Leafs

John Tavares is now a left winger after Ryan O'Reilly joined the Maple Leafs in a trade. Luke Fox asked Tavares and Sheldon Keefe about the change and why ...

Superstars Matthews and Marner were the only ones to take the option. And I just like the ability to go right to it here now. “Making sure I’m not getting too stuck on the walls and (still) finding those opportunities to come off and create chances,” he said. • Ilya Samsonov is feeling better after dealing with a stomach bug over the weekend. “O’Reilly has been really positive, considering the circumstances of when the trade happened and right into a tough back-to-back. “He’s done a really good job, first of all, of embracing it and going with it. Sandin will practice Thursday and may be available Friday versus Minnesota. Tavares says the topic didn’t arise this season until Saturday morning, when O’Reilly was already on a flight from St. And the advantage is, it’s less of a workload. The head coach’s mind seldom stops churning over line combinations and optimal situational deployment in the quietest of times. Tavares was happy to accommodate. Plopping the new guy alongside two established leaders also eases the transition and makes O’Reilly feel top-six importance as the Leafs head into their stretch run.

We also can't put much stock into the line combinations. They will change and evolve down the stretch. After the trade, Sheldon Keefe was quick to mention ...

I’m not sure if they can score much, but I think they can keep the puck out of the Leafs’ net and also be a pain in the ass for opponents to play against. Dubas probably needs to add on defense still, and if the core shrinks in the playoffs again, I think he has to wear some of it (he has actively decided to stick by them, obviously). He can play the left and right sides, and when he keeps it simple in limited minutes, he can be effective. At the bottom of the lineup, he can bounce between center and wing, he can grind, he can chip in the odd goal, and he can even penalty kill a bit. Beyond them, the Mark Giordano – Justin Holl shutdown pairing is not particularly formidable, and the idea of a “kid” third pairing in the playoffs is worrisome. – It seems fairly obvious the Leafs really value Conor Timmins’ shot – and they try to get him on the power play when he’s in the lineup – but it is difficult to fit him in on the man advantage this season. Acciari also went to the Stanley Cup Finals with the Bruins and lost to Ryan O’Reilly and the Blues. Instead, it was much of the same before he loaded up the top forward with big minutes in the final minutes of the game. In the first game of the playoffs, John Tavares was knocked out of the series. If the power play is struggling again, is he actually going to take one of the “big four” off of it? This is going to be an important storyline for the rest of the season and playoffs. It’s never going to be perfect – and we’re always going to wonder “what if” on certain aspects – but without question, the coaching staff did a solid job for perhaps the first time in the playoffs.

Ryan O'Reilly clearly has a flair for the dramatic. The newly acquired Maple Leafs centre scored his first two goals for Toronto in rapid-fire fashion on ...

They both recorded assists on each of O'Reilly's first two goals before Tavares put Toronto 3-0 on a Marner goal. A former Sabre, O'Reilly was traded to the St. The goals put Toronto up 2-0.

Ryan O'Reilly scored his first three goals as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, completing a hat trick against the Buffalo Sabres.

Louis Blues on Feb 17 in a three-team trade that also involved the Minnesota Wild. Marner picked up an assist on all three goals. Ryan O'Reilly scored his first three goals as a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs on Tuesday, completing a hat trick against the Buffalo Sabres.

It's been a while since the Leafs have had a full practice. Ryan O'Reilly and Noel Acciari are heading into their third game with the Leafs and they still ...

BUFFALO — Noel Acciari's initial on-ice adjustment to playing for the Maple Leafs didn't have many hiccups.

“It’s awesome. “These mornings after a day off on the road, the 11:30 time slot, we’ve been having mandatory skates for a while. “I still can’t believe it,” O’Reilly said. They will have played three games before taking part in a full practice with their new teammates, though O’Reilly said he still catches himself when he remembers he is now wearing the blue and white. He’s definitely a good role model for those young guys.” “He never gives wingers a bad puck, never puts them in a bad spot. Okposo and O’Reilly were teammates with the Sabres from 2016-18. Acciari acknowledged there were discussions with the Leafs when he was a free agent. “We’re waiting on it, so that’s kind of an issue,” Acciari said. You don’t realize it until you see it first-hand.” Article content “I don’t know how she does what she does.

Newly acquired centre Ryan O'Reilly scored twice on Toronto's first two shots on net and added an empty-net goal in the Maple Leafs' 6-3 win over the ...

"Try not to overcomplicate it, but obviously a good opportunity for me," Tavares said before the game. Set up by Marner again, O'Reilly broke in alone and backhanded a shot, beating Luukkonen on the short side 37 seconds later. Louis, O'Reilly scored 37 seconds apart in an opening period the Maple Leafs led 4-0 on goals scored in a span of 8:18.

BUFFALO — Toronto Maple Leafs captain John Tavares hasn't consistently played on the wing since he last played with Ryan Getzlaf and Steven Stamkos for ...

As the postseason races heat up and the trade deadline approaches, the NHL is only getting more intense, and this past weekend was no exception.

[Kraken](https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/teams/SEA/seattle-kraken/) [Rangers](https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/teams/NYR/new-york-rangers/) at Capitals [Kings](https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/teams/LA/los-angeles-kings/) at Islanders [Golden Knights](https://www.cbssports.com/nhl/teams/LV/vegas-golden-knights/) The Stars and Golden Knights are currently tied for the most points (72) in the Western Conference and both have a lofty ceiling. Late in the second period, O'Reilly recorded his first point in Toronto with a nice secondary assist on a goal by [Michael Bunting](/nhl/players/2197812/michael-bunting/). [Patrick Kane](/nhl/players/1240390/patrick-kane/) generated a lot of interest on Sunday with an excellent performance against those Maple Leafs. 21: The Maple Leafs made a huge splash by acquiring Ryan O'Reilly and are attempting to position themselves to finally make it out of the opening round of the playoffs. The first outdoor NHL game in North Carolina was a rousing success. That sent Raleigh into a frenzy, and the atmosphere never died down the rest of the night. Bergeron choked up on his stick and laid down a bunt into the back of the net. Bergeron processes the game quicker than the other players on the ice, and he used his elite awareness to tally a goal over the weekend.

Bryan Hayes and Jamie McLennan are joined by TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston to discuss if the Maple Leafs are done dealing prior to the trade deadline ...

We’re answering the hockey questions that no one asked. A hockey podcast that doesn’t talk about last night’s scores. [LISTEN NOW](/duthie) [Beauties](https://omny.fm/shows/beauties)

Tavares has seen shifts on the wing with the Leafs. Sometimes coach Sheldon Keefe will load up a top line with Tavares on the left side of Auston Matthews and ...

"The fact that he wanted to get out there today and was able to move around a bit is a positive sign," said Keefe. "That's something I wanted to work on in the off-season and still work on in it during practices as well," Bunting said, "kind of being a threat farther away from the net instead of being right in front of the net. "A hard day in the s--tter," he said. He's going to be in and around the net, but the more versatile you can be as a scorer, it helps you, of course. "He went to Newman a little before me," said Bunting. "For me, it's pretty cool and just a lot of fun to have that challenge." "I was kind of curling back there and had a bit of speed," Marner recalled. "I don't know about that," the 20-year-old said with a laugh. "It's going to be fun," the Mississauga, Ont. "I have to continue to do a good job of adapting to a lot of wall play," Tavares said. When we get the puck back, it's going to take probably another game or so or a couple practices to really find our rhythm there and finding each other throughout the middle of the ice, through the slot and the O-zone." "It's less of a workload," Keefe noted.

He was selected by the Avs with the 33rd overall pick in the 2009 NHL Draft - a class highlighted by former New York Islander and now-linemate John Tavares. O' ...

"Just to get on the board like that, to contribute tonight, get the first one out of the way … “They were just at their best from the start,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “I still haven’t had a full practice with the team yet, which is kind of weird.

Score: Sabres 3 | Laffs 6. Shots: BUF 32 (8-11-13) | TOR 29 (15-8-6). Buffalo Sabres Goals: Jack Quinn (9), Alex Tuch (27), Jeff Skinner (22).

I asked to be put back into the rotation recently because a) we needed the help, and b) there have been some absolutely glorious spectacles to enjoy again this season. That in itself is a sign of maturity that the players are not just rolling over and playing dead late on in games that are essentially already decided. There is a counter-argument again that playoff tickets are that much more valuable in which case again, it’s hard to fault hardworking locals for trying to make some extra bank when an opportunity and willing buyers exist. Those last two games especially, Buffalo will need to ensure they get at the very least four points there to remain relevant. It’s an age-old debate - should we be judging the season ticket holders and game-going regulars for selling their tickets to Toronto fans, especially when just this one game alone can often cover the cost of an entire season ticket? Undoubtedly, if this match-up is repeated during the postseason then you could bet there would be more Buffalo fans in those seats. Once that third goal went in you knew he shouldn’t have been between the sticks tonight, and unfortunately when that inevitable fourth goal went in it was pretty much over. Someone on the Sabres roster better have circled March 13th on the calendar. His comment after the game though The youngster was probably left on for about five more minutes than he should have been in all honesty. The Sabres were crying out for a save early on here as starter Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen was hung out to dry in the crisp leafy breeze downtown. Welcome back to Buffalo, Ryan O’Reilly, drive safe on your way back home.

O'Reilly has centred the new line, which has moved Tavares to the wing for the first time in his long career.

After netting his third-career hat trick and finishing with four in points in the Toronto Maple Leafs' 6-3 win over the Buffalo Sabres Tuesday night, ...

"Just to get on the board like that, to contribute tonight, get the first one out of the way … “They were just at their best from the start,” Leafs coach Sheldon Keefe said. “I still haven’t had a full practice with the team yet, which is kind of weird.

Muzzin has been sidelined with a cervical spine injury since October, when the Maple Leafs said he would be re-evaluated in late February. General manager Kyle ...

The Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to address Jake Muzzin's future this week, according to TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger. "We have to make sure we are doing right by him. Muzzin has been sidelined with a cervical spine injury since October, when the Maple Leafs said he would be re-evaluated in late February.

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin is likely out for the rest of the NHL season, says TSN's Darren Dreger.

He has played 187 games, scoring 18 goals and 81 points, but the Leafs have yet to advance past the opening round of the Stanley Cup playoffs during his tenure. “[The injury is] not something you want to really mess around with,” Dubas said at the time to reporters. Expect the Toronto Maple Leafs to address Jake Muzzin’s future this week.

Ryan O'Reilly's hat trick performance helped lead the Toronto Maple Leafs to a victory over the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday night.

I think it’s gonna be a good one,” O’Reilly added. It was tremendous to see,” Leafs head coach Sheldon Keefe added. “It’s nice to be on this end of it,” O’Reilly added.

The Toronto Maple Leafs placed forward Joey Anderson on waivers on Wednesday. Florida Panthers forward Chris Tierney and Anaheim Ducks forward Justin ...

The 6-foot winger also has 14 goals and 27 points in 30 games with the Marlies this season. Anderson, 24, was last recalled from the AHL's Toronto Marlies on Jan. 23 and appeared in 14 games with the Maple Leafs this season, registering two goals and three points.

So far, the Maple Leafs have decided to load up their top-six with Ryan O'Reilly, but Sheldon Keefe has many other line combinations he could try out.

But a related thought to wing-shuffling is: if you want to create a bottom six that can actually produce offence instead of having two defensive units, would you bump a guy like Acciari up into the top six (who’s averaged over 15 minutes of ice time on good NHL teams before) strictly to keep guys like Kerfoot/Jarnkrok/Engvall available to play with O’Reilly and hopefully create a few goals away from the top competition? This is a more balanced approach, and that third line could be an absolutely smothering defensive unit with the potential to chip in (given they wouldn’t be in their own end much). This way he got to play a few games with team leaders, get to know them best, have some success against lesser teams, and start off feeling good within the group. My stance was two-fold: I think Tavares should be left playing centre and that the one-two-three punch maximizes their assets, but I could see what Keefe saw with the chemistry of “The Passion Line” as they’ll probably be called. The “trickle down” of two forward additions has created a “fourth” line of Aston-Reese – Acciari – Kerfoot and they are a force (probably closer to a second line on most non-playoff teams). They would have info, but at the end of the day, there’s still a handful of people going “Here’s what I like and why” and someone else saying “See I prefer this instead.”

Muzzin has not played since Oct. 17, when he sustained the injury against the Arizona Coyotes.

And though he’s been missed on the ice, the team has always been more concerned about what’s best for Muzzin’s life outside of hockey. Muzzin remains around the team on a day-to-day basis, even traveling to road games. Muzzin missed the first week of training camp this season due to back discomfort and sustained two concussions within a month’s span last season. “We have to do what’s right for his long-term health. Then came another blow to the head area in October. “You’re always thinking about your health, and what’s really important,” he said.

The Leafs have placed Joey Anderson on waivers. This isn't a huge development. Given the fact that it's the trade deadline and there are going to be ...

The Atlantic Division in the NHL was already a hell gauntlet. With the Boston Bruins suddenly turning into a team of frost giants that can skate (then again ...

The only team to beat the Lightning in a series in three years had greater depth at forward and a generational talent in defense to make up for the deficit they had in goal. O’Reilly certainly helps, and while everyone went agog for the price, the picks, and middling prospect they gave up aren’t going to help the Leafs in the next two years before Matthews hits free agency and Toronto enters its event horizon. The Leafs have what looks like three second pairings, which is good in one sense but who is dominating a game when they need it? It was especially acute on the power play, where the Blues’ shooting percentage was cut in half with O’Reilly on the ice. The Leafs struck first during the weekend, trading a collection of draft picks and a middling prospect to the St. It’s just three teams right now, but for either the Tampa Bay Lightning or the Toronto Maple Leafs, they know they’re going to have to beat the other two to get far enough in the playoffs to consider it “a run.”