With Chris Tanev sidelined, the Toronto Maple Leafs' defensive issues are under an even bigger microscope. Morgan Rielly's struggles continue, the Leafs need more from their defensive group, and the question is becoming more urgent: how can John Chayka find a solution with limited trade assets?

David Morassutti breaks down the Leafs' defensive concerns, explores the possibility of trading Anthony Stolarz and previews Toronto's first matchup of the season against the Buffalo Sabres.

In this episode:

• The blue-line problem: Why Tanev's absence has exposed Toronto's defensive weaknesses and why internal improvements might not be enough.
• Morgan Rielly under pressure: Can Rielly find his game under Jim Hiller, and how much responsibility falls on the rest of the defensive group?
• Finding a trade solution: What assets can Toronto realistically offer for a top-four defenceman? We examine the challenges facing John Chayka.
• Should the Leafs trade Anthony Stolarz? With the New York Rangers looking for goaltending help amid Igor Shesterkin's injury, we examine whether Stolarz could be a trade candidate — and why moving him may not make sense for Toronto.
• Past trades still haunt Toronto: Revisiting the Fraser Minten and Brandon Carlo deal, the cost of previous roster decisions and how those moves affect the Leafs' options today.
• Maple Leafs vs. Sabres preview: Tage Thompson is a player to watch, while Buffalo will be without Rasmus Dahlin. Can Toronto take advantage and deliver a stronger defensive performance?

The Leafs have shown they can score, but they need to tighten up defensively if they want to stay in the playoff picture. Can they make a statement against Buffalo?

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The Toronto Maple Leafs could not close out the Tampa Bay Lightning in Game 5 bringing on some anxious thoughts. Mike DiStefano and David Morassutti look at what went wrong for the Leafs and how they were finally brought back to earth a bit. They look at the Good,Bad and Ugly from the game breaking down everything from Ilya Samsonov's play, William Nylander and Morgan Rielly shining through the bad, Mitch Marner, Auston Matthews looking subpar and of course Justin Holl getting exposed yet again. To end the show, Mike and Dave look at what changes the Leafs should consider heading into Game 6 including whether Michael Bunting should come in and any other lineup changes Sheldon Keefe should consider.

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The Toronto Maple Leafs’ opening-night roster is starting to take shape — and there are some genuine surprises after the first wave of cuts.

Mike DiStefano and Dave Morassutti break down Toronto’s projected opening-night lineup after eight players were placed on waivers, including the surprising decision to move on from Steven Lorentz and the emergence of Zach McEwen as a potential fourth-line option. The guys also look at Beau Groulx making his case for an NHL roster spot and the battle on defence between Troy Stecher and Emil Andrae.

With Morgan Rielly and Darren Raddysh forming Toronto’s projected second pairing and Sergei Bobrovsky firmly established as the No. 1 goalie, the Leafs are starting to look a lot more like the team we’ll see when the regular season begins.

Then it’s time for the Friday Five Pack: whose stock went UP and whose stock went DOWN throughout training camp?

Auston Matthews and Chris Tanev are among the biggest risers, while Zach McEwen makes a surprise appearance after earning his way onto the roster. On the other side, Steven Lorentz and Emil Andrae see their stock fall, while the guys debate where Matthew Knies and Gavin McKenna stand after camp.

Plus, the NHL salary cap could be heading toward a massive jump by 2028-29.

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The Maple Leafs put a bow on the preseason with a pair of wins over the Ottawa Senators — and the final tune-up gave us plenty to talk about.

Mike DiStefano and Dave Morasuti break down Toronto’s 6-1 win at Scotiabank Arena, including another strong performance from Auston Matthews, who showed his burst, conviction and willingness to shoot while finding the scoresheet again. Gavin McKenna also continued to flash his elite skill, picking up his first preseason assist, while Easton Cowan stood out with his puck-carrying, playmaking and north-south game.

The guys also dive into Sergei Bobrovsky’s performance — and whether there is any real debate left about who should be Toronto’s No. 1 goalie. Bobrovsky made a huge glove save on Tim Stützle and looked composed whenever Ottawa tested him, strengthening the belief that he could take the bulk of the starts this season.

Plus, a look at Morgan Rielly and Darren Raddysh, the Leafs’ final blue-line decisions, Emil Andrae seemingly losing ground in the battle for a roster spot, and Toronto’s decision to ditch the traditional Muskoka trip for a team-bonding trip to Arizona.

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The NHL season is finally here, and it’s time to make our 2026-27 Toronto Maple Leafs predictions!

Mike DiStefano and Dave Morassutti go through their annual Leafs over/unders, including some BIG questions surrounding Auston Matthews, Gavin McKenna, William Nylander, Darren Raddysh and Sergei Bobrovsky.

Can Matthews get back to 50+ goals and 85+ points? Will William Nylander return to his 40-goal form? And can Gavin McKenna reach 60 points in his rookie season?

The guys also debate Darren Raddysh’s 60-point potential, how many starts and wins Sergei Bobrovsky will have, and whether the Maple Leafs can get past 95.5 points in the standings.

Plus, Nick Blankenberg signs a one-year deal with Toronto, the Leafs face a salary-cap crunch ahead of their final roster deadline, and the guys discuss what the Blankenberg signing means for Emil Andrae and Troy Stecher.

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On the eve of the NHL season opener, the Toronto Maple Leafs traded Matthew Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae, and a second-round pick to the Columbus Blue Jackets in a massive deal for Kirill Marchenko, Miles Wood and Elvis Merzlikins.

Mike DiStefano and Dave Morassutti break down the stunning trade and what it means for the Maple Leafs.

Why was Toronto willing to move on from Knies? What does Kirill Marchenko bring that the Leafs didn't have? The guys dive into Marchenko's elite speed, goal-scoring ability and play-driving skills — and whether he can take his game to another level playing alongside Auston Matthews.

The guys also hear directly from Locked On Blue Jackets host Jay Forster, who explains why Columbus was willing to move Marchenko, what Leafs fans should expect from their new forward and the biggest question surrounding his game.

Plus, the guys discuss the $12.5 million extension Marchenko signed with Toronto, what the deal could look like as the salary cap rises, the loss of Knies' physicality and whether the Leafs have gone too far toward skill and analytics.

Then it's time for Game 1 of 84!

The Maple Leafs open the season against the Montreal Canadiens with Marchenko potentially making his Toronto debut. Can Auston Matthews and his new linemate get the Leafs off to a winning start?

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The Toronto Maple Leafs opened the 2026-27 season with a 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens — and there were plenty of positives and concerns to take away from Game 1.

Mike DiStefano and Dave Morassutti break down the season opener, including a huge night from William Nylander, an impressive Toronto debut for Kirill Marchenko, and a strong performance from Easton Cowan.

But there were also some major concerns.

Darren Raddysh struggled in his first game as a Maple Leaf, turning the puck over five times and finishing with a minus-two rating. The guys also break down the Morgan Rielly-Raddysh pairing and whether the combination can work long-term.

Gavin McKenna also had a quiet NHL debut, finishing with one shot and a minus-two rating. Should the Leafs keep him on the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander, or give him a chance to ease into the NHL on the third line?

Plus, the guys discuss the early chemistry between Auston Matthews and Kirill Marchenko, the Leafs' struggling power play and why Cowan quickly earned more responsibility.

And with the Leafs right back in action against the New York Islanders, the guys preview Game 2 and discuss potential lineup changes, including Anthony Stolarz getting the start.

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This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

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THE COWBOY HAS ARRIVED! 🤠

The Toronto Maple Leafs picked up their first win of the season with a 2-1 victory over the New York Islanders — and Easton Cowan was the star of the show.

Mike DiStefano and Dave Morassutti break down Cowan’s outstanding performance, as he picked up an assist on Toronto’s opening goal before scoring the game-winner on the power play. His relentless forecheck, backchecking, puck battles and ability to create offense are making it harder and harder for Jim Hiller to keep him out of the top six.

Anthony Stolarz was also outstanding in his season debut, stopping 26 of 27 shots and making several huge saves to preserve the victory.

The guys also dive into Gavin McKenna’s second NHL game, Darren Raddysh’s bounce-back performance and why Toronto’s second power-play unit looked better than the star-studded first unit.

But there is one major concern: Auston Matthews still hasn't scored in two games. Is it time to start worrying about the Leafs captain, or does he simply need more time to find his game with two brand-new linemates?

Plus, the Leafs may not be done making moves. With Toronto opening up roughly $7 million in cap space, could John Chayka be preparing for another big addition — potentially on the blue line?

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FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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