Toronto Maple Leafs News

Sissons will be the odd-man out when the Golden Knights host the Maple Leafs on Thursday. Tanner Laczynski will make his season debut in his place.

Merzlikins has only played two games in the last five weeks, but he will get a chance to showcase his abilities in Rick Bowness' second game as the Head Coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. The 31-year-old Merzlikins started the season in a timeshare with Jet Greaves, but quickly lost the trust of the coaching staff, allowing three or more goals in his last 12 games (4-7-1) while posting a dreadful 4.24 GAA and .861 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as -159 home favorites against a plummeting Vancouver Canucks team that is on an eight-game losing streak (0-6-2).

Stolarz has been out since November 11th, but is getting close to a return to the Maple Leafs crease and has a chance to return before the Olympic break according to Head Coach Craig Berube. Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby have performed well in his absence, but the team will likely send Hildeby back to the Marlies (AHL) when Stolarz is cleared to play.

Mermis has not played in over a month, and he will head to the Marlies for a conditioning assignment. The 32-year-old defenseman is averaging 13:02 time-on-ice and has one goal in 11 gams with the Maple Leafs this season.

Bobrovsky was serviceable in his most recent game, saving 17 of 19 shots (.895 SV%) in a 3-2 win over the Ottawa Senators, ending a streak where he had allowed three or more goals in five consecutive games (1-4-0). The 36-year-old Bobrovsky has a 2.90 GAA and .881 SV% in 31 games this season (18-12-1). The Panthers enter the action on Monday as +103 road underdogs against one of the NHL's hottest teams, the Buffalo Sabres, who are 13-1-0 in their last 14 games.

MacEwen has been out since November 12th and recently underwent ACL surgery and will be out indefinitely. His season ends with zero points in three games.

Stolarz has been out since November 11th, but is getting close to a return to the Maple Leafs crease. Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby have performed well in his absence, falling just 2.85 goals per game, the eighth-best mark in the NHL since November 12th.

McCabe has missed the last two games with a lower-body injury, but was back on the ice for Saturday's morning skate. He did not take part in line rushes, which suggests he won't play, but he's still considered a game-time decision.

Nylander will return after missing the last six games, replacing Calle Jarnkrok. Nylander will be back on the Maple Leafs' second line with John Tavares and Matias Maccelli and on PP2. Nylander returns after posting just nine points (3G / 6A) in 12 games in December.

Merzlikins has not played since December 20th, but will return to the crease on Saturday in a challenging contest against the league-leading Colorado Avalanche. The 31-year-old Latvian goalie started the season in a rotation with Jet Greaves, but poor play quickly made the coaching staff lose trust in him. Merzlikins has an abysmal 4.54 GAA and .839 SV% in his last eight games (2-5-1).

Quillan played three games for the Maple Leafs this season, but will return to the Marlies (AHL). The undrafted 23-year-old forward has 23 points (5G / 18A) in 26 games with the Marlies this season.

Nylander has been out of the lineup for nearly two weeks due to an undisclosed injury, but could return to the lineup on Saturday against the Vancouver Canucks. The talented forward has already missed nine games due to various injuries this season, but has been excellent when healthy. The 29-year-old Nylander has 41 points (14G / 27A) in 33 games.

Bobrovsky has struggled lately, losing three of his last four (1-3-0), posting an unflattering 3.34 GAA and .859 SV%, but he will hope to rebound on Thursday against the Montreal Canadiens. The 37-year-old veteran goalie has a 2.85 GAA and .885 SV% in 29 games this season (17-11-1). The Panthers enter the action on Thursday as -114 road favorites against a Canadiens team with points in nine of their last 10 games (7-1-2).

Rifai is an undrafted 27-year-old defenseman that has played two career NHL games. He has spent the majority of the past four season in the AHL, and have two assists in five games with the Marlies in 2025-26.

The Panthers have had an inconsistent season, but they displayed their Stanley Cup pedigree on Sunday, defeating the powerhouse Colorado Avalanche 2-1. Bobrovsky has yet to truly shine this season, but has shown encouraging signs lately, allowing three or fewer goals in nine of his last 11 outings (7-3-1). The 37-year-old goalie has a 2.84 GAA and .885 SV% in 28 games this season (17-10-1). The Panthers enter the action on Tuesday as slight -112 road favorites against a Toronto Maple Leafs team with points in four straight games (4-0-2).

McCabe suffered an undisclosed injury in the third period of Saturday's 4-3 loss to the New York Islanders and did not return to the game. The 32-year-old McCabe is averaging 22:01 time-on-ice and has 16 points (3G / 3A) in 41 games this season. The Maple Leafs recalled Marshall Rifai from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) in a corresponding move.

McCabe suffered an undisclosed injury in the third period of Saturday's 4-3 loss to the New York Islanders and did not return to the game. The 32-year-old McCabe is averaging 22:01 time-on-ice and has 16 points (3G / 3A) in 41 games this season. The Maple Leafs recalled Marshall Rifai from the Toronto Marlies (AHL) in a corresponding move for precautionary reasons.