Locked On Leafs - Daily Podcast On The Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs had one of the busiest summers in recent memory — from a massive front-office overhaul to the arrival of No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna and a complete revamp of the roster around Auston Matthews.
In this episode, we break down 5 stories that defined the Maple Leafs' summer:
🏒 The Athletic's NHL Tier Rankings — Where do Auston Matthews, William Nylander, Matthew Knies, Darren Raddysh and John Tavares rank among the NHL's top 150 players?
🔥 McKenna Mania — The Leafs landed the No. 1 overall pick and Gavin McKenna immediately became the biggest story in Toronto. From his jersey number to the hype surrounding his arrival, just how much has changed around the Leafs?
🔄 The Bottom-Six Overhaul — Toronto completely reshaped its depth forward group. What should we expect from players like Nick Paul, Colton Sissons, Dakota Joshua, Teddy Blueger, Easton Cowan, Matias Maccelli and the rest of the new-look bottom six?
🥅 The Goaltending Revamp — The Leafs bet big on Sergei Bobrovsky. Was moving a homegrown goalie to open the door for Bobrovsky the right decision?
👀 The Morgan Rielly Trade Discourse — Rielly's name was in trade conversations throughout last season. Does the possibility of a trade still make sense heading into 2026-27?
Plus, we discuss the massive front-office overhaul in Toronto, with dozens of changes throughout the organization.
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Are the Toronto Maple Leafs being underrated heading into the 2026-27 NHL season?

Bleacher Report has the Leafs ranked 18th among all 32 NHL teams, putting them right around the middle of the pack. Mike DiStefano and Dave Morassutti debate whether that ranking is fair — and where Toronto could ultimately finish if Auston Matthews and the rest of the roster bounce back.

Then, the guys build their own Atlantic Division power rankings and debate where the Leafs belong among Florida, Tampa Bay, Montreal, Buffalo and the rest of the division.

In this episode:

🏒 Are the Leafs REALLY an 18th-ranked team?

📈 What needs to happen for Toronto to become a Top-10 NHL team?

⭐ Why an Auston Matthews bounce-back could change everything

🥅 Can the Leafs get better goaltending this season?

🔥 Is the Atlantic Division the toughest in the NHL?

🏆 Who wins the Atlantic Division in 2026-27?

🍁 Where do the Leafs rank in the Atlantic?

🐃 Are the Buffalo Sabres due for a step back?

🎖️ Which NHL teams still need to name a captain?

🇨🇦 Who should become the next captain of the Ottawa Senators?

😳 Should Connor Bedard become captain of the Blackhawks?

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The NHL offseason is officially heating up! NHL GMs are BACK to work, and the first big trade domino has already fallen. Is this the beginning of a busy September around the NHL, or just a random late-summer move?

On today’s episode, we break down the latest NHL trade news and discuss what could be next for teams like the Detroit Red Wings, Winnipeg Jets, Vancouver Canucks — and potentially the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Plus, what should we expect from John Chayka and the Maple Leafs before training camp? We look at potential Toronto Maple Leafs PTO candidates, including Nick Blankenburg, Michael Bunting and Connor Ingram.

And we bring back a Maple Leafs edition of This Leaf or That Leaf!

🏒 Who scores more goals?

• Auston Matthews or William Nylander

• Easton Cowan or Darren Raddysh

• Nick Paul or Dakota Joshua

🏒 Who plays more games?

• Travis Stecher or Emil Andrae

🏒 Who finishes with more points?

• John Tavares or Matthew Knies

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College football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited, and this season, FanDuel is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM

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The Toronto Maple Leafs are entering a fascinating 2026-27 season, and today, Mike DiStefano and Dave Morassutti ask two big questions: Who will be the Leafs’ most impactful player NOT named Auston Matthews, and where should Gavin McKenna start his NHL career?

First, we rank the Maple Leafs’ biggest difference-makers outside of Matthews. Is Sergei Bobrovsky the most important player on the roster after his arrival in Toronto? How important will John Tavares be? Can Darren Raddysh transform the Leafs’ power play? Will William Nylander take on an even bigger offensive role? And just how valuable will Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe be on the blue line?

Then, we turn our attention to Gavin McKenna. Where should the first-overall pick begin his NHL career? Should McKenna start on Line 1 with Auston Matthews, or would he be better served playing alongside John Tavares and William Nylander on the second line?

We break down both potential top-six combinations, the benefits of each option, and why putting McKenna on Line 2 might actually expose him to tougher shutdown matchups around the NHL.

Plus, we discuss realistic expectations for McKenna’s rookie season and what he would need to show in training camp to earn a spot alongside Matthews.

Topics covered:

🏒 Ranking the Leafs’ most impactful players NOT named Auston Matthews

🥅 Sergei Bobrovsky’s importance to Toronto’s season

⭐ John Tavares and William Nylander’s roles

🔥 Darren Raddysh and the Leafs’ power play

🛡️ Chris Tanev & Jake McCabe

🇨🇦 Gavin McKenna’s expected rookie role

👑 McKenna with Matthews or Tavares?

📈 Realistic expectations for McKenna’s rookie season

🍁 Toronto Maple Leafs 2026-27 season preview

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College football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited, and this season, FanDuel is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM

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The Toronto Maple Leafs need some major bounce-back seasons if they're going to return to contending in 2026-27. Mike DiStefano and Dave Morassutti rank the 3 players the Leafs need the most from this season, led by Auston Matthews after a disappointing and injury-plagued 2025-26 campaign.

The guys also discuss:

🏒 Why Auston Matthews' return to MVP form is so important

🥅 Can Sergei Bobrovsky return to form?

🛡️ How important a healthy Chris Tanev will be to blue line

🇸🇪 Calle Jarnkrok officially leaving the NHL for Sweden

💰 Cale Makar's historic $20.4 million AAV contract

📈 How Makar's deal could impact future NHL contracts

💙 Max Domi's uncertain injury situation heading into training camp

🏆 Who would get the Stanley Cup handoff if the Leafs finally win it all?

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