Maple Leafs vs. Canadiens stay: Marchenko anticipated to play; Knies ‘shocked’ by timing of commerce; McKenna to make NHL debut

“We need to have the puck,” mentioned Matthews. “He (Hiller) has put loads of the emphasis on skating and the liberty to make performs, make the most of our ability. If you see one thing, attempt to make the play.

“Should you make a mistake or flip the puck over, simply get again on defence, work onerous, skate.”

The message appears easy sufficient, nevertheless it means the Leafs will play a distinct model of hockey from final season’s plodding dump-and-chase model.

“We’ve obtained plenty of pace on this workforce and also you need to make the most of that,” mentioned Matthews. “Play sensible as effectively. Have construction. However don’t be afraid to make these performs.”

It doesn’t imply they gained’t play defence.

“There’s a dedication to play with out the puck that everyone has to make,” mentioned Hiller. “It doesn’t matter what your expertise degree is. However when you’ve gotten the puck and you’ve got that kind of elite offence, we’re going to provide them some freedom and creativity to make use of these expertise.

“So I hope we strike a steadiness. I hope we’re onerous to play towards with out the puck. However I hope when now we have it, we see a few of that dynamism.”

Right here’s a more in-depth have a look at the 2026-27 Maple Leafs:

Vitals: 29 years previous, six-foot-three, 215 kilos.

Contract: Third season of a four-year extension. Cap hit: $13.25 million (U.S.). Full no-movement clause.

Final yr: Accidents restricted him to 60 video games and a career-low 27 targets, although he was wholesome sufficient to captain Staff USA to gold on the Winter Olympics. His 3.89 blocked photographs per 60 minutes was fifteenth amongst forwards, the opposite 14 of whom aren’t in the identical galaxy when it comes to star energy.

Storylines: How will his general well being maintain up? Can he be the Matthews of his MVP seasons? Will Hiller give him extra offensive zone begins than the earlier regime?

X-factor: It’s a make-or-break yr for Matthews.

Vitals: 30 years previous, six toes, 200 kilos.

Contract: Third season of an eight-year, $92-million deal. Cap hit: $11.5 million. Full no-movement clause.

Final yr: Accidents saved him to 65 video games, and dropped him to 30 targets, his lowest whole since scoring 17 occasions in 51 video games in a COVID-shortened 2020-21 season.

Storylines: How will he get on with the brand new teaching employees after an up-and-down relationship with Berube? Sits eighth in all-time factors as a Leaf (691) and will simply cross Frank Mahovlich (713) and Mitch Marner (741).

X-factor: He marches to the beat of his personal drum.

Vitals: 36 years previous, six-foot-one, 217 kilos.

Contract: Second season of a four-year deal value $17.56 million. Cap hit: $4.39 million. Full no-movement clause this yr. Restricted no-trade (five-team listing) for last two years of deal.

Final yr: No complaints about his potential to provide, with one other 30-plus objective, 70-plus level season. The minuses (-28) piled up.

Storylines: His health routine is known. Will he maintain up once more at his age? Will he convert to left wing? Has taken Gavin McKenna into his house.

Vitals: 32 years previous, six-foot-one, 200 kilos.

Contract: First yr of a two-year deal. Cap hit: $4.25 million.

Final yr: The long-time Nashville Predator earned a visit to the Stanley Cup last final yr, his solely season in Vegas. His pace bursts put him within the prime 16 per cent of skaters within the league.

Storylines: A defence-first proper winger (can play centre) who guarantees to steer the penalty kill. He’s not right here to attain.

X-factor: Performs easy and easy.

Vitals: 29 years previous, six-foot-one, 198 kilos.

Contract: First yr of a two-year deal. Cap hit: $4 million.

Final yr: With the Oilers, obtained to the 20-goal mark (21) for the second yr in a row and for the third time in a 10-year profession.

Storylines: Passing and pace are his strengths, and he ought to play with Matthews till Gavin McKenna is prepared. He and Matthews have been teammates on the U.S. Nationwide Growth program. He was among the many prime 25 per cent of gamers when it comes to pace, as measured by NHL Edge stats.

X-factor: Appears to be getting higher with age.

Vitals: 26 years previous, six-foot-three, 201 kilos.

Contract: Third season of a three-year deal that pays him $3.85 million a yr. Would have develop into a restricted free agent on July 1 with out an extension.

Final yr: Had 27 targets in 76 video games, down a contact from his career-high 31 the season prior.

Storylines: Was unable to return to phrases with Columbus on the contract extension he was in a position to get from the Leafs (six years, $75 million with $12.5 million AAV). Traded for Matthew Knies, a very talked-about participant amongst followers. His hardest shot (142.75 km/h) is within the prime 25 per cent of the league. His most skating pace (37.6 km/h) has him within the prime 10 per cent.

X-factor: Pace and ability.

Vitals: 31 years previous, five-foot-10, 208 kilos.

Contract: Third season of a four-year, $15-million cope with a cap hit of $3.75 million. Has a 13-team no-trade listing.

Final yr: Managed 12 targets — up from eight — following a directive to shoot extra. Took far too many penalties.

Storylines: A season-opening again damage could possibly be his demise. He’s out indefinitely on account of problems from low season surgical procedure.

X-factor: He bleeds blue and white.

Vitals: 30 years previous, six-foot-three, 218 kilos.

Contract: Third season of a four-year, $13-million deal. Cap hit: $3.25 million. A 12-team no-trade clause.

Final yr: Ten targets in 55 video games in one other injury-filled season. By no means did get fairly snug in a task.

Storylines: One of many few bottom-six survivors on a workforce with loads of turnover. However a lingering damage might hamper his begin to the season.

X-factor: An influence ahead with mushy arms.

Vitals: 31 years previous, six-foot-four, 234 kilos.

Contract: Fifth season of a seven-year, $20.5-million deal. Cap hit: $3.15 million. Has a 16-team no-trade listing.

Final yr: Hit near profession lows in targets (seven), assists (eight) and video games performed (55). However he led Tampa with a 53 per cent success price within the faceoff circle.

Storylines: Made a profession of killing the Leafs (in Ottawa and Tampa). Coming to his hometown workforce. Desires to point out final season was an aberration.

X-factor: Dimension issues down the center.

Vitals: 29 years previous, six-foot-two, 209 kilos.

Contract: First season of a three-year, $7.8-million deal. Cap hit: $2.6 million. A full no-trade clause this season, a 10-team no-trade listing for the ultimate two years of the deal.

Final yr: 4 targets, 5 assists in 82 video games in Washington. Hit a max skating pace of 37.5 km/h, placing him within the 92nd percentile within the league.

Storylines: A part of the reinvented bottom-six. Takes plenty of penalties, however attracts lots too.

X-factor: A meat-and-potatoes participant with pace.

Vitals: 32 years previous, six toes, 185 kilos.

Contract: First season of a two-year, $5-million deal. Cap hit: $2.5 million.

Final yr: 9 targets, eight assists in 35 video games in Vancouver. Had a leg damage and a fractured jaw.

Storylines: Reunited on the fourth line (probably) with ex-Canuck Dakota Joshua.

X-factor: Has the grit the Leafs lacked from depth centres.

Vitals: 18 years previous, five-foot-11, 170 kilos.

Contract: First season of a three-year, $3.23-million entry-level deal. Cap hit: $1.075 million. Doesn’t require waivers.

Final yr: Had 15 targets, 36 assists in 35 video games at Penn State.

Storylines: The child from Whitehorse has an opportunity to develop into Mr. Maple Leaf. Must watch his shins enjoying ministicks with John Tavares’ children.

X-factor: Can he be a left-handed Mitch Marner?

Vitals: 21 years previous, six toes, 190 kilos.

Contract: Second season of three-year, $2.67-million entry-level deal. Cap hit: $900,000. Doesn’t require waivers.

Final yr: Gained the Calder Cup with the Toronto Marlies after placing up 11 targets, 18 assists in 66 video games as a rookie with the Leafs.

Storylines: That’s two championships in two consecutive years. Ought to be a third-line common.

X-factor: The second coming of Darcy Tucker?

Vitals: 31 years previous, six-foot-two, 209 kilos.

Contract: Within the fourth yr of a six-year, $15-million contract with an AAV of $2.5 million.

Final yr: Had a scorching begin however obtained hobbled by a leg damage that restricted him to eight targets in 54 video games.

Storylines: The Buffalo native is a basic hard-checking bottom-six ahead.

X-factor: Likes to crash and bang.

Vitals: 26 years previous, six-foot-two, 204 kilos.

Contract: Second yr of a two-year $1.625-million contract with a cap hit of $812,500. Requires waivers.

Final yr: Three targets, two assists in a 13-game end-of-season call-up stint, wanting like he belonged. Key a part of the Marlies’ Calder Cup success.

Storylines: Accidents held again the centre’s development as a younger ahead in each Anaheim and New York. Looks like he’s in a make-or-break season. Having his Marlies coach, John Gruden, now as a Leafs assistant might assist.

X-factor: Accountable defensively.

Vitals: 30 years previous, six-foot-four, 226 kilos.

Contract: First season of a two-year, $1.75-million deal. Cap hit: $875,000.

Final yr: Acquired simply three video games final yr because of a number of accidents with knee surgical procedure ending his season early.

Storylines: A bodily bottom-six ahead now on his sixth workforce in 9 years.

Vitals: 30 years previous, six-foot-one, 202 kilos.

Contract: First yr of an eight-year, $68-million deal. Cap hit: $8.5 million. Full no-movement clause for the primary six years. Reduces to 16-team no-trade listing for last two seasons.

Final yr: Broke out with a 22-goal season from the blue line, largely filling in for oft-injured Tampa captain Victor Hedman. His shot was among the many hardest within the league, maxing out at 161.14 km/h. 

Storylines: One other returning to his hometown workforce. Leafs want extra than simply offence from Raddysh to assist its beleaguered blue line.

Vitals: 33 years previous, six-foot-one, 219 kilos.

Contract: Fifth season of an eight-year, $60-million deal. Cap hit: $7.5 million. Full no-movement clause this yr and subsequent. Reduces to a 10-team no-trade listing for the ultimate two seasons.

Final yr: With 11 targets, 25 assists Rielly was sort of, effectively, meh. Nonetheless, second on the workforce in time on ice (21:08) and tied for second in blocked photographs (114).

Storylines: The longest-serving Leaf survived the commerce chatter. Seventh on the franchise listing in video games performed (951, 30 behind Mats Sundin), second in factors by a defenceman (541). Darren Raddysh’s arrival removes the No. 1 defenceman title from his bio.

X-factor: He can nonetheless transfer the puck.

Vitals: 32 years previous, six-foot-one, 210 kilos.

Contract: Second season of a five-year, $22.57-million deal. Cap hit: $4.51 million. No-trade clause this yr. Partial no-trade clause kicks in to start out 2027-28 season.

Final yr: Led the league with 190 blocked photographs. Led the workforce in averaging 22:24 minutes a sport and was among the many league leaders in averaging 2:48 a sport short-handed.

Storylines: He took warmth, however offers it his all. Reuniting with a wholesome Chris Tanev ought to assist.

X-factor: Performs hard-nosed hockey.

Vitals: 36 years previous, six-foot-two, 200 kilos.

Contract: Third season of a six-year, $27-million deal. Cap hit: $4.5 million. Full no-movement clause.

Final yr: Two assists in 11 video games on account of a number of accidents.

Storylines: A fan favorite for his self-sacrificial play. Beginning to really feel like he’s one damage away from having his profession ended.

X-factor: His selflessness.

Vitals: 35 years previous, six-foot-two, 190 kilos.

Contract: Third season of a four-year, $14-million deal. Cap hit: $3.5 million with 16-team no-trade listing.

Final yr: Eight targets and 31 assists. An all-rounder when it comes to defence and offence.

Storylines: At occasions, he was Toronto’s most dependable blueliner. Made Sweden’s Olympic workforce. Survived the commerce deadline final yr. Can he do it once more?

X-factor: Impacts the sport in massive and small methods.

Vitals: 32 years previous, five-foot-10, 185 kilos.

Contract: First season of a two-year, $2.7-million deal. Cap hit: $1.35 million.

Final yr: Three targets, 11 assists in 58 video games in Toronto. His arrival through waivers helped spark some temporary upward mobility within the standings.

Storylines: On his eighth workforce, the journeyman is blissful to have discovered a house.

X-factor: Performs each sport as if it could possibly be his final. As a result of it actually could possibly be.

Vitals: 28 years previous, five-foot-nine, 177 kilos. 

Final yr: Traded to Colorado from Nashville on the commerce deadline.

Storylines: An undersized defenceman with management potential.

X-factor: A darling of the analytics world.

Vitals: 38 years previous, six-foot-two, 183 kilos.

Contract: First season of a three-year, $21-million deal. Cap hit: $7 million. Full no-movement clause.

Final yr: A porous season with a 3.07 GAA and .877 save proportion, effectively off his profession averages (2.61, .912).

Storylines: Two-time Stanley Cup champion, two-time Vezina winner, getting into his seventeenth season.

X-factor: Out to show Florida fallacious for letting him go.

Vitals: 32 years previous, six-foot-six, 243 kilos.

Contract: First season of a four-year, $15-million extension. Cap hit: $3.75 million.

Final yr: Like Bobrovsky, an enormous drop in GAA (3.28) and save proportion (.893) in comparison with profession averages. Acquired injured once more.

Storylines: He’s again to being Bobrovsky’s backup after failing to show himself as a bona fide No. 1 in Toronto.

X-factor: That chip on his shoulder.

Vitals: 24 years previous, six-foot-two, 176 kilos.

Contract: First season of a three-year, $2.7-million deal. Cap hit: $900,000.

Final yr: Lastly cracked the NHL, getting three video games, nevertheless it was a exceptional Calder Cup run with the Marlies that confirmed he’s prepared, making Dennis Hildeby redundant.

Storylines: Proved to be a well-liked teammate. Can he duplicate his success with the Marlies?

X-factor: He is aware of win.

Vitals: 32 years previous, six-foot-three, 190 kilos.

Contract: Remaining yr of a five-year deal that pays him $5.4 million a season. Can develop into an unrestricted free agent on July 1.

Final yr: Misplaced his beginning job to Jet Greaves.

Storylines: Coming off shoulder surgical procedure. Has not performed within the pre-season. His sole playoff win got here on the expense of the Leafs when Columbus beat Toronto within the five-game qualifying spherical within the summertime COVID bubble in 2020.

X-factor: Runs cold and hot.

Vitals: 24 years previous, six toes, 205 kilos.

Contract: One-year, $850,000. A restricted free agent July 1.

Final yr: A objective and two assists in 23 video games, however a pacesetter on the Marlies’ Calder Cup championship workforce.

Storylines: Appeared snakebit on the NHL degree, sapping the ahead of some confidence.

X-factor: Has to show he belongs.

Vitals: 29 years previous, six-foot-five, 221 kilos.

Contract: Remaining season of a two-year, $1.7-million deal. Cap hit: $850,000.

Final yr: Two assists in 39 video games.

Storylines: You’d like to see the defenceman determine it out, given his measurement. Likes to shoot the puck, however he actually seemed misplaced final season.

X-factor: Working out of possibilities.