NHL Rumors Heat Up: Are Maple Leafs Eyeing Game-Changing Moves with Evangelista, Tuch, Chinakhov, and Peeke?

Sorting out who’s going to claim the premier wing positions on the Toronto Maple Leafs roster is turning into quite the puzzle this season. The buzz? Max Domi is front and center, expected to team up with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies right out of the gate. But hold up—if Domi stumbles, Matias Maccelli, a seasoned third-liner from Utah and Arizona, might just step up to skate alongside John Tavares and William Nylander. The front office isn’t sitting still either; GM Brad Treliving has openly stated they’re on the hunt for another top-six forward, though glowing assets are thin on the ground these days. Meanwhile, the ever-pressing question looms over Nick Robertson—who’s inked a one-year, $1.8 million deal—yet curiously wasn’t mentioned by coach Craig Berube when discussing camp competitiveness. Could his Toronto tenure be winding down? Rumors swirl about potential trades, with a handful of roster spots up for grabs among Robertson, Easton Cowan, David Kampf, and Calle Jarnkrok. The locked-in players? Well, Matthews, Tavares, Nylander, Maccelli, Domi, Knies, and a few others form the core, but uncertainty clouds some contracts and injury histories. It’s an intriguing chess match before the puck even drops this season. LEARN MORE

Who gets the top wing slots for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and bubble players who could be on their way out

Jonas Siegal of The Athletic: Max Domi will likely be given the first shot to play with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. Matias Maccelli could be next in line if Domi doesn’t work out. Maccelli was a third-liner in Utah/Arizona, could start with John Tavares and William Nylander.

Toronto Maple Leafs GM Brad Treliving did say after free agency opened that they wanted to add another top-six forward. It would be something they continue to look for. They don’t have many assets to work with.

When coach Craig Berube was talking about the amount of competition there would be at training camp, he didn’t mention Nick Robertson, who signed a one-year, $1.8 million deal. A broken record, are his days in Toronto numbered? Will there be a team interested in trading for him?

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The Leafs will have two or three roster spots open for Robertson, Easton Cowan, David Kampf, or Calle Jarnkrok. Locks up front are Matthews, Tavares, Nylander, Maccelli, Domi, Knies, Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy, Scott Laughton, Steven Lorentz, and Bobby McMann.

Teams don’t appear to be interested in the contracts of Kampf (two years at $2.4 million) and Jarnkrok ($2.1 million). Jarnkrok was often injured last season and is turning 34 years old. Cowen is eligible to be sent to the AHL.

Quick hits on Luke Evangelista, Alex Tuch, Yegor Chinakhov, and Andrew Peeke

David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period: There is frustration from Luke Evangelista’s side of things, as the Nashville Predators RFA forward remains unsigned. The sides continue to talk, and it will likely be a short-term deal. Money is the issue.

The Buffalo Sabres and Alex Tuch aren’t close to a contract extension. The Sabres want to get him signed.

A Yegor Chinakhov trade isn’t imminent, with the Columbus Blue Jackets hopeful that he rescinds his trade request. He would be a good trade chip for them later in the season.

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Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Peeke is a UFA at the end of the season, and talks haven’t started. The Bruins may wait until they get a better idea of how their season is going before deciding on what to do with Peeke.

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