The Toronto Maple Leafs have turned their penalty kill into one of the most dangerous parts of their game, and the numbers are backing it up in a big way.
Through 11 games, Toronto is sitting atop the NHL at 97.4% on the penalty kill. The only power-play goal the Leafs have given up came against the Nashville Predators, and since then they’ve erased 27 straight penalties. That mark gives them the second-best rate through the first 11 games in NHL history, and it’s the first time they’ve led the league in that category since 1993-94, per Sportsnet stats.
What makes this stretch stand out is that it’s not just surviving. It’s dictating.
Assistant coach John Gruden has helped take a unit that was already strong and sharpen it into something faster, tighter and more disruptive. Jake McCabe and Chris Tanev have anchored the group, while offseason additions Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, Nick Paul, Brandon Duhaime and even Easton Cowan have all played their part.
The common thread has been pressure. They’re taking away space, leaning on puck carriers and making life miserable for any power play trying to settle in.
The Leafs are moving quicker in every sense. Their feet are faster, their sticks are faster, and their reads are cleaner.
They’re collapsing with purpose, closing off lanes before plays can develop, and staying patient enough to avoid the kind of breakdowns that have hurt them in past seasons. Instead of chasing and getting caught, they’re holding their shape and forcing opponents toward the outside.
Even when the situation gets messy, Toronto has been first to loose pucks and sharp enough to clear the zone without giving anything up. The aggression is there, but so is the discipline. That balance has kept the Leafs from being exposed while still allowing them to stay active and force secondary pressure.
And when the chance is there, they’re not just killing time - they’re turning defense into offense.
Toronto already has 11 shots for on the penalty kill, which ranks sixth in the league per Natural Stat Trick, and it has one short-handed goal. Easton Cowan scored that one against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The sequence started when Cowan converged between two Blue Jackets players and forced Sean Monahan into a turnover. Oliver Ekman-Larsson then recovered the puck and sent a crisp breakout pass to Cowan at the offensive blue line.
Cowan walked in and fired it past Jett Greaves to make it 4-1.
Those kinds of plays are what make this penalty kill more than just a defensive success story. The Leafs are reading the ice well, making smart decisions and jumping on mistakes fast enough to create real chances the other way.
That’s why this unit has become such a weapon early in the season. It’s not only stopping goals. It’s changing games.
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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
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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 🡒]