The Official 2026 Off-Season Thread: Revenge of the Nerds

[LeafOfFaith]

How is a 4C who is incapable of any offense worth anything close to the term and dollars of this deal? He’s basically the forward version of Carlo.

 

[CH1]

Matthews as player/coach

He’ll never want to leave

 

[MyNameIsJonas]

How is a 4C who is incapable of any offense worth anything close to the term and dollars of this deal? He’s basically the forward version of Carlo.

So fucking tall and angry

 

[Pwner]

Foregone conclusion

2026 NHL Mock Draft 2.0: Starting with Gavin McKenna to Toronto, Scott Wheeler predicts first 32 picks

With the NHL Scouting Combine in the books, here's Wheeler's second and penultimate first-round mock for the 2026 NHL Draft.

www.nytimes.com

1. Toronto Maple Leafs: Gavin McKenna, LW, Penn State (NCAA)​

People around the league are more and more convinced it’s going to be McKenna for the Leafs, and nothing I heard in Buffalo this week steered me in another direction. I know they like Chase Reid, but the sense I get is it’s McKenna. After their staff visited Whitehorse, he’s now visiting Toronto post-combine.

 

[Preston]

View: https://x.com/i/status/2064413219314110501

2nd hand, more like

The Official 2026 Off-Season Thread: Revenge of the Nerds

I really think Hayton is the play at C. Young prime, handles top matchups, possibly has untapped offensive upside (the nerdies are there at least). I don't know how motivated Utah is to move him, but we know they haven't re-signed him yet (RFA) so that's enough to think he's available. Utah...

www.forumice.com

 

[LeafGm]

View: https://x.com/i/status/2064413219314110501

2nd hand, more like

The Official 2026 Off-Season Thread: Revenge of the Nerds

I really think Hayton is the play at C. Young prime, handles top matchups, possibly has untapped offensive upside (the nerdies are there at least). I don't know how motivated Utah is to move him, but we know they haven't re-signed him yet (RFA) so that's enough to think he's available. Utah...

www.forumice.com

I just saw that and also immediately thought “zeke”.

Wouldn’t be the first time he manifested a Leaf trade into being out of thin air. Though unfortunately, the last time he did it was the acquisition of Foligno & Nash from Columbus.

 

[zeke]

Gonna beat my Foligno/Nash call and Muzzin for 1st+2nd call.

 

[zeke]

I was a dubas whisperer and i'm feeling the Chayka whispering coming on.

Brad was a very very bad time for me.

 

[Preston]

If the trade actually happens, leafs are so back (to zeke sharing a brain with the GM). We'll get all the scoops early again!