The Maple Leafs got one defender back and lost another on the same day, a snapshot of the season’s injury grind.
Jake McCabe returned to practice after leaving Tuesday’s game against Columbus with a gruesome-looking injury that left him bloodied. The good news for Toronto is that it wasn’t serious, and McCabe is expected to be in the lineup Thursday night.
Marshall Rifai, though, was a different story. He left practice early with an undisclosed issue and was replaced by Nick Blankenburg.
That’s a tough break for Rifai, who had just started to get some attention with Chris Tanev out. He made the most of his opportunity against Columbus, scoring his first career NHL goal in Toronto’s 6-2 win and turning in a strong performance.
Rifai’s path with the Maple Leafs has been shaped by injuries. He has dealt with wrist trouble that required surgery and cost him a significant stretch of time, along with other upper- and lower-body issues that have interrupted his run at various points.
Still, Toronto has shown faith in him. The team signed him to a two-year extension and kept bringing him up when depth was needed, even if he did not often get into games. He also won a Calder Cup with the Marlies last season and has been a steady worker since signing.
For Rifai, this latest setback feels especially frustrating because the timing was finally lining up. With Tanev sidelined, he got his chance, played two solid games, and scored. Now, with the extent of this new issue unclear, it’s another hurdle in a career that has rarely seemed to get an easy break.
Toronto, meanwhile, keeps moving forward despite the churn. The Maple Leafs have steadied things with two straight wins and head into Scotiabank Arena carrying momentum, even as the Rangers arrive with a surprisingly hot start to the 2026-27 season.
In Other News...
Easton Cowans Breakout Just Made A Leafs Decision Much Harder
Easton Cowan has spent the early part of the season doing more than just flashing promise, and that has quietly changed the conversation around him. Through 11 games, he has piled up 10 points while giving the Leafs real value away from the puck, too, with a growing role on the penalty kill and strong underlying numbers at 5-on-5.
The most encouraging part for Toronto is how complete the impact has been. Cowan has already shown he can help in transition, create offense and disrupt plays defensively, which is why his rise now feels bigger than a hot start. He is still a restricted free agent in 2028-29, but if this level holds, the next Leafs decision on him is only going to get more expensive. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Get An Early Boost That Could Change Everything Up Front
The trade chatter around the league is starting to pick up, and that always puts Toronto on alert for what might shake loose up front. With names like Connor Hellebuyck, Dylan Larkin and several Pittsburgh veterans already in the rumor mill, the market has a way of forcing contenders and buyers to adjust quickly, especially when a club like Vancouver is looking more like a seller than a team ready to stand pat.
One of the more interesting situations to watch is Jake DeBrusk, who may need to decide whether to signal any openness to movement before his no-movement protection gets tighter. At the same time, Edmonton is getting Ryan Nugent-Hopkins back from injury, a return that should matter both in five-on-five usage and on the power play, and those kinds of lineup boosts can ripple through the trade picture faster than anyone expects. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Just Got Another Intriguing Option For More Size Up Front
Torontos search for more heft up front has put another name on the board, and this one fits the profile the Maple Leafs have been chasing. Dmitri Voronkov has drawn interest from Toronto as the Blue Jackets consider their options, giving the Leafs a potential swing at a winger whose game is built around size, physicality and enough offensive touch to help a middle-six role.
The 26-year-old has been productive over the past three seasons, averaging 19 goals and 19 assists, and he is still under team control beyond this year as a restricted free agent. For the Leafs, the appeal is obvious: a big body who can change the look of a forward group. The question is whether Columbus decides the right move is to keep shopping, and whether Toronto is willing to push hard enough to make the fit work. [Read more 🡒]