone invitee from Toronto’s 2022 NHL Draft class and naturally, you would think he’d be ahead of the some other invitees at this week’s event. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. We do not enjoy being harsh on prospects but the simple fact of the matter is that Moldenhauer’s development appears to have stagnated entirely. During the first development camp I ever covered, Moldenhauer and Ty Voit were the standout performers, after Fraser Minten was arguably the week’s MVP. So much has changed in four years. Moldenhauer plays at on the loaded Michigan squad at the NCAA level, a team that boasts umpteenth NHL prospects.

McKenna aside (as the franchise’s most important player) this week is meant to acclimate younger players into the Maple Leafs’ system. Moldenhauer does not fit that description and struggled badly through during an extended 3-on-3 scrimmage. He habitually flubbed passes and didn’t create any space as an outlet for his defencemen trying to head-man the puck. Moldenhauer is coming off a season where he recorded 15 goals and 31 points in 40 games with Michigan. Perhaps it’s an off-day, but he was the biggest disappointment on Thursday.

Alexander Bilecki’s full-circle moment begins at Development Camp

Alexander Bilecki was playing for the Mississauga Rebels of the Greater Toronto Hockey League just two summers ago. A lot has changed since then, as Bilecki led the Kitchener Rangers to a Memorial Cup championship. Bilecki was universally lauded as a stellar pick for the Maple Leafs due to his pace, power play skills, while boasting a frame where he could certainly add 10-15 pounds of muscle before graduating to the NHL.

Bilecki met reporters and glowed about his homecoming with the Maple Leafs.

“Yeah, it’s cool. It’s like a full circle moment. I remember 2 years ago we were practicing on this rink, and I was in a Rebels sweater playing in the GTHL. So it’s really cool now to be out here, you know, in a Leafs sweater, hometown team, and I’ve got something to prove and I’m just gonna keep working.”

Bilecki, on his own goals for development camp: "At the end of the day, I think just showing the type of player I am and what I can bring to the Maple Leafs organization and just my want to get better every day."

— Arun Srinivasan (@Arunthings) July 2, 2026

Bilecki previously spoke about his winning mentality, joining Leafs Morning Take after Toronto selected him with the 60th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Wickenheiser seconded the notion of Bilecki’s full-circle moment, while speaking to his pace, competitiveness and what lies ahead in the next stage of his career path.

“I think he’s probably said it’s a dream come true to be a Mississauga kid playing for the Maple Leafs,” Wickenheiser said. “You know, I met his parents the other day and I think they’re beside themselves, thrilled! It’s fun to watch the families go through all of this. He’s an excellent mobile defenceman. That was a big part of the Kitchener Rangers’ win this year and he was tremendous on their power play and really is providing great offense for them. So we’re excited to see what he can do and his upside, and he has a long way to go in terms of his physical development.”

Quick hits

Toronto is expected to host media availability for Sergei Bobrovsky on Thursday. Bobrovsky signed a three-year deal worth $7 million per season to join the Maple Leafs, and will operate as the No. 1 goaltender.
McKenna isn’t expected to speak to media for the duration of the week. Toronto’s rookie has effectively wrapped up his introductory media tour, and laughed off his skyward first pitch at the Toronto Blue Jays game on Saturday.
The Passion is a real thing. Nick Paul will quickly become a fan favourite, an unfathomable proposition following the 2022 playoffs, after speaking about how much he loved being a Leafs fan. Paul told reporters he had Mats Sundin and Darcy Tucker’s jerseys, while building a friendship with Max Domi, stemming from their time competing against each other in the GTHL. Darren Raddysh has returned home as well.

PRESENTED BY THE LEAFS NATION NEWSLETTER!

Never miss what matters in the game. From lineup changes to breaking trades and must-read analysis, The Leafs Nation delivers the insight serious hockey fans rely on—straight to your inbox. Sign up for the The Leafs Nation newsletter here!

Maple Leafs’ Colton Sissons looking to bring more grit to Toronto’s lineup next season

Michael Coyle — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:30:23 GMT

After being applauded for their work during the NHL Entry Draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs’ management group are once again being praised for the work they put in during the opening day of free agency.

John Chayka and Mats Sundin added six players to the Maple Leafs’ forward group, with the first signing of the day coming by way of a two-year, $8.5 million contract for Colton Sissons.

Sissons joins the Maple Leafs’ roster after spending last season with the Vegas Golden Knights, where the 32-year-old appeared in 66 games and recorded six goals and five assists. During the Golden Knights’ run to the Stanley Cup final, Sissons chipped in eight points across his 22 games played.

Following his signing on Wednesday, Sissons joined Nick Alberga and Jay Rosehill to discuss his next contract in Toronto with the Maple Leafs.

“It wasn’t too crazy. Obviously, there was some interest around, but I knew the Leafs were very seriously considering me,” Sissons said. “Once you realize that and you have a chance to come to that market, things come together pretty quick.”

Sissons is likely to join the Maple Leafs’ bottom-six forward group to help round out a spot that was clearly a focus for Chayka and Sundin heading into next season. During his interview, Sissons spoke about what he feels his role will be with the club next year.

“I think I have value all around the lineup, obviously, more so in the bottom six,” Sissons said. “I can play wing; I’m more of a natural centerman, so I can bounce around a little bit. I’m definitely being brought in to shore up the bottom six, add some grit, competitiveness, and penalty-killing prowess.”

Sissons’ Stanley Cup final appearance brings some playoff success to a market that has been so desperate to see their team succeed come springtime. With all the recent playoff failures and the complete miss of them last year, the goal is that Sissons can be a bright spot when the stakes are the highest.

“I really felt that I played my best hockey in the playoffs,” Sissons said. “I find that when the stakes are the highest, I feel most comfortable and feel like I can have an impact. Obviously, it was devastating to not get it done in the end, but I appreciated the ride, and hopefully I can bring some of that experience to the Leafs.”

Sponsored by bet365

Maple Leafs fans share their thoughts on a busy Day 1 of NHL free agency

Michael Mazzei — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:00:23 GMT

The Toronto Maple Leafs had quite the hectic day to begin free agent frenzy, and the team now looks vastly different from how it looked at the end of last season.

They made five free agent signings and completed two trades, all in an effort to shore up their forward depth and solidify the crease. Toronto signed Sergei Bobrovsky, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, Jack Roslovic, Brandon Duhaime and Zack MacEwen as free agents, while acquiring Nick Paul from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Dennis Hildeby and two draft picks, and trading Nick Robertson to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round pick.

There is still plenty left to do for GM John Chayka in his efforts to retool the roster, and perhaps there could be some more fireworks on the trade front as guys like Morgan Rielly could be on the move. But it’s clear that the team is in a much better state now and should have a better chance at bouncing back into a playoff spot than they did prior to July 1st.

We asked you on social media to share your thoughts on a busy opening day in free agency for the Leafs, and here are the highlights:

They completely re tooled their bottom 6 and upgraded their goaltending situation. A few over pays but Chayka did what he set out to do

— Steve🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 (@steveborn1) July 1, 2026

The consensus among Leafs fans is that they are pleased with the work that Chayka got done and feel he made the team a lot better. Whether or not the contracts handed out age well remains to be seen, though it helps that they were no longer than three years each.

It's a minor gamble.

He's either truly over-the-hill, or this turns into when the Leafs picked up Belfour back in the 2000s.

— Die Tomi (@jimbodiced) July 1, 2026

Bobrovsky is the biggest acquision of the day just on name brand alone, and it’s hard not to get excited about the addition of a future Hall of Famer. The risks are obvious because of his advanced age and the fact he is coming off a down season, though it is worth noting that the Florida Panthers last year were injured and missing a lot of regulars.

The majority of the moves made today were with the intention of solidifying the forward depth and adding a boost defensively up front. This could go a long way to freeing up the defensive responsibility placed on Auston Matthews and, in turn, potentially lead to a better offensive output. But as mentioned earlier, there’s more needed to be done.

The today leafs did well. But if it was the Trevelling manager he would of screwed up royally

— Commanderdana (@Commanderd43397) July 2, 2026

It’s fair to wonder how Brad Treliving would have handled free agent frenzy had he still be GM of the Leafs. Given how much Chayka got done relative to what his predecsssor did the prior year, it’s safe to say that the Leafs are in better hands now than they were before.

Meh
Werenski? Nope
Boone Jenner? Nope
New GM’s a joke

— Don Salmon Music (@DonSalmonMusic) July 2, 2026

For all the talk about what the Leafs were able to get done, there’s also plenty that they have not. Zach Werenski was mired in trade rumours this week and it appeared that the Leafs were in position to trade for him before opting to commit to the Columbus Blue Jackets. Meanwhile, they probably could benefit from one more top-six forward to solidify the depth whether it’s done via trade or free agency.

Amazing.

-filled out bottom 6
-got a cup-winning goaltender
– got a scoring winger for Matthews and McKenna
-working on moving Rielly for cap and another D

— styles4mvp (@styl3s4mvp) July 1, 2026

But make no mistake, Chayka put the Leafs in a much better position after the opening day of free agency. There is still plenty left for him to get done, with one of them being find a new home for Rielly. There will come a time when the collective offseason work can be evaluated, but Leafs fans can be pleased with where things stand after Day 1.

We want to hear from you: What are your thoughts on how the Leafs did during Day 1 of free agency?

Sponsored by bet365

Gavin McKenna feels the excitement around Maple Leafs following Day 1 of free agency

Alex Hobson — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 18:00:05 GMT

The Toronto Maple Leafs have injected new life into their organization this summer. Within days of John Chayka and Mats Sundin taking roles in the front office, they won the draft lottery, which allowed them the right to select Gavin McKenna first overall. They then followed it by executing a flurry of moves including a sign-and-trade for Darren Raddysh and six signings on the first day of free agency.

Speaking with reporters during Day 1 of development camp, McKenna spoke about how he was feeling seeing all of the signings the Leafs made the day before.

“Super excited. I think you can tell the mindset Chayka and the staff’s got. They want to make a statement next year. For me to come in as the first overall pick, to be in that environment to have these veteran guys around me, kind of not have to be that driver and learn from those guys, I’m very lucky and fortunate and I can’t wait to get going and meet all these new guys.”

McKenna has wasted no time getting acclimated to the Toronto market. Already one of the most popular names around the Maple Leafs right now, he’s been spending time in the city and spoke about how fans would stop him in the street and ask for pictures. The day after he was drafted, he threw out the first pitch at the Toronto Blue Jays game. His throw went slightly wide. Well, maybe more than slightly.

Gavin McKenna tosses the ceremonial first pitch ahead of the Blue Jays game ⚾️ pic.twitter.com/ulIsdsuwSO

— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) June 27, 2026

“I was getting told that it’s a lot farther than it looks so I didn’t to come up short, and I don’t know, it was not good.” McKenna laughed.

He was then asked if he’s taken any chirps from people about his throw.

“A couple, a couple.”

The Maple Leafs will continue with development camp through Saturday before everybody returns home for summer training. Training camp will come in the September, followed by a shorter-than-usual preseason and sooner-than-usual regular season start date. Lots has been made about the pressure of playing in Toronto, and while the spotlight will certainly be brighter than usual on McKenna, as the first overall pick, he’s made it clear that he thrives off of the pressure that comes with playing in a market like Toronto.

“For me, it was honestly using it as fuel. Some of the critiques, they weren’t wrong. Some of the stuff they said, I knew I had to work on. Honestly, all year I’ve seen stuff and it just helps be grow as a person and a player. When I hear that stuff it fires me up, and with my work ethic off the ice, it helps me.”

Sponsored by bet365

The Maple Leafs are better today. How much better is up for debate: Leafs Morning Take

Nick Alberga — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:30:53 GMT

The Toronto Maple Leafs look drastically different than they did when free agency opened on Wednesday at noon ET, but are they actually better?

That was the big question we tackled to open Thursday’s edition of Leafs Morning Take. With Jay Rosehill away, NHL insider David Pagnotta joined as co-host, sharing the latest intel on the Leafs while pulling back the curtain on how Toronto’s busy Canada Day came together.

By the end of the day, GM John Chayka and his staff had reshaped the roster, adding seven new players through six free-agent signings and one trade. Additionally, they moved Nick Robertson to Pittsburgh. They were busy.

All in all, we both came away with mixed reviews. Given the assets and cap space the Maple Leafs had to work with, they did a solid job of improving their roster. I gave their offseason a B, while Dave was slightly more optimistic, handing out a B+.

Throughout the show, we broke down each of the Leafs’ moves. Personally, I’m excited about the additions of Darren Raddysh and Sergei Bobrovsky, even if he’ll be 38 by the time the season begins. As for the revamped bottom six, I’m taking a wait-and-see approach. How many offseasons has Leafs Nation convinced itself that Toronto’s newfound depth would make all the difference? At the end of the day, the same core is still in place, and that’s what will ultimately define this team’s ceiling. The Maple Leafs are better today than they were a few days ago, but the real question is: by how much? It should make for a fascinating season as they measure up against the rest of the Atlantic Division.

Meantime, Morgan Rielly is still a Leaf, but for how much longer? Pagnotta shared the latest insider intel on the veteran defenceman’s future. While San Jose no longer appears to be a likely destination, Pagnotta believes the Maple Leafs are still actively trying to move Rielly and suggested Anaheim could be a team to watch. He also revealed that someone close to Rielly told him on July 1 that the expectation remains he’ll eventually be traded, although there’s no clear timetable for when that could happen.

Also, Gavin McKenna hit the ice at development camp for the first time—and he already looks right at home in Maple Leafs blue. For those keeping score, he was wearing No. 72, which seemingly settles the debate over who will sport that number this season: McKenna, not Sergei Bobrovsky. Both are studs. Whatever.

You can subscribe to TheLeafsNation (TLN) YouTube channel HERE. Additionally, we’re available in podcast form, too —wherever you get your podcasts. While you’re at it, be sure to leave us a 5-star review!

Report: Maple Leafs sign Cole McWard and Henrik Rybinski to two-year deals

Michael Mazzei — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 17:20:19 GMT

The Toronto Maple Leafs have reportedly signed defenceman Cole McWard and forward Henrik Rybinski to identical two-year deals carrying an AAV of $875K, according to PuckPedia. McWard is on a one-way deal for both years, while Rybinski is on a two-way deal for the first year and a one-way deal for the second.

The Leafs have inked Cole McWard to a two-year deal, per @PuckPedia pic.twitter.com/nlztg4PCxI

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) July 2, 2026

McWard, 25, is a right-shot defenceman who went undrafted but has shown some promise as a potential depth piece on the blueline. He spent this past season with the New York Islanders organization, spending the majority of the year with the AHL’s Bridgeport Islanders where he registered 27 points (six goals and 21 assists) in 63 games while going scoreless in two playoff games. He was also able to appear in three NHL games this past season in January but went scoreless and was barely used before being sent back down.

The addition of McWard is likely intended to fill the void left by Henry Thrun on the Marlies, who was among the RFAs the Leafs did not qualify ahead of the free-agent frenzy. There’s also a world where he slots in as the eighth defenceman in place of Philippe Myers, though that depends on if the Leafs can find a new home for him. In any case, McWard does come with some pedigree as he was an AHL All-Star last season and was part of the Abbotsford Canucks’ 2025 Calder Cup championship team.

Per @PuckPedia, the Leafs have signed Henry Rybinski to a two-year contract pic.twitter.com/06PjXE3oRT

— TheLeafsNation (@TLNdc) July 2, 2026

Rybinski, 25, is a right-winger who was originally selected in the fifth round 136th overall by the Florida Panthers in 2019. He ended up going unsigned by them but was snagged up by the Washington Capitals in 2022, where he has spent the past four seasons within their organization. Rybinski was part of the Hershey Bears’ back-to-back Calder Cup wins, though he did not play during the first run but did contribute to the second.

He has yet to appear in an NHL game to this point, but has emerged as a consistent secondary scorer in the AHL and could become an injury call-up candidate for the Leafs. This past season saw Rybinski record 30 points (10 goals and 20 assists) in 59 games while adding three points (a goal and two assists) in six playoff games with the Bears. The fact that his contact becomes one-way in the second year suggests he could be an option for them down the line, though it’s more likely he spends the majority of his time with the Marlies.

Sponsored by bet365

Jack Roslovic looking forward to finding role in Maple Leafs’ offensive game

Alex Hobson — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:50:22 GMT

The Toronto Maple Leafs executed a flurry of signings on July 1, the date that marks the beginning of the NHL free agency period. Headlining the moves was the signing of goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, who signed a three-year deal with the Leafs, and Nick Paul, who was acquired via trade in exchange for Dennis Hildeby and picks.

The first signing of the day was forward Jack Roslovic. The 29-year-old forward is coming off two straight 20-plus goal seasons and tallied 36 points in 69 games with the Edmonton Oilers last year. Roslovic is a longtime friend of Leafs captain Auston Matthews, as the two played together in the U.S. National Team Development Program prior to getting drafted.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Roslovic spoke about joining the Leafs organization again, and more specifically, getting to play on the same team as Auston Matthews again.

“Stoked. It’s going to be awesome,” Roslovic said when asked about his excitement level about reuniting with Matthews. “Really familiar with his game, really familiar with the person and who he is as a guy and a leader. I’ve seen him grow in a lot of ways and I’ve been able to be on his journey a little bit from the outside. Every time we get the chance to talk, it’s always been super easy. Just feels like we left off where we started.”

The Leafs are expected to try and return to their roots in 2026-27, playing a high-octane offensive system rather than the dump-and-chase system Craig Berube implemented over the past two years. While it’s not known exactly what kind of system Jim Hiller will be running with in Toronto, he made a point to mention that the players would have fun playing in it.

Roslovic believes that his game is tailored to the style of game the Leafs will be playing.

“I think the team plays a highly offensive game,” Roslovic said. “I think they play a complete game. I think, on top of that, the reason why I said high offence is the skill. The skill is there. You know, the talent is there. And the ability to put the puck in the net is definitely there. So, for me, it’s about complementing these guys, being able to find a role and a home.”

The Maple Leafs added Roslovic to the fold on July 1 along with a plethora of other forwards, including Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, and Brandon Duhaime.

Sponsored by bet365

Maple Leafs listed as ‘winners’ of 2026 free agency in Daily Faceoff ranking

Dylan Nazareth — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 16:30:10 GMT

It’s been a busy few weeks for John Chayka and the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Aside from selecting Gavin McKenna as the headline of a 10-pick 2026 NHL Entry Draft, Toronto’s GM has been all over the market making trades and signing free agents.

Chayka acquired and extended pending UFA Darren Raddysh, made some other deals to clear space and bolster depth, and then spent Canada Day making the most of Free Agent Frenzy, headlined by the signing of Stanley Cup winning goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky.

On Wednesday, Daily Faceoff’s Matt Larkin published his list of winners and losers of 2026 Free Agency. This year, Larkin has Toronto listed as a winner, after a busy day with a number of big transactions. On the Maple Leafs, Larkin writes:

Operation ‘Appease Auston Matthews’ is in full swing. Signing Raddysh, arguably the top UFA defenseman on the market, through a June sign-and-trade that pays him for eight seasons beginning at age 30 erased any doubt that Toronto wants to stay competitive as long as Matthews remains with the team. The Leafs stayed incredibly aggressive in the UFA market Wednesday. Bobrovsky represents their highest-profile goalie gambit since Ed Belfour more than 20 years ago; it remains to be seen what future Hall of Famer ‘Bob’ has left, turning 38 in September, but he’s only a year removed from back-to-back Stanley Cup wins, and the three-year contract term isn’t too prohibitive.

Adding Jack Roslovic, a.k.a. Matthews’ old linemate at USA Hockey’s National Team Development program, and Colton Sissons, a versatile bottom-six center who wore many hats in the lineup for the Vegas Golden Knights during their run to the 2025-26 Stanley Cup Final, along with checking pivot Teddy Blueger and speedy Brandon Duhaime, deepens the forward group. Once you factor in the trade for analytics darling defenseman Emil Andrae last month, dealing goalie and surplus asset Dennis Hildeby for third-line center Nick Paul Wednesday and, of course, picking Gavin McKenna first overall in the 2026 Draft: the Leafs are an improved team year over year coming out of July 1 – most notably in their foot speed. Will their current path prove to the be the wrong one? Perhaps, as the Leafs’ contention window may have closed already, and this team is so radically different now that chemistry won’t necessarily come easily.

But on the other hand, GM John Chayka may have cranked the window back open, which he had no choice to do with Matthews and fellow veterans such William Nylander, John Tavares, Matthew Knies and Chris Tanev under contract. The time to rebuild is if and when Matthews walks away, whether that’s in 2028 when he’s a UFA or a year from now when he’s extension eligible. But the time is not now, and the Leafs deserve credit for taking extremely decisive steps to reload and reinvent. You have to go all in as long as you have No. 34, and it’s worth noting most of the deals Chayka handed out were short-term, Raddysh’s excepted.

Report: Maple Leafs among teams who showed interest in Claude Giroux

Michael Mazzei — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 15:30:23 GMT

The Toronto Maple Leafs were reportedly among the teams that expressed interest in signing Claude Giroux during Day 1 of free agency, according to Postmedia’s Bruce Garrioch.

Garrioch also listed the Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, and Colorado Avalanche as teams that reached out to Giroux on Wednesday, though he noted that it wasn’t a surprise that no deal got done during the first day as he is 38. Of course, his most recent team in the Ottawa Senators, would like to have him back, given that they offered Giroux a contract extension around the trade deadline, but he instead opted to test the market.

Even in the twilight of his career, it’s easy to see why teams around the NHL would want to add Giroux to their forward groups. He has put up consistently strong scoring numbers, has always been proficient at taking faceoffs, and is versatile enough to play both down the middle and on the wings. Giroux is also a right-shot forward, which is always a nice asset to add for any team looking to expand their options.

This past season with the Senators saw him record 49 points (14 goals and 35 assists) in 82 games to finish sixth on the team in scoring, while going scoreless in four playoff games.

Giroux is coming off a one-year deal with a cap hit of $2 million, meaning his next deal likely would fall around that number or slightly below. Though with his former teams in the Flyers and Senators vying to bring him back, there could be a bit of a bidding war for the veteran forward. Although Toronto is not close to his hometown of Hearst, Giroux would still be in the province he grew up in. He would also get the chance to reunite with Sergei Bobrovsky, with whom the two were teammates in Philadelphia for the first two seasons of the netminder’s career, and Zack MacEwen from their time in Ottawa.

While it makes sense why the Leafs were in on him during the start of free agency, they did end up bringing in a lot of forwards who can play down the middle. With Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, Nick Paul, and Jack Roslovic added to the mix, Giroux may now be seen as redundant, and they may be better suited to looking at a younger option if they want to add to their forwards. That isn’t to say Giroux is for sure not going to sign in Toronto, but it is more likely at this stage that he ends up elsewhere for the 2026-27 season.

Sponsored by bet365

6 players to watch on day 2 of free agency

Jon Steitzer — Thu, 02 Jul 2026 13:00:47 GMT

It’s unlikely that the Toronto Maple Leafs are going to match the energy of their first day of free agency, but if the promised overhaul this summer is to be achieved, John Chayka won’t be taking a vacation anytime soon.

Day one seemed to be foundational. A lot of bottom-six players who will beef up the penalty kill, eat minutes in low-event 1-3-1 hockey, and address the departures of Robertson, Maccelli, Laughton, McMann, and Jarnkrok with a purposeful approach to the group.

A clear style choice was made, and a few right shots were brought in. Progress.

There are still some outstanding issues. The group that was brought in does little to offer the top six forward group if injuries require one of them to move up in the lineup. The blueline leaves something to be desired. And with the amount of changes in net so far, the question of whether a replacement for Anthony Stolarz still needs to be arranged will factor in as well.

The Leafs at this point are different, but aside from Darren Raddysh and whatever Gavin McKenna can bring to the table in his rookie season, the upgrade over the roster from last year hasn’t been fully realized. Steps have been taken to finally address the departure of Mitch Marner from the Leafs, but the team needed to improve from their 2024-25 iteration, and they haven’t done that yet.

While most upgrades and major changes will likely come via trades, it’s worth looking at a few of the interesting players still available in free agency that could offer the potential of an upgrade or backfill a player that the Leafs will need to send out to bring in a bigger fish in a trade.

Anthony Mantha

In the event that Matthew Knies needs to be dealt for the Maple Leafs to upgrade their lineup, Anthony Mantha is the best power forward option available in free agency. He won’t come cheap, and the Leafs being able to pull off a trade and have money for Mantha seems like a stretch, but if the Leafs are gaining cap space in other transactions or relying on Max Domi being on the LTIR, Mantha could still be a consideration.

Patrik Laine

The mystery box that is Patrik Laine is awfully enticing, and rolling the dice on him even returning to 25-goal form might be worth it for the Maple Leafs.

The attention of the Montreal and Winnipeg hockey markets wasn’t ideal for Laine, so I’m not sure he’d love the idea of Toronto, but if anyone could help him find his groove in Toronto, it seems like it would be Willy Nylander. Until he’s signed, he’s going to be an intriguing option.

Eeli Tolvanen

More than Mantha or Laine, Tolvanen seems like an easy fit for the Maple Leafs. It’s likely a matter of money that he wasn’t brought in, but he’s the type of player you can play on the third line and move up to the top six as needed. That is a precise Leafs need if they can make it work.

Cam Talbot

So help me, I like Cam Talbot and would have been fine with a Talbot, Stolarz, and Hildeby crease a day ago. If the Maple Leafs want to move on from Stolarz to pick up an asset, Talbot might be the best backup option if Akhtyamov isn’t going to be thrown immediately to the wolves.

Nick Blankenburg

Blankenburg has emerged as a promising option on the blueline and given that he’s a right shot, he’s depth worth considering if the Leafs are moving on from one of their incumbents.

Blankenburg was playing sheltered depth minutes in Colorado but was more of a 4D option in Nashville. He’s an ideal option capable of moving up if Chris Tanev’s injuries are still an issue in 2026-27.

Carson Soucy

Soucy might not be the most exciting option on this list but as players continue to get signed, Soucy has started looking like a better option. A reliable steady-eddy presence in a bottom pairing would provide a worthwhile safety net if Ben Danford or Emil Andrae aren’t ready for primetime.

Sponsored by bet365