The Maple Leafs come into the second full week of October with a split road trip behind them and a handful of issues still hanging in the air. They took a tight loss in Las Vegas, then turned around and put six past the Avalanche in Denver, which is the kind of early swing that shows both the firepower and the unfinished edges on this roster.
Auston Matthews and William Nylander did their part in Denver, but Toronto’s bigger challenge remains finding the right fit around them. Easton Cowan has gotten an extended run in the top two lines after showing strong tracking habits and plenty of energy on the forecheck.
That said, putting a young winger into those spots changes the feel of the group, and Coach Hiller has already rotated through Nick Paul and Jack Roslovic in search of a better balance between defensive responsibility and quick transition play. The Leafs still need those top-six combinations to settle before the schedule starts to pile up.
That same sense of unfinished business applies on the back end. Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev have been handling the heavy defensive-zone work on the top pair, while Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jake McCabe, and Darren Raddysh have drawn scrutiny for their gap control and puck retrieval under pressure.
Tanev’s upper-body injury against the Colorado Avalanche Saturday only raises the stakes. Toronto has also given up too many high-danger chances from the inner slot during extended zone time, and that has put a brighter spotlight on clean exits and better puck management through the neutral zone.
In goal, the workload conversation matters just as much. Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 30 of 33 shots against Colorado to get the win, but the larger issue is how Toronto handles the crease across an 84-game season. Anthony Stolarz gives Hiller a dependable option to share the load, and with two home games plus a road game coming this week, a split in starts looks likely as Toronto tries to keep its save numbers strong through heavier nights.
The week ahead gives the Leafs a clear chance to make progress. They open Tuesday in Salt Lake City against Utah, then return home for games against Buffalo and New York.
The matchup with Utah will test Toronto’s pace against a fast, young team, while the Buffalo and Islanders games carry early implications in both the division and the wild-card race. If the Leafs can sharpen their neutral-zone tracking and settle on their line combinations, this stretch could help them build some real structural momentum.
Tuesday, Oct 13 at Utah Mammoth, Delta Center, 9:00 PM
Thursday, Oct 15 vs. Buffalo Sabres, Scotiabank Arena, 7:00 PM
Saturday, Oct 17 vs. New York Islanders, Scotiabank Arena, 7:00 PM
In Other News...
Former Leaf Suddenly Has Fans Reconsidering That Toronto Trade
Steven Lorentz is making it a little harder for Maple Leafs fans to shrug off that summer trade. The former Leaf has opened the season with the Cleveland Monsters, Columbus AHL affiliate, and his recent run has brought fresh attention to the kind of depth and energy he can still provide. For Toronto, the deal that sent him to the Blue Jackets was part of a larger reshuffling of pieces, and it already feels like the sort of move that invites second-guessing when a familiar face starts producing elsewhere.
Lorentzs early work has also raised a more immediate question for Columbus: whether he can force his way into the NHL picture sooner rather than later. His skill set has always pointed toward a role player who can help in a useful way, and a strong start only strengthens that case. For Leafs followers looking back, it is another reminder that trades are rarely judged on day one, and sometimes the lingering value comes from the player who quietly keeps making noise after the move. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Face A Pricey Trade Battle For Simon Edvinsson
Simon Edvinssons next step in Detroit has become a real source of intrigue around the league, and Toronto is among the teams keeping close tabs. The Maple Leafs have reason to pay attention because the young defenseman fits a clear need on the blue line, bringing a stay-at-home style that is built more on defensive reliability than flash. With the Red Wings and Edvinsson reportedly far apart on an extension, the possibility of a trade has quickly turned a contract issue into a broader market watch.
For Toronto, the question is no longer just whether Edvinsson could be available, but what kind of return Detroit will demand if it decides to move him. The interest is not limited to one rival, and that kind of competition tends to drive the price up fast, especially for a young defender with his profile. If the Leafs want to stay in the race, they may have to decide how much they are willing to sacrifice for the chance to add him to a group that has been searching for more steadiness on the back end. [Read more 🡒]
Gavin McKenna Is Forcing A Maple Leafs Power Play Debate
Gavin McKenna has started to make his mark on the Maple Leafs power play, and not just as a passenger. His recent work on the man advantage helped set up a key goal, and the young forward has stood out with the kind of speed and playmaking that can change the look of a unit in a hurry. For a club always searching for more juice with the extra skater, that kind of performance tends to get noticed quickly.
Jim Hiller said McKenna has earned the power-play time hes getting, and the way he has played has opened the door to more responsibility if he keeps producing. The bigger question, of course, is how the group will look once John Tavares is back in the mix. Toronto will have to sort out who fits where, and McKennas current run has at least made the discussion more interesting than it looked a short time ago. [Read more 🡒]