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Toronto Maple Leafs News

Toronto has signed Brandon Buhr to a one-year, entry-level contract starting in 2026-27.

Buhr is an undrafted 23-year-old forward that the Maple Leafs have signed to a one-year, entry-level contract after completing his collegiate hockey career. In 35 games with Union College (ECAC), Buhr scored 36 points (19G / 17A) this season.

Brandon Buhr
Ekman-Larsson (personal) will play against the Islanders on Tuesday.

Ekman-Larsson did not play on Sunday and was not at Toronto's morning skate on Tuesday following the birth of his child. The 34-year-old Swedish defenseman is having a resurgent season, with 35 points (8G / 27A) in 65 games. This marks the most points he has had in a season since 2018-19, when he scored 44 points (14G / 30A) in 81 games as a member of the Arizona Coyotes.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson
The Maple Leafs signed Borgesi to a two-year contract on Tuesday, set to begin in the 2026-27 season.

Borgesi is a 22-year-old defenceman who recently completed his NCAA career and will sign with the Maple Leafs as a free agent. He tallied 16 goals and 64 assists in 134 games across four seasons at Northeastern University. Borgesi will join the AHL's Toronto Marlies on an amateur tryout for the remainder of the 2025-26 season before his contract officially kicks in at the start of the new league season.

Vincent Borgesi
Bobrovsky will start in Vancouver on Tuesday.

The Panthers have been more liberal with their goalie usage since returning from the Olympic break, which appears to be paying early dividends for Bobrovsky, who has struggled for most of the 2025-26 season. The 37-year-old veteran goalie saved 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 2-1 overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has a solid 2.21 GAA and .925 SV% in his last five games (3-2-0). The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest as -150 road favourites against a Vancouver Canucks team that has scored only seven goals in its last four games (1-2-1).

Sergei Bobrovsky
Bobrovsky was the first goalie off the ice at Florida's morning skate.

The Panthers have been more liberal with their goalie usage since returning from the Olympic break, which appears to be paying early dividends for Bobrovsky, who has struggled for most of the 2025-26 season. The 37-year-old veteran goalie saved 30 of 31 shots (.968 SV%) in his most recent outing, a 2-1 overtime win over the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has a solid 2.21 GAA and .925 SV% in his last five games (3-2-0). The Panthers enter Tuesday's contest as -150 road favourites against a Vancouver Canucks team that has scored only seven goals in its last four games (1-2-1).

Sergei Bobrovsky
Ekman-Larsson (personal) was absent from Toronto's morning skate on Tuesday and will be a game-time decision.

Ekman-Larsson did not play on Sunday and was not at Toronto's morning skate on Tuesday. It is unclear what his status is heading into their game against the New York Islanders. The 34-year-old Swedish defenseman is having a resurgent season, with 35 points (8G / 27A) in 65 games. This marks the most points he has had in a season since 2018-19, when he scored 44 points (14G / 30A) in 81 games as a member of the Arizona Coyotes.

Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Matthews suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear in Thursday's game against the Ducks and will miss the remainder of the regular season.

Matthews was involved in a knee on knee collision with Ducks Captain Radko Gudas and immediately left the game. Gudas was issued a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct on the play, and is currently awaiting a decision on any supplemental discipline. Matthews' injury caps what has been a nightmare season for the Maple Leafs. The team did not give any update regarding any potential surgery or timeline for the injury, only saying Matthews would be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks. Matthews' season comes to an abrupt end after 60 games played and career lows of 27 goals and 26 assists.

Auston Matthews
Matthews (lower-body) will not return to Thursday's game against the Ducks.

Matthews left the game in the second period after taking an ugly looking knee-on-knee hit from Ducks captain Radko Gudas. Gudas was assessed a five-minute major for kneeing and a game misconduct on the play. We should get an update on Matthews' status ahead of the Maple Leafs game in Buffalo on Saturday.

Auston Matthews
Blankenburg is expected to make his Colorado debut on Thursday vs. Seattle.

The Avalanche acquired Blankenburg from the Nashville Predators last Wednesday in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round draft pick. Blankenburg is a somewhat underrated, 27-year-old two-way defenceman who's put up career highs in goals (six) and assists (15) in just 49 games this season. He quarterbacked the Predators second power-play unit at times this season, but it's unclear where exactly he will slot in on the pecking order of an Avalanche blue-line that just recently swapped out Samuel Girard for Brett Kulak.

Nick Blankenburg
Merzlikins will start in Florida on Thursday.

After a brief stint of excellent play following Rick Bowness taking over as the Head Coach of the Blue Jackets, Merzlikins has returned to his now-predictable, less-than-stellar play. That said, the 31-year-old Latvian goalie has been on the right side of some unspectacular performances, winning five of his last seven starts (5-1-1) while posting a 2.66 GAA and .891 SV%. The Blue Jackets enter Thursday's contest as -112 road favourites against the Florida Panthers, whom they defeated 4-2 one week ago.

Elvis Merzlikins