Category: Sports News

The Toronto Maple Leafs are about to embark on Season 1 of the post-Mitch-Marner Era. But while Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving tried valiantly to fill Marner’s spot in the top-six group of forwards, he’s done particularly great work changing up Toronto’s bottom-six forward group. 

Toronto’s high-end players – Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares and Matthew Knies – need to step up with big seasons next year, but if the Leafs are to improve on getting to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, there’s going to need to be some incredible competition in the Buds’ bottom-two forward lines.

For starters, you can rest assured that new Leafs center Nicolas Roy – acquired in the sign-and-trade deal sending Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights – is going to be a lock to start the season as Toronto’s third-line center. Roy was not acquired to be shunted to the wing on the fourth line. He’s there to play solid two-way hockey and make Toronto a tougher team to play against. 

Meanwhile, on the Maple Leafs’ fourth-line, there’s also a sense that the center role is already taken – in this instance, by veteran Scott Laughton. The former Philadelphia Flyers center took a while to find his stride as a Leaf, but by the time Toronto’s second-round series against the Florida Panthers was over, Laughton was one of the Leafs’ most dogged competitors. And he’s under a great contract situation, accounting for just $1.5-million against the salary cap. 

So, the real questions about the Leafs next season are essentially the wingers on Toronto’s bottom two lines. You’ve got wingers who probably are going to be in the lineup in Game 1 of the Buds’ 2025-26 regular-season – guys like veteran Bobby McMann and Calle Jarnkrok. Then, you’ve got the Maple Leafs’ most recent acquisition, former Vancouver Canucks winger Dakota Joshua. He’s not going to be a healthy scratch anytime soon. 

Finally, you’ve got a trio of forwards, only one of which will be Toronto’s other fourth-line winger. From our perspective, that will be youngster Steven Lorentz, who was an admirable soldier for coach Craig Berube last year. Then, there’s forward David Kampf, who is a natural center but who can slide over to the wing if need be. In addition, former Montreal Canadiens winger Michael Pezzetta joined the team, and he may force Berube’s hand and stick with the NHL club. And the guy more people should be talking about, Leafs prospect Easton Cowan, also intends to make Toronto’s opening-night roster.

From our calculations, there’s no room for Robertson, Pezzetta and Kampf right now – and that’s even if Cowan plays for the American League’s Toronto Marlies next season. And that’s why people are wondering if Kampf, Jarnkrok and Robertson are going to be on the trade block, if they’re not already there. Toronto has some relatively highly-paid veterans, and Treliving needs to peel off at least one or two of them to give himself cap flexibility during the season.

So, between now and training camp, don’t be shocked to see the Maple Leafs make a couple more roster moves. They’re under the cap ceiling right now, with $1.9 million in cap space. But they’ll need to accrue more cap space to be a mover-and-shaker at the trade deadline, and that’s what Berube and Treliving will want as they chart a course without Marner. 

Ultimately, while not having Marner around will hurt, Toronto now has one of the better bottom-six groups of forwards in the league. And the competition for jobs on the third and fourth lines will only help the Maple Leafs improve from the bottom up.

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Although the Toronto Maple Leafs and Nick Robertson settled on a one-year, $1.825 million contract on Saturday, could the young forward still be on his way out?

It’s been a year since the 23-year-old requested a trade out of Toronto, and after a career year when it comes to goalscoring (15 goals in 69 games), Robertson will still have a difficult time cracking the lineup consistently with all of the Maple Leafs’ moves this summer.

Toronto added Nicolas Roy via a sign-and-trade with the Vegas Golden Knights for Mitch Marner right before free agency opened. The club also acquired Matias Maccelli and Dakota Joshua through trade.

According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on 32 Thoughts, there’s been chatter about Robertson potentially ending up with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

“I had a couple of people ask me about the possibility of Nick Robertson in Pittsburgh, just because obviously Kyle Dubas knows him,” said Friedman. 

“They got the arbitration settled on Saturday, $1.825 million. The Maple Leafs have to clear some bodies there, they’ve got a lot of them. I had one Columbus fan ask me if [Yegor] Chinakhov or Robertson made sense. I don’t know, I think Toronto would have to do more to get that done. 

“I definitely think that the Maple Leafs have work to do here, and I don’t know what their timeline is, but nobody expects them not to do things before puck drops, that’s for sure.”

Former Maple Leafs Forward Nazem Kadri Reacts To Being Snubbed From Team Canada’s 2026 Olympic Orientation CampDespite a career-high of 35 goals, Calgary Flames forward and former Toronto Maple Leafs star Nazem Kadri was left off Hockey Canada’s Olympic Orientation Camp Roster. The camp is set to take place later in August.

Robertson was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the second round (53rd overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft and has often had challenges securing a full-time lineup spot with Toronto. He dealt with numerous injuries during his first couple of years in pro hockey, however, over time, the forward has put together a string of healthy seasons.

Robertson played 56 games in 2023-24, scoring 27 points (14 goals and 13 assists), before reaching a career-high in games-played this past season, with 22 points in 69 appearances. Although he did play more games in 2024-25, Robertson began this year’s playoffs in the lineup, but fell out of the group after two games in round one against the Ottawa Senators.

Maple Leafs' Ben Danford Praises Fellow Toronto Pick Victor Johansson On Growth Over Last YearVictor Johansson got the upper hand on fellow Toronto Maple Leafs draft pick Ben Danford at the World Junior Summer Showcase this week.

He finished the postseason with three games — two against Ottawa and one against the Florida Panthers in the second round — and two points (one goal and one assist). In 156 career NHL games, Robertson has put together 32 goals and 24 assists for 56 points.

This article originally appeared on The Hockey News: 'Nobody Expects Them Not To Do Things Before Puck Drops': Could Maple Leafs Still Move Nick Robertson After Contract Signing?

(Top photo of Robertson: Kim Klement Neitzel / Imagn Images)

Arseny Gritsyuk signed with the New Jersey Devils at the end of last season and is expected to make his NHL debut this fall. However, in a recent interview with Russian outlet Sports-Express, the 24-year-old forward clarified the timeline of his move and his expectations.

Gritsyuk has spent the last two seasons with SKA St. Petersburg of the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL), where he posted impressive numbers. In 2023–24, he recorded 38 points in 50 games. Last season, he improved to 44 points in 49 games.

SKA announced on social media that both Gritsyuk and teammate Zakhar Bardakov would be leaving the club to head to North America.

Both Zakhar Bardakov and Arseniy Gritsyuk are leaving SKA.

The pair will continue their respective careers in North America.

We would like to thank them for their efforts with our club in Saint Petersburg! Good luck!#hcSKApic.twitter.com/uSpwtlOD1O

— SKA Ice Hockey Club (@hcSKA_News) June 11, 2025

In his interview with Sports-Express, Gritsyuk revealed this move was always part of the plan:

"We had it set: two years with SKA, then off to the NHL," he said.

Off the ice, Gritsyuk has also been preparing for the transition, particularly when it comes to the language barrier.

"I took lessons twice weekly before, but I've slacked off lately," he admitted. "Basic talk is fine: I know lots of words. Those small connecting words give me trouble, though."

Gritsyuk officially signed his entry-level contract with the Devils on May 7, 2025.

Grits are now a New Jersey delicacy. We don’t make the rules.

📰: https://t.co/GC5AMmirz9pic.twitter.com/x6tVaXNuLM

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) May 6, 2025

The following day, Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald addressed the media:“He’s going to get an opportunity to show what he can do… He’s highly skilled. He’s going to get an opportunity to play for our team.”

Fitzgerald on Arseniy Gritsyuk: “He’s going to get an opportunity to show what he can do…He’s highly skilled. He’s going to get an opportunity to play for our team.”

— Bill Spaulding (@BillSpaulding) May 8, 2025

Gritsyuk is expected to compete for a roster spot in training camp. But if he doesn't make the NHL lineup, he made it clear he has a backup plan—and potentially a deadline for how long he’d stay in North America without securing an NHL role.

That might sound concerning, but it’s important context: a demotion to the AHL’s Utica Comets would come with a steep pay cut under his entry-level deal. Still, Gritsyuk is motivated to make the leap this fall and fulfill the NHL dream he’s been building toward for years.

Photo Credit: © George Walker IV-Imagn Images

New York Islanders prospect Daniil Prokhorov is attending Dynamo Moscow's training camp on a PTO, per Hockey News Hub. 

Prokhorov, 18, was drafted in the second round (No. 45) of the 2025 NHL Draft and was in attendance for development camp, where he was a standout, especially in the Blue & White Scrimmage. 

Islanders Select Hard-Hitting Forward Daniil Prokhorov With Their Second-Round SelectionAfter a successful first day at the 2025 NHL Draft, the New York Islanders used the 42nd overall pick to select forward Daniil Prokhorov of the MHL.

The 6'5, 209-lb right-winger's PTO with Dynamo lasts until Aug. 29, before the club has to make a decision. 

Prokhorov has played the last two seasons for St. Petersburg Dynamo Jr, in the MHL, a third-tier league in Russia, two behind the KHL. Making the KHL will be a challenge, as he'd have to jump two leagues to secure a spot.

In 2024-25, Prokhorov recorded 27 points (20 goals, seven assists) in 43 games.

#Isles fans will love Daniil Prokhorov pic.twitter.com/aMVCxzfCpw

— Hockey News Hub (@HockeyNewsHub) June 28, 2025

If Prokhorov does not make the KHL squad, he does have options. 

He can return to the MHL for a third season, as the age cut-off is 20. He could play for a VHL team, which is like the AHL version of the KHL, signing a two-way deal with a KHL squad.

But Prohkorov can also decide to come to North America, since he was selected 42nd overall in the CHL Import Draft by the Sarnia Sting.

Islanders prospect Jesse Nurmi elected to come over to North America for the 2024-25 season, playing for the London Knights in an effort to get acclimated to the game on this side of the pond and the way of life. He did win the Memorial Cup. 

Prokhorov's goal is to make Dynamo Moscow, and if he does, that will be huge for his development to become a potential NHL player for the Islanders in the near future. 

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If the Montreal Canadiens struggled against the Boston Bruins last season, the same cannot be said about the Buffalo Sabres. The Habs faced the Sabres four times last season and swept the season series with three regulation wins and an overtime one. In the four games, Montreal outscored Buffalo 21-11.

The Initial game between the two teams was an entertaining one. Twice, the Canadiens took the lead, but the Sabres pushed back before taking the lead in the second frame. Captain Nick Suzuki took matters into his own hands and scored a pair of goals to tie the game back before giving the Habs the lead once again. Buffalo came out strong in the third, scoring two quick goals to take a 5-4 lead, but Montreal rallied, scoring three goals in the last 10 minutes to win 7-5. This was an important game for the young Canadiens, one in which they learned it wasn’t over until the final buzzer and they had the talent to fight blow for blow on the scoreboard.

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The Canadiens' most dominating performance against their divisional rival came in the second meeting of the season when they scored a 6-1 win on the back of Patrik Laine’s hat trick, with the three goals coming on the power play. While Buffalo’s lack of discipline was costly, since the Habs scored three goals on six opportunities, the Habs' discipline wasn’t much better since they served five penalties, but their penalty kill was flawless.

March saw the two teams battle it out in a home-and-away series, and the Canadiens won both matches, even though they needed overtime to seal the deal in the final meeting of the season. Mike Matheson scored the overtime winner just 1:21 into the extra frame.

The Sabres have undergone significant changes since those four wins; however, the question remains whether these changes were for the better. It’s hard to give a positive answer to that question. Two of their best scorers against the Canadiens, Dylan Cozens (4 points) and J.J. Peterka (5 points), have been traded away.

Cozens was traded to the Ottawa Senators in return for Josh Norris and Jacob Bernard-Docker. The latter signed with the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent this offseason. Meanwhile, Peterka was sent to the Utah Mammoth for Josh Doan and Michael Kesselring. Doan is a former second-round pick with NHL bloodlines, but he remains an unproven commodity in the NHL, having played only 62 games and accumulated 28 points. As for Norris, he is a solid addition who has 239 NHL games and 158 points to his name.

Buffalo hasn’t made the playoffs in 14 years, and it appears to be tough for them to retain their biggest names. They did manage to sign Bowen Byran to a two-year deal and Ryan McLeod to a four-year pact and did bring in veteran netminder Alex Lyon, but that won’t be enough to turn the team’s fortune around.

Unless Kevyn Adams and co. make other moves, it will be another tough season in the state of New York for Sabres fans. If Devon Levi lives up to his potential and has a breakout year, the Sabres may show some signs of progress, but otherwise, we could be in for more of the same from the Sabres. As things stand, they shouldn’t even be part of the playoff race conversation, and, on paper at least, the much-improved Canadiens should dominate the match-up this upcoming season.

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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