Toronto Maple Leafs forward Travis Boyd feels right at home being back with the organization for the 2025-26 season.

Boyd’s first stint was during the 2021 COVID-shortened season, where he recorded eight points (three goals and five assists) in 20 games before getting claimed off waivers by the Vancouver Canucks. He has since bounced around the NHL a bit, but opted to rejoin the Leafs this summer on a one-year deal at a league minimum salary.

“They wanted me and had a plan for me and saw some way that I could help the organization,” Boyd said to the Toronto Star’s Kevin McGran. “On top of that, already having played here and — and yes, it was the COVID year, and it was all weird but I’m comfortable coming here. I know this city, I know this practice facility. I know the organization and how everything’s done.”

Boyd reflected on that season impacted by COVID-19, describing it as a ‘headache’ due to the daily testing and the constant worry of contracting the disease and spreading it to the rest of the team. Government restrictions at the time also limited interactions with teammates outside the rink, while other stuff related to hockey was delivered to their door. After he got claimed off waivers by the Canucks, he was forced to quarantine for a week before he could join his new team for practice. Boyd was only able to get one in before the team had a bout of positive tests disrupted their season for nearly a month.

Those COVID days are thankfully in the rearview mirror, and Boyd now gets a chance at a proper experience in Toronto that he didn’t get to fully enjoy his first go-around. It helps that there have been some familiar faces who have grown in the time since they last crossed paths.

“There were some big veteran presences on that team my first time here,” he said. “The difference now, especially with Nylander and Matthews, those players stepping forward into a much more pronounced leadership role.”

Going into this season, Boyd is looking to re-establish himself at the NHL level after injuries have disrupted his career in recent years. A season-ending injury during the 2023-24 campaign resulted in a 10-month setback that impacted his performance last year with the Minnesota Wild.

He said he feels healthy and is eager to make an impact on the Leafs if he is able to get the opportunity.

“Obviously the goal is to play with the Leafs and to be in the NHL. I still 100 per cent believe and know that I’m an NHL player. And I think I’ve proven that through my career,” he said. “I can be a little bit of a Swiss Army knife. I can play anywhere in the lineup. I can play power play. I can kill penalties. I like to think that I can pretty much fill any role, whatever the team needs.”