The Toronto Maple Leafs announce that forward Kirill Marchenko is week‑to‑week after a lower‑body injury in the loss to Calgary on Oct. 27. Fans say Marchenko told them he expects to return in two weeks, though the team has not yet confirmed. The 24‑year‑old has six goals and 14 points in 14 games since his trade to Toronto. Coach Jim Hiller also notes Chris Tanev moves to day‑to‑day and could play Saturday in Vancouver, while John Tavares, Nick Blankenburg and Marshall Rifai remain week‑to‑week. With Marchenko out, top‑draft pick Gavin McKenna will be promoted to the top line with Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic.
In today’s NHL rumors rundown, the Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres join the Dylan Larkin sweepstakes. Does either team have a shot at landing him? Meanwhile, the Edmonton Oilers are…
The Leafs announce a new starting lineup for Wednesday’s game against the Seattle Kraken: rookie Gavin McKenna moves up to the top line with captain Auston Matthews and Jack Roslovic, while Chris Tanev returns to practice in a regular jersey but remains day‑to‑day after an upper‑body injury suffered on Oct. 10. Defenseman Kirill Marchenko is also listed week‑to‑week with a lower‑body issue. The second, third, and fourth lines stay unchanged, and Sergei Bobrovsky is projected as the starter in goal.
Maple Leafs forward Kirill Marchenko is listed week‑to‑week after a lower‑body injury sustained in Monday’s loss to the Calgary Flames, where he was knocked off the puck by Yegor Sharangovich. The 26‑year‑old has tallied six goals and 14 points in 14 games and is a key part of Toronto’s power‑play unit. Coach Jim Hiller warns the absence is a concern as the team also deals with injuries to Chris Tanev (upper‑body, day‑to‑day), John Tavares and Marshall Rifai (both week‑to‑week), and Nick Blankenburg. With several top‑six forwards sidelined, Gavin McKenna may see a bigger role as Toronto heads to Seattle on Wednesday.
A week after the Vancouver Canucks traded for Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr (in exchange for Aatu Räty), both prospects have debuted in the organization. Quillan scored in each of his first two AHL games with the Abbotsford Canucks, playing alongside Ty Mueller and Bennett Schimek and earning special‑teams minutes. The Nova Scotia native, an undrafted free agent who posted 19‑17 goals and 38‑46 points in his last two NCAA seasons at Quinnipiac, says he feels “wanted” in Vancouver after Toronto’s new management moved on. Quillan promises to play a fast, physical 200‑foot game in any situation, from PK to power play.
When the Toronto Raptors play the Orlando Magic, will they have Kawhi Leonard available to them?
Four games, two road teams on the second night of a back-to-back, and starting goalies still up in the air in most of them. Everything you need before puck drop.
The Raptors open October without Kawhi Leonard, who faces weeks on the bench after a swollen left knee MRI shows no structural damage, leaving Toronto to test the depth of players like Ja’Kobe Walter, Collin Murray‑Boyles, Allen Graves, Kyle Anderson, Scottie Barnes and RJ Barrett. Meanwhile, the Mavericks must decide by Monday whether to pick up Zaccharie Risacher’s $17.4 million 2027‑28 option despite his 30.8% shooting, as his defense—eight steals and eight blocks in four games—offers promise. In Houston, Alperen Sengün suffers a mild back strain that could sideline him for a few games, prompting the Rockets to adjust their scoring and playmaking until he returns.
Ahead of game No. 15 against the Seattle Kraken, the Leafs Morning Take preview tackles Toronto’s 5-2 loss in Calgary and the looming leadership questions raised by veteran analyst John Shannon. While the Leafs hold a 7-2-1 edge over Seattle, Shannon remains skeptical about a cultural shift and on‑ice leadership, critiquing Sergei Bobrovsky’s play and the emerging role of Anthony Stolarz. The show also previews increased minutes for rookie Gavin McKenna, assesses Bobby McMann’s impact after his trade, and weighs Jim Hiller’s early coaching moves and John Chayka’s roster changes. A full recap follows Thursday.
The Calgary Flames marked their fourth straight victory and their fifth in six games after a 5-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Monday night. After the game, head…
Allen Graves’ effort and winning impact are already being recognized.
The early 2026‑27 NBA season has left three clubs drowning in bad vibes. The Miami Heat, despite landing Giannis Antetokounmpo and pairing him with Bam Adebayo, sit 0‑4 and have allowed over 110 points each game, with the offense still a mess. The Toronto Raptors, after two opening wins, lose Kawhi Leonard to knee swelling, dashing hopes for a quick return to form. The Sacramento Kings also sit winless, surrendering 120‑plus points per loss while coach Doug Christie battles a weak roster; rookie Darius Acuff Jr. shines with 21.5 points per game but can’t lift the team. These woes set a grim tone for the first month of the season.
The Seattle Kraken continue to look for a scoring winger and have some centers they could move. The Toronto Maple Leafs and next year's salary cap issue.
The Seattle Kraken continue to look for a scoring winger and have some centers they could move. The Toronto Maple Leafs and next year's salary cap issue.
Juan Guzman celebrates his 60th birthday. The Dominican right‑hander debuted with the Toronto Blue Jays in June 1991 and posted a stellar rookie season (10‑3, 2.99 ERA) before helping the Jays win back‑to‑back World Series titles in 1992 and 1993, earning All‑Star honors and multiple ALCS wins. After a decline in the mid‑90s, he rebounded in 1996 with a league‑leading 2.93 ERA, but injuries and a shoulder tear ended his career after a brief stint with Tampa Bay in 2000. Guzman finished 91‑79 with a 4.08 ERA over ten seasons, remembered for his high strikeout ability and wildness.
Maple Leafs GM John Chayka signals he’s ready to make a blockbuster trade for a top‑pair defenseman, despite tight cap space. He could part with assets like Colorado’s 2027 first‑round pick, prospects Tinus‑Luc Koblar and Alexander Bilecki, and possibly a veteran blueliner such as Oliver Ekman‑Larsson, Morgan Rielly, or Jake McCabe. The article lists nine potential impact defensemen, from Norris‑trophy winner Zach Werenski (Columbus) to Roman Josi (Nashville) and Filip Hronek (Vancouver), outlining contractual hurdles, team situations, and how each could upgrade Toronto’s struggling blue line. Readers get a clear view of who’s on the radar and what the Leafs might have to give up.
Game Four of the NBA season pits the Toronto Raptors (2-1, top defensive rating) against the injury‑hit Orlando Magic (1-2). The Raptors lost to Minnesota after Kawhi Leonard’s exit and saw Scottie Barnes go 0‑for‑12, while RJ Barrett remains perfect in 20‑plus‑point games. Orlando, fresh off a win over the Knicks, is without Jalen Suggs, Paolo Banchero and Jonathan Isaac. Both teams struggle offensively, and Toronto’s star is still out, making the matchup a defensive showdown at Scotiabank Arena on Oct. 28, tip‑off 7:30 p.m. ET (TSN/TSN+).
The Raptors head into Wednesday’s showdown with the Orlando Magic missing Kawhi Leonard, who is sidelined with left‑knee swelling. The article revisits Toronto’s 17‑5 record without Leonard in 2019, noting ten wins came against Eastern opponents—nine of them non‑playoff teams—while all five losses were to playoff clubs. With the Magic also shorthanded (Paolo Banchero out 4‑6 weeks, Jalen Suggs out at least two), the piece breaks down the Raptors’ past performance without their star and highlights how those trends could shape the upcoming Eastern‑conference clash.
Kawhi Leonard confirms he will miss several weeks with knee swelling but no structural damage, posting a personal tweet thanking fans and pledging a quick return. Raptors officials echo the update, noting a reassessment within a week. In his absence, RJ Barrett expects a larger offensive role, while rookie Ja’Kobe Walter delivered 22 points and two steals as a starter against Minnesota. The team will experiment with lineups, especially against the shorthanded Orlando Magic, as they gauge how to cope without Leonard’s spacing. Transparency from Leonard and Toronto may keep fans reassured during his load‑management stint.
Last season, it was a feeling out process for Toronto Maple Leafs forward Easton Cowan. He made the roster out of camp as a rookie and had his high and…
The Calgary Flames extended their Pacific Division winning streak to four games with a 5-2 triumph over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Oct. 27, 2026. Rookie forward Matvei Gridin stole the spotlight, netting his third goal of the season and the game-winner, while adding an assist for a total of four goals and six points over the past four home games. Backlund’s second‑period tally tied him with Johnny Gaudreau for fourth in franchise scoring, and Joel Farabee posted a point‑per‑game pace. Goaltender Devin Cooley earned his fourth straight win, stopping 26 of 28 shots (0.929 SV%). The only blemish was a low face‑off win rate and a 1‑of‑5 power‑play conversion.
Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos says Morgan Rielly could be the salary‑balancing piece if Toronto adds a defenseman in a blockbuster trade. The 32‑year‑old defenseman is under an eight‑year, $60 million deal ($7.5 million cap hit through 2029‑30) with about $2.4 million of cap space available. Rielly’s no‑move clause has loosened, and GM Kyle Dubas (Chayka) hints a deal similar to the Knies‑for‑Marchenko swap is on the table. The Leafs sit 7‑5‑2, Rielly records 0‑10‑0, –1 plus/minus in 14 games.
The Montreal Canadiens are showing strong statistical improvement, boosting shot share, high‑danger chances and expected goals. Rookie goalie Jacob Fowler recorded his second shutout of the season, stopping all 46 shots against the St. Louis Blues, while Florian Xhekaj and Mike Matheson also had standout performances. Cole Caufield’s Heritage Classic warm‑up perspective is highlighted, and a persistent Dylan Larkin trade rumor is dismissed as a non‑story. With Nick Suzuki sidelined for 2‑4 weeks, the team looks to Kirby Dach, Oliver Kapanen and Alex Newhook to step up. The roundup also notes Connor Hellebuyck’s debut with the Devils ending Dallas’s win streak and the Maple Leafs’ 5‑2 loss to Calgary, which included an injury to Kirill Marchenko.
Kawhi Leonard has been accused of bailing on the Raptors.
Former NHLer Jason Demers says captain Auston Matthews is spearheading the Toronto Maple Leafs’ resurgence in 2026‑27. After a 7‑5‑2 start, Matthews leads with nine goals and 11 assists, ranking sixth league‑wide in points. Demers praises Matthews as a potential 60‑goal scorer and notes his leadership is driving the team toward the playoffs. He also highlights rookie Easton Cowan’s breakout 13‑point run and Kirill Marchenko’s steady 14 points in 14 games before a lower‑body injury. The analysis underscores how these key contributors are reshaping Toronto’s early‑season narrative.