The Leafs’ 2026 draft class is already making waves. After selecting franchise‑centerpiece Gavin McKenna first overall, Toronto added Kitchener Rangers defenseman Alexander Bilecki at #60, who opened the OHL‑champion’s season with a goal and assist in an overtime loss, tallying 14 points in 13 games. Third‑round picks include Ethan MacKenzie (North Dakota), who recorded an assist in his first six collegiate games; winger Zac Olsen (Colorado College), who logs a goal and three assists in six outings; blueliner Måns Gudmundsson (Färjestad), now with three goals and seven assists in 12 games; and Finnish goalie Juuso Ainasto, posting a 2.57 GAA and .903 SV% in the U20 SM‑sarja. All five prospects are showing early promise for Toronto’s future.
After a 0‑5 start, the Calgary Flames rebound with a 5‑2 home win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 27, 2026. Young forward Matvei Gridin sparked the comeback, scoring twice—including a 25‑second power‑play goal off Zayne Parekh’s outlet pass—to give Calgary a 3‑0 lead. Captain Mikael Backlund added another, while Joel Farabee and Martin Pospisil sealed the victory with empty‑netters. Coach Ryan Huska credits a faster, simpler style for the turnaround, as the Flames improve to 5‑6‑0 after 11 games and aim for .500 against Edmonton next. The article highlights the team’s newfound confidence and Gridin’s celebratory “Griddy” dance.
The Toronto Maple Leafs’ four‑game winning streak ends with a 5‑2 loss to the Calgary Flames on Oct. 27, 2026, and the defeat deepens as top‑six forward Kirill Marchenko suffers a knee injury in the second period. Marchenko, who has tallied six goals and 14 points in 14 games, left after a brief return attempt, with doctors suspecting an MCL sprain that could sideline him for a day‑to‑two weeks or up to three weeks. With John Tavares also out, the Leafs face a short‑term shortage of elite forwards, potentially opening a spot for Gavin McKenna.
The second Kawhi Leonard era for the Toronto Raptors is not off to a good start.
Kawhi Leonard will miss at least four games for the Toronto Raptors after swelling in his left knee forced him out of Sunday’s matchup in Minnesota. An MRI shows no structural damage, but doctors will keep him in rehab and re‑evaluate him in a week. Leonard, who returned to Toronto in a blockbuster trade and signed a two‑year, $115 million extension, has helped the Raptors sprint to a 2‑1 start, winning both games he started. His next absence includes back‑to‑back games vs. Orlando, then trips to Los Angeles and the Clippers, testing the team without their star early in the season.
The Toronto Raptors announce that All‑Star forward Kawhi Leonard will miss at least a week to treat swelling in his left knee, despite imaging showing no acute damage. Leonard, who played 65 games last season after a long injury history in his right knee, was held out of the 117‑94 loss to Minnesota, marking his first absence of the 2026‑27 campaign. He will be re‑evaluated next Tuesday and will miss the Nov. 2 Clippers game at the Intuit Dome. The move follows his high‑profile trade from LA, where he took a $700,000 fine but no suspension, and a new two‑year, $115 million extension with Toronto.
Under 20 games into their 2026-27 season the Toronto Maple Leafs are seeing injuries pile up on their back end. First it was Chris Tanev, followed by injuries to Marshall…
Kawhi Leonard is slated to miss several weeks after his left knee swelled during a pre‑game warm‑up on Oct. 27, 2026. An MRI showed no structural damage, but the Raptors will begin a rehab program and reevaluate him in a week. Leonard, who has averaged 19.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals in Toronto’s first two games, was ruled out hours before the Sunday night matchup with Minnesota. The injury forces the Raptors to rely on Scottie Barnes and other players ahead of upcoming contests against the Magic, Lakers, Nuggets and key division rivals.
Raptors Republic checks in on former Toronto players as the 2026‑27 NBA season kicks off. DeMar DeRozan, now a bench scorer for the Denver Nuggets, posts 15.3 points per game and enters Sixth Man talk. Fred VanVleet returns from an ACL tear with the Houston Rockets, averaging 8.3 points, seven assists in 30 minutes. Norman Powell scores 19.5 points for the Chicago Bulls but shoots just 36.5% overall. OG Anunoby struggles early for the New York Knicks, logging 17.3 points while shooting below his usual percentages. The piece tracks how these familiar faces are adapting to new roles and teams.
With an NHL team's performance on the power play and penalty kill sometimes proving to be a make-or-break factor in their success, which special teams units around the league have put together strong starts?
Auston Matthews says untimely penalties doomed Toronto’s 4‑game win streak, as the Maple Leafs fell to the Calgary Flames on Oct. 27, 2026. Matthews recorded one assist, two third‑period penalties—including a costly delay‑of‑game for a glove‑touch faceoff at the start of a power play—and admits he didn’t fully grasp the rule. He praises teammate Easton Cowan’s response and notes forward Kirill Marchenko’s lower‑body injury, leaving the roster shorthanded. Matthews emphasizes collective responsibility and urges the group to step up in the upcoming games.
The Calgary Flames crush the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Oct. 27, 2026. Matvei Gridin leads the way with two goals and an assist, joining Mikael Backlund’s early marker to give Calgary a 3-0 lead. Toronto fights back with goals from Easton Cowan and William Nylander, but the Flames seal the win with late scores from Luke Farabee and Martin Pospisil. The Flames outshoot the Leafs 34‑28, dominate the boards 24‑23, and finish with a .929 save percentage from rookie netminder Devin Cooley. Calgary (5‑6‑0) remains last in the Pacific, while Toronto (7‑5‑2) holds third in the Atlantic.
Former Illinois standouts Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. are fueling the Minnesota Timberwolves’ hot 2026‑27 start. Minnesota wins its first three games by 20‑plus points before a 127‑125 setback to Cleveland. Off the bench, Dosunmu averages 12 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4 assists, posting 16 points vs. Miami and a near‑triple‑double vs. Orlando. Shannon hits double figures in each of four games, with 15 points against Toronto and 14 vs. Cleveland, averaging 13 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.5 assists. Their early contributions position Minnesota as a Western Conference contender.
The Raptors cutting ties with Jonathan Mogbo is looking like ot may not age well, as he thrives in Sacramento while Toronto searches for backup big answers.
The Calgary Flames crush the Toronto Maple Leafs 5-2 on Oct. 27, 2026, highlighted by rookie Matvei Gridin’s two spectacular goals. Goalie Devin Cooley delivers a league‑best performance with multiple highlight‑reel saves, while Martin Pospisil dominates possession (87.26% CF%). The young squad’s depth shines as all four lines contribute, and the special‑teams unit shuts down Toronto’s power play. Gridin’s 78.67% xGF% and an empty‑net tally cap a night of dominant transition play and solid defensive pairings, marking the Flames’ best outing of the season.
The Toronto Maple Leafs had a night to forget in Calgary, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Flames after a game filled with turnovers, defensive breakdowns and missed chances. Head…
In this edition of The Hockey News Morning Skate, Eric Cruikshank and Michael Traikos break down Devin Cooley's impressive run with the Calgary Flames, Zach Hyman's injury in the Edmonton Oilers' shootout loss to the Detroit Red Wings, and more.
The Calgary Flames stayed hot on Monday night. In an all-Canadian matchup at the Saddledome with the Toronto Maple Leafs in town, the Flames were able to put forth yet…
The Philadelphia Flyers host the Columbus Blue Jackets tonight, aiming to snap a losing streak against the Metropolitan Division’s lowest‑ranked team. Defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen is sidelined for at least two weeks with a re‑aggravated hand injury, prompting rookie Hunter McDonald to step up under coach Rick Tocchet, who is also leaning on Travis Sanheim. Trade chatter swirls around 22‑year‑old winger Ivan Miroshnichenko, a potential add‑on after his stint with the Capitals. Meanwhile, the Flyers’ 2023 draft class—Matvei Michkov, Oliver Bonk, Denver Barkey, and Cole Knuble—are already contributing, with goaltender Yegor Zavragin still pending. Elsewhere, the Hurricanes sign Alexander Nikishin, and the Flames upset the Maple Leafs.
Zach Hyman needed help exiting the game. Kirill Marchenko leaves with a lower-body injury. Thomas Chabot might be in the lineup tonight.
Zach Hyman needed help exiting the game. Kirill Marchenko leaves with a lower-body injury. Thomas Chabot might be in the lineup tonight.
Los Angeles Kings veteran defenseman Drew Doughty reveals he wants to stay in LA and play past age 40, despite being told the club won’t extend his contract this season. He expects a team‑friendly deal worth $3‑5 million in cap hit after his current $11 million AAV contract expires, and says he feels better than in the past two seasons. GM Ken Holland hasn't finalized anything yet, and a trade before the March deadline could see the Toronto Maple Leafs showing strong interest.
Toronto Maple Leafs GM John Chayka confirms he’s open to another blockbuster trade, echoing the recent Matthew Knies‑Kirill Marchenko swap. He stresses no player is "untradeable," even promising winger Easton Cowan, a 21‑year‑old 28th‑overall pick who’s posted six goals and 13 points in 14 games. While Chayka says a top‑four defenseman could be moved for a premium asset, he emphasizes internal defensive development and notes the team has $2.4 M in cap space. The Leafs sit 7‑4‑2, riding a four‑game win streak.
Kevin Porter Jr., recently waived by the Milwaukee Bucks after posting 17 points, seven assists and two steals per game, is unlikely to be a fit for the Toronto Raptors. Despite his on‑court production, his documented history of legal trouble—including a misdemeanor assault and harassment plea tied to alleged domestic abuse—raises serious concerns. Raptors fans have voiced frustration with point guard Immanuel Quickley, but the article warns that Porter’s past volatility could disrupt the team’s locker‑room chemistry, which the Raptors prioritize. The piece argues the Raptors should avoid adding Porter to their roster as they pursue a playoff push.
Toronto forward Easton Cowan admits his turnover and a late‑period penalty directly led to Calgary's go‑ahead and third goals in the Leafs' 5-2 loss on Oct. 27, 2026. Despite opening the game with a goal, Cowan’s errors sparked a 2‑on‑1 and a power‑play goal, prompting him to say, “I cost us the game.” The defeat also highlighted early trouble from Sergei Bobrovsky and a strong performance by Flames forward Matvei Gridin (two goals, an assist). Toronto aims to bounce back Wednesday in Seattle against the Kraken.