#toronto-maple-leafs

#toronto-maple-leafs

Speaking to media after the game, head coach Craig Berube acknowledged Rielly's recent struggles, but said he has faith in the veteran to get back on track. "Tonight was a tough one," Berube said, per The Hockey News' David Alter. "I know that, but he's played some really good hockey for us this year. I'm not worried about it. I think he'll get back to the level he was at. I do believe that. That's kind of where I'm at with it."

Matt Benning is expected to make his season debut, based on Saturday's practice lines. Benning is projected to replace Philippe Myers in the lineup, and will slot in on the third defence pairing alongside Simon Benoit. Myers has struggled throughout the year, with a minus-8 rating and two points in 21 games. Toronto controls a woeful 40 percent of the expected goals when Myers has been on the ice at 5-on-5 this season via Natural Stat Trick, while his 4.23 goals against per 60 at 5-on-5 is the 8th-worst total in the NHL among skaters with 100 minutes or greater.

Marner, who the Leafs drafted in 2015, 4th overall, had nine productive seasons in Toronto, where, as part of the so- called 'core four', this elite playmaker produced 221 goals and 741 points in 657 games until last summer when he became a Golden Knight. Following last season, Marner, who was an unrestricted free agent, took the brunt of some heavy criticism on social media from fans and different Toronto media outlets for the team's disappointing early playoff exit against the Florida Panthers. For the past several years, Marner has taken a lot of blame for the team's playoff failures, and he decided it was time to move on.

On a Canadian Olympic lineup that found it necessary to overlook Connor Bedard, Wyatt Johnson, and Mark Schiefele, it's pretty hard to make a case for John Tavares making the team. Jon Cooper wanting his own guys (Hagel and Cirelli) comes with the advantage of familiarity so maybe that's understandable, but on a team that already has Cirelli finding it necessary to include Suzuki, Horvat, and Wilson seems like a commitment to two-way or physical play.

After all, they struggled to just an 18-15-6 record and often found themselves near the bottom of the standings, including the Atlantic Division basement for a little while. In order for the Maple Leafs to turn things around for the second half to give themselves a chance of still making the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there are three main areas that they will need to improve upon.

Nick Robertson made the most of an expanded role in the Toronto Maple Leafs' recent 4-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils, continuing a stretch of strong play that is becoming harder to overlook. Given increased ice time in the win, Robertson again delivered effective, consistent play, reinforcing the idea that he has earned an expanded role as coach Craig Berube evaluates his lineup options.

"It happened organically," DeBoer shared. "I was talking with a close friend of his and I just felt that I wanted to relay that message to him. Don't listen to the noise, keep doing what you're doing, there's no truth to this."

I thought it had a huge impact. I am not sure exactly what started it. I didn't ask him. But he took off a good player for five minutes. He is a good player himself, but those are just the things he is capable of doing. He is a big guy who can handle himself and is physical. I thought the guys really fed off it. We were really physical after that fight.

The Toronto Maple Leafs' season is still on the brink of completely falling apart. They have lacked a scoring touch that most are used to seeing from a team with high-end scorers. While GM Brad Treliving could roll the dice on making a move before or by the trade deadline to try and help salvage what's been a disappointing season so far, he could look to help improve the team, within the system, for next year.

Like I said, we talked this morning and everybody needs to step up, for sure. We might have a couple of different younger guys in there tonight, but the team game is what it's all about for us. When you have injuries like this, we don't know if Matthews is playing tonight, we need a really strong team game tonight. The team game can get you through it.

Pavel Zacha is exactly the kind of middle-six forward the Leafs should be calling ahead of the trade deadline this March. At 28 years old, he brings a combination of size, versatility, and offensive ability that would help a Leafs lineup desperately in need of secondary scoring and depth centre options. Zacha is under contract with the Bruins through 2027-28 with a $4.75 million average annual value, making him a mid-term asset for a team looking to compete now and in the near future.

Rifai is working his way back from wrist surgery that has kept him sidelined for the entire season to date, and was placed on waivers on Sunday in order to report back to the American Hockey League. The 27-year-old defenceman has played in one game for the Marlies this season and had 13 points in 63 games for the AHL squad in 2024-25.

The improvement just happens to sync with the return of Chris Tanev. Tanev returned to the lineup on December 23 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. And the Maple Leafs' defense looked overhauled. All of a sudden, the Leafs have a serviceable defense core. Tanev, along with waiver claim Troy Stecher, has added stability to the blue line. That's not hyperbole. The eye test confirms it. The Pittsburgh game was a good example.

As always, in season shopping is a bit more limited, and impulse buying has been a mistake in the past and accepting the best of inferior options is part of what has got the Leafs into their current predicament. Although Brad Treliving provided Craig Berube with a second vote of confidence on December 23, it probably doesn't hurt to at least know who is out there and if there is a potential fit for the Leafs on the coaching or managing side of the business.