The Canadiens have reason to feel good about their young core, but one ranking has rubbed plenty of fans the wrong way. Lane Hutson came in 11th among under-23 players, and he was placed in the “top-of-the-lineup” tier instead of being slotted with future stars. That’s the kind of placement that tends to spark instant pushback in Montreal, especially with Hutson coming off a season where he was one of the NHL’s best offensive defensemen and finished with a plus-36 rating.
What makes the reaction even louder is that the Canadiens had three players in the top 11. On paper, that sounds like a win. In practice, a lot of fans still believe Hutson should be ranked ahead of both Juraj Slafkovsky and Ivan Demidov.
In Toronto, the Morgan Rielly situation is less about rankings and more about whether the veteran can quiet the doubts that have built up around him. Rielly said he’s heading into the season feeling nervous, excited, and motivated, and he also made it clear that Toronto remains home. After months of trade rumours, that part of the story seems settled for now.
The bigger question is what comes next. The Leafs still need Rielly to shoulder big minutes, but there’s skepticism about whether he can match his contract.
Rielly said he had a strong offseason and is ready to prove people wrong. If the season goes sideways, the trade talk could always return by the deadline.
Edmonton’s front office, meanwhile, still has work to do to win over its own fan base. Oilers management took a hit in the eyes of many supporters, with the ranking dropping from 21st to 27th despite a better offseason. The scars from previous mistakes are still there, including losing Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg, trading for Tristan Jarry, and handing Trent Frederic a big extension.
There are at least a few reasons for optimism. Fans are beginning to feel better about new coach Mike Babcock, and Stan Bowman did help improve the goalies, the blue line, and the salary-cap situation.
But Edmonton’s brass still hasn’t fully earned trust, and after last season’s early playoff exit, the pressure is simple: win. A deep playoff run, or even a Stanley Cup, would do a lot to change the conversation.
In Other News...
Leafs Prospect Miroslav Holinka May Force His Way Into The NHL
Miroslav Holinka has already done enough to make people in the Leafs organization take notice. Drafted 151st overall in 2024, the young forward followed a strong junior season with 37 goals and 80 points in 59 games, then got a taste of pro hockey when he debuted with the Toronto Marlies in the AHL last season and picked up his first point in that lone appearance.
Now ranked eighth on Daily Faceoffs Maple Leafs prospect list, Holinka is headed for a bigger role in the AHL next season, and that matters because Torontos pipeline is always about more than just patience. If he keeps progressing at this pace, he could start pressing for NHL consideration sooner rather than later, with his path shaped by both his own development and whatever openings emerge on the Leafs roster. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Have A Low-Risk Winger Worth Watching In Camp
The Maple Leafs are still looking for ways to add to their forward group, and Jonathan Drouin has emerged as a low-risk name worth keeping an eye on when camp opens. The unrestricted free agent could be invited on a professional tryout agreement, giving Toronto a chance to take a closer look at a player who has shown he can still help when he is in the right environment.
Drouins stock has been uneven, which is exactly why the opportunity feels so manageable for the Leafs. He was bought out by the St. Louis Blues after a low-scoring 2025-26 season, but he also put together productive years in 2023-24 and 2024-25. If he comes in and looks like the kind of depth piece Toronto can use, the next step could be a contract. [Read more 🡒]
Colton Sissons Sees One Big Reason Leafs Can Click Fast
Colton Sissons is already looking at his move to Toronto as more than just a change of address. After signing with the Maple Leafs, he said he is excited to join a Canadian market again, and the transition feels especially natural as he spends the offseason away from Toronto before eventually making the move. He also noted that he does not have deep prior connections with many of his new teammates, but he does have plenty of experience seeing this group from the other bench.
Sissons read on the Leafs is shaped as much by what he has seen as by what he is walking into. He pointed to the new team dynamics and the leagues updated schedule format as factors that could help the group settle in quickly, while his time competing against key Toronto players gave him a first-hand sense of how familiar the core already is with one another. For a player arriving fresh, the challenge now is fitting into that rhythm without disrupting it. [Read more 🡒]