The Maple Leafs got the kind of breakthrough they were waiting for Tuesday night, and Gavin McKenna may have taken his first real step toward settling in under the Toronto microscope.
McKenna picked up his first NHL goal and assist in the same game, a welcome turnaround after a difficult opening stretch that had already become a talking point. He also made it to the optional morning skate, which stood out after the attention his earlier absences drew, and he leaned into the moment afterward by joking that he had finally had his “welcome to the NHL” moment after hearing nonstop chatter about his slow start. Matthews said the goal would take real weight off McKenna’s shoulders, and there’s clearly optimism around the room that the rookie can build from here.
The story got a little more personal, too. McKenna half-jokingly said a sleepover with Matthews over the weekend might have helped spark the breakthrough, adding that they might need to make it a weekly thing.
Whether it was superstition or just a lighthearted sign of chemistry, it underscored the bond he’s forming with the captain - someone who knows exactly what pressure in Toronto feels like. With the first goal out of the way, the hope is simple: McKenna shoots more, stops overpassing, and starts playing with more confidence.
In Philadelphia, the Flyers made a much different kind of move, but one that says plenty about where they are right now. Michael Bunting finally found a landing spot, agreeing to a one-year, $1.2 million deal with the Flyers after remaining unsigned well into the season.
That signing came against the backdrop of a rough start for Philadelphia, which has managed just five goals through four games. This looks less like a long-planned pickup and more like Daniel Briere trying to inject some offense into a lineup that needs help fast. Bunting’s track record still matters - especially his 23-goal season with Toronto in 2021-22 - but injuries likely played a big role in why the market never really came together for him this summer.
At 31 and on a low-risk deal, Bunting is a depth swing, not a major bet. Still, for a team looking for any sort of spark, it’s the kind of cheap move that makes sense.
And then there’s the Oilers’ trade mystery, which has people trying to connect dots without a name attached.
An NHL insider said Edmonton has been in trade conversations for weeks with an Eastern Conference team about a young center who is still trying to prove himself at the NHL level, and the Oilers are reportedly in front. Kirby Dach was the first name to jump out, but that doesn’t really fit the description, since his issue is health rather than whether he belongs. The name that’s started to gain traction is Boston’s Matt Poitras, a young center with upside who just made his season debut after an injury, though nothing has been confirmed and the insider did not identify him directly.
For now, there doesn’t seem to be any pressure forcing a deal. Edmonton is expected to get healthier soon with Jason Dickinson set to return, and if Boston doesn’t like the shape of the offer, this could end up being the kind of conversation that goes nowhere.
In Other News...
Red Wings Face Growing Pressure Around Two Crucial Roster Situations
The Flyers are back in the early-season spotlight for all the wrong reasons, with Rick Tocchet and his staff already feeling the heat after a winless start. There is always a little panic baked into October when the details slip and the results do not follow, and Philadelphia has given its coach and assistants no real cushion as they try to settle the group down and get the season pointed in the right direction.
Across the league, Detroit has its own roster questions building in the background, and those decisions could ripple well beyond its own locker room. Contract talks with restricted free agent defenseman Simon Edvinsson have yet to show movement, Dylan Larkins situation remains fluid, and Kris Drapers shift into the pro scouting department only adds another layer to the evaluation process as the Red Wings weigh what comes next. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Already Look Stuck With A Roster Problem They Created
The Flyers came into training camp with a roster that felt mostly decided before the competition even got going, and the shortened preseason only made that approach harder to challenge. Danny Briere acknowledged the team had a preset mindset, which meant there was limited room for younger players to force their way onto the opening night lineup even as Cole Knuble and Jett Luchanko showed enough promise to at least keep the conversation alive.
Philadelphias caution has left it with a familiar early-season problem: a roster that may not have much flexibility when opportunities appear. Even with injuries creating openings, the Flyers still did not lean into them for a young forward, a choice that speaks to how carefully the organization is managing its prospects and how quickly a self-imposed logjam can turn into a real issue once the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Flyers Already Face Early Pressure In A Game That Could Shift Everything
The Flyers are already feeling the weight of an ugly opening stretch, and the timing hardly helps with Ottawa up next. A slow start was always going to invite scrutiny, but this one has been especially hard to ignore, with Philadelphia searching for traction while the schedule keeps offering little room to breathe.
The recent addition of Michael Bunting gives the lineup a bit more grit and some short-term help, but it is not the kind of move that changes the larger picture by itself. What comes next matters because the Flyers need more than a quick patch, and this upcoming run could say a lot about whether the early frustrations are just a stumble or the start of something much bigger. [Read more 🡒]