What changed
2026-07-26 12:17 UTC → 2026-07-29 02:58 UTC ·
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By late July 2026 the The Toronto Maple Leafs, under new general manager John Chayka, Leafs have accelerated an offseason rebuild. The team has moved several veterans—including Nick Robertson, Brandon Carlo, Joseph Woll, Simon Benoit, Matias Maccelli and Calle Järnkrok—and added veteran goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky (to a three‑year, ~$21 million deal) and defenseman Darren Raddysh. A new rebuild under GM John Chayka. New head coach, coach Jim Hiller, and senior advisor Mats Sundin Sundin, defenseman Darren Raddysh and veteran goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky were also brought in, while added, and the club secured the first overall draft first‑overall pick, prospect Gavin McKenna. Former GM Gord Stellick warned that the 2025‑26 campaign was the franchise’s most disappointing and that none of the new pieces are guaranteed successes. Trade speculation remains focused continues to focus on defenseman captain Morgan Rielly, who has been given Rielly. He is on a shortlist of four potential destinations. Negotiations four‑year, $60 million deal with a $7.5 million cap hit and a no‑trade clause for the Vancouver Canucks have stalled over salary‑share demands, final two years. After posting 11 goals, 36 points and a separate proposal envisions –18 plus‑minus in 78 games, Rielly’s future is uncertain. His agent has listed four Western‑conference teams as possible destinations, while former defenseman Frank Corrado doubted Rielly will remain in Toronto for the 2026‑27 season. Analysts have revived a one‑for‑one swap proposal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, sending Rielly to Pittsburgh in exchange for Erik Karlsson to alleviate a Karlsson. The deal would address the Leafs’ $2.75 million cap overage. Discussions also involve Oliver Ekman‑Larsson, Dakota Joshua and forward Connor Zary, as analysts warn that scoring depth overage by shedding Rielly’s salary while absorbing Karlsson’s $10 million hit for a single season, and an aging defensive corps still pose challenges. would allow Pittsburgh to offload the final year of Karlsson’s contract. The Leafs continue organization continues to explore backup goaltending evaluate backup‑goaltending options (Connor Ingram, Cam Talbot, James Reimer) and keep prospect Artur Akhtyamov as an emergency net‑minder. Unrestricted net‑minder, while several free agents such as Eeli Tolvanen and Jacob Ingram remain unsigned, while veterans Patrick Kane, Patrik Laine, Vladimir Tarasenko and John Klingberg are listed remain unsigned to preserve roster flexibility for the 2026‑27 season. Former coach Bruce Boudreau has expressed doubt that the roster, despite the recent moves, can reach the playoffs. 2026‑27.