Toronto Maple 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.

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.

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.

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.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Thoughts on O'Reilly's Usage + Sabres Game Preview . It's going to be a super fun game as the Maple Leafs take on.

In this case, the Leafs have an advantage over every single team in the NHL’s 4th line. He is the perfect partner in crime for O’Reilly, and it will be interesting to see how long Keefe goes without realizing that. The fact is, Tavares/Marner do not need help, and only a truly elite upgrade would make a difference anyways. Kerfoot is an expensive fourth line option, but also just an incredible piece of depth at that position. The Leafs will once again be going with Ryan O’Reilly on the left wing. Engvall has untapped offensive talent, and is elite defensively.

If you aren't among the many planning to be inside the arena, keep in mind that this game is only being shown on ESPN+ and Hulu.

If you aren't among the many planning to be inside the arena, keep in mind that this game is only being shown on ESPN+ and Hulu. - Tuesday, March 7 at New York Islanders, 7:30 p.m. - Saturday, March 25 at Islanders, 5 p.m. Just remember to cancel before the months ends or else you will be charged another $9.99. Just remember to cancel before the 30 days or you will be charged $14.99 per month. - Tuesday, March 6 vs.

If the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres score the way we're hoping they will tonight, there should be plenty of options for building a same-game...

The winger has cashed on this prop in 10 of his past 13 games, posting 14 points in that span. The Leafs did not have their best fastball on that night, but they still slid five pucks past Sabres goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen on 23 shots. Tuch has a career-high 59 points in just 54 games, thriving on Buffalo’s top line. But the 26-year-old is under contract with the Sabres for a while longer, and they should be motivated to keep him thanks to this year’s breakout campaign. The addition of Ryan O’Reilly has bumped Tavares to the second-line wing — and that’s not a demotion. Neither team should have too much issue generating offence, but the Maple Leafs could take greater advantage against a team that struggles at home.

The addition of Ryan O'Reilly to the Toronto Maple Leafs' lineup adds a player who can be a difference-maker when push comes to shove.

If we were to vote, it would be to spread the offense over three lines. It will be interesting to see what line combinations Keefe ultimately decides on over the next week or so. On the plus side, keeping O’Reilly in the top-six makes those two lines much improved. Giving O’Reilly his own line would also leave the Matthews, Nylander, and Bunting line intact. That move would spread the offense over three lines. If Keefe decided to load up the top-six unit, he could keep O’Reilly alongside Tavares and Marner. But determining the best fit for O’Reilly might be a bit more difficult. There are questions that need to be answered as to where the two players will fit in. The fourth line has been dynamite in the two games they have been together. O’Reilly has one assist in the two games, but that was as part of the second power-play unit. The results for those two games have been a bit of a mixed bag. He’s a rare commodity in the NHL, a player whose

Toronto is led in scoring by William Nylander, who has potted 31 goals so far this season. Nylander finds himself in a tie with Mitch Marner for the most points ...

[@BetfredSports](https://twitter.com/betfredsports)) and download the Betfred Sportsbook App. Tage Thompson leads Buffalo in goals with 36 and points with 71 in 54 games. While Buffalo is accustomed to winning the high-scoring slug fests, the Leafs have been energized following the acquisition of Noel Acciari and Ryan O’Reilly. Buffalo comes into tonight with a 28-22-4 record (60 points) and are fifth in the Atlantic. Nylander finds himself in a tie with Mitch Marner for the most points on the team with 66 points each. The Leafs sit 15 points behind the Boston Bruins for first place, and three points ahead of the Tampa Bay Lightning with two more games played.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are on the cusp of something special. If they go all-in, there are some beautiful trades that will help them capture a Cup.

Toronto has options, but they need to spend wisely on finding the right player(s) to help them win now. This gives the Leafs time to dig deep into their pockets and pay for someone that makes them a true Stanley Cup contender. To save it, he needs to be willing to sacrifice future assets and chase a ring.

If you've spent any time arguing hockey recently, there's an age-old complaint about how the NHL's playoff format has screwed the Leafs over.

But at the very least, it’s something to argue about the next time you’re around the rink. For the first time since 2004, the Leafs were the home team for Game 1 of the playoffs with a full building of fans. But despite both being Original Six franchises, the teams actually haven’t faced off in the playoffs against each other since 1971. But if the Eastern Conference exited in its traditional format, Toronto would’ve hosted Washington in the first round. In the regular season, Toronto walked through the all-Canadian North Division, the team’s first division title win since 2000. Boston finished first in the Eastern Conference for the season, while Toronto’s regular season record was its weakest since drafting Matthews first overall in 2016. With the NHL opting for a 24-team postseason, surely this would be the year Toronto could shake their playoff demons. This one was a little different, as the Leafs fell 5-1 in the decisive game taking place at Boston’s TD Garden. What a matchup this would’ve been. But four goals by the Bruins, including two from Jake DeBrusk, gave Boston a 7-4 victory and Toronto a heck of a lot of heartbreak. There are few feel-good losses in the NHL playoffs, but Toronto appeared to be just around the corner from going on a deep playoff run after a strong showing with a young team. However, that also existed in a six-division NHL, whereas there are just four under the current league alignment.)

Late last week, the Toronto Maple Leafs made a trade with the St. Louis Blues that no one saw coming. There is a sense that Dubas isn't finished yet.

He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in the seventh round of the 2014 NHL draft with the 210th overall pick. He has three goals and seven assists for ten points in 55 games. Nick Seeler is a 29-year-old left-shooting defenseman currently playing with the Philadelphia Flyers. He was drafted by the Columbus Blue Jackets in the second round of the 2016 NHL draft with the 34th overall pick. Middleton is under contract until the end of the 2024-25 season. He can play 20 minutes a game if needed, and he has 120 blocked shots and 119 hits this season.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.

Here he was, about 96 hours after he and center Noel Acciari had been traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs by the St. Louis Blues, and he already had five points ( ...

That style produced his first goal with the Maple Leafs in a 5-3 loss at the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday and has sent a message to the team's other bottom-six forwards that there will be competition for playing time. O'Reilly opened the scoring with his first two goals with the Maple Leafs, those coming 37 seconds apart, and Tavares extended Toronto's advantage 2:46 later. Given the fact there is a good chance the Maple Leafs will once again face the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Stanley Cup First Round, the strength at center will be key. O'Reilly's role as center on the line has pushed Tavares to left wing. He said he couldn't sleep after the trade was made official late Friday. If he so chooses, Keefe can move the captain back to center and put O'Reilly at center on the third line, replacing David Kampf. And it gives his teammates, the coaching staff and management reason to be optimistic moving forward. The coup de grace: His fourth career NHL hat trick in a 6-3 Maple Leafs victory at the Buffalo Sabres on Tuesday, causing the thousands of Toronto fans who had made the two-hour drive south for the game to shower the rink with various headgear. "But I can tell you it's a lot of fun, that's for sure." When asked if he'd ever been on a line that had accrued that many in one game, he chuckled. Putting on this sweater and being on this team, I mean, I've still got to pinch myself at times." "It's been crazy but there's been a lot of adrenaline too," the 32-year-old center said.

The Toronto Maple Leafs have ruled out defenceman Jake Muzzin for the remainder of the 2022-23 season and playoffs.

"We have to make sure we are doing right by him. "It is not something you want to really mess around with," Dubas said. We got a lot of love for that man and I do, especially."

The Maple Leafs made the announcement Wednesday following a follow-up consultation on his cervical spine injury. to TSN's Darren Dreger, the Toronto Maple ...

Toronto Maple Leafs defenceman Jake Muzzin will not be returning to the lineup this season as he continues to recover from a cervical spine injury.

In a media availability with reporters earlier this month, Dubas said defenceman T.J. 17 in a collision with Arizona Coyotes forward Clayton Keller. Muzzin has registered 294 points (69 goals, 225 assists) and 399 penalty minutes in 683 regular-season NHL games with the Kings and Leafs. Often the team's locker-room conscience as a talented core looked to finally get over its playoff hump, Muzzin subsequently signed a four-year, US$22.5-million contract with the Leafs in February 2020 that carries a salary cap hit of $5.625 million through the end of next season. The bruising 34-year-old won the Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014 and was acquired by Toronto via trade in January 2019. "After follow-up consultation this month with various specialists, our medical staff have determined (Muzzin) has been ruled out for the rest of the 2022-23 regular season and playoffs as he recovers from a cervical spine injury," the Leafs said in a statement.

A rejuvenated Toronto Maple Leafs side are on the brink of 'breaking out' according to head coach Sheldon Keefe and new signing Ryan O'Reilly, ...

The Leafs beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-3, but even before the game, O'Reilly claimed that they were going to "take off" as a team. They've brought in Stanley Cup winner O'Reilly to change that, and there could be further movement before the trade deadline on March 3. The Leafs haven't won the Stanley Cup since 1967, but they'll want to overcome their unwanted play-off curse above anything. The Leafs found themselves 4-0 up inside the first period, with O'Reilly grabbing the opening pair. A three-team trade that also involved Minnesota Wild saw O'Reilly leave his position as Blues captain and head to the Leafs to play under head coach Sheldon Keefe. [The Leafs went all out to secure O'Reilly from St Louis Blues](https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/other-sports/american-sports/toronto-maple-leafs-trade-oreilly-29251953), as they gave up multiple draft picks to make one of their biggest trades in recent years.

People were quick to pounce on Sheldon Keefe's coaching decisions when the Toronto Maple Leafs lined up with John Tavares on the wing; maybe they're wrong.

Doing so with elite line mates will only serve to have him enter the playoffs in a confident mindset. Now, with all this said, it’s not to say that it’s a long-term move to have John Tavares floating on the Toronto Maple Leafs second-line left wing. [People were quick to pounce](https://editorinleaf.com/2023/02/21/usage-oreilly-toronto-maple-leafs/) on Sheldon Keefe’s coaching decisions when the Toronto Maple Leafs lined up with John Tavares on the wing.