There simply isn’t much to talk about right now in regards to major news, but a few minor things have happened over the past couple of weeks.
Ryan Reaves
Ryan Reaves was traded to the San Jose Sharks last week in return for 6’2″ 210lb LD, Henry Thrun. It’s amazing to me just how much air time Reaves has gotten on his way out the door. It’s even crazier that I’m going to give him a little bit more. With just 84 games played in a Leafs jersey over two seasons, Reaves felt that his role had been far too diminished and he felt it was better for both himself and the team if they parted ways.
I can’t disagree.
Reaves was brought in to fill the enforcer role in Toronto, but as I’ve always said, you shouldn’t have somebody on the team that fills that role that is a liability on the ice and that’s exactly what Reaves was. He rarely fought when it was necessary, didn’t contribute on the scoresheet, didn’t help their forecheck, special teams, or in any tangible way on the ice and then blamed the team for not allowing him the opportunity to “gain traction” last season after he had “one bad game.” He also stated that “the whole city wanted me out of there” after he had a few bad games during his first season on the team.
Playing the victim on the way out is certainly a decision.
Needless to say, I won’t miss Reaves in Toronto and I don’t think anybody else should either. The “me first” culture has run rampant within the dressing room and Reaves showed his true colours on the way out the door, he was definitely part of that problem. Proof of this was entangled in the only fight he was involved in last season, against Mathieu Olivier. He spoke openly about looking for a fight leading up to that game and was complimentary of Olivier afterwards for helping him out. It served no other purpose than to simply have him register another bout on his fight card. However, it did prompt Leafs Captain, Auston Matthews, to call out the fans by saying they were too quiet and didn’t provide enough energy after the fight.
There you are again, Leafs Nation, you bad bastards you!! How dare you not treat every player on a team that has repeatedly let you Down In literALLY EVERY SINGLE BIG MOMENT THEY’VE EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN LIKE GODS AT EVERY SECOND OF EVERY FUCKIN DAY!!!
Get the fuck out.
Henry Thrun
Thrun seems nice.
The 24 year old defender comes with good size and is known more as a puck moving blueliner. However, he was used very little the past couple of seasons on the powerplay in San Jose, but did manage to earn himself some penalty killing minutes. He says he has figured out how to defend at the NHL level, but is eager to continue to improve his game. If nothing else he’ll get the chance to improve his shot blocking numbers in Toronto, as that is something that the coaching staff values, while Thrun’s numbers last season would have placed him among the bottom of the Leafs’ regular defenders.
The big question for many is simply about the role that Thrun will serve in Toronto. He doesn’t appear to be a fit on either of their special teams units, while depth defenders such as Philippe Myers would still appear to be ahead of him on the depth chart.
One theory is that this move opens up the possibility of trading another defender for forward help if the right deal presents itself, which does make some sense.
Ty Voit
The organization is doing their best to move on from the many, many mistakes made by Kyle Dubas in the prospect department. This time around they placed Ty Voit on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating his contract. The former 5th round selection never caught on at the pro level and I expect that the next time his name appears on a roster it will on a team on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. After walking away from players such as Max Ellis last year, while Roni Hirvonen and Top Niemela opted to return to Europe after this season ended, the time of the tiny winger is quickly ending in Toronto. If we’re being honest, it never really got off the ground.
Hilariously the only player from the Dubas era that will 100% play for the Leafs this season is Matthews Knies, the 6’3″ 230lb winger and largest skater (not including goalies), by far, that he ever took in the draft. Nicholas Robertson is in the mix as well, but he’s still without a contract and is considered a trade chip more than anything at this point in time. It’s possible that Robertson starts the season in Toronto, but I’d be shocked if he was still around at the end of it.
Mitch Marner
January 23rd, 2026, will see the return of Mitch Marner to Toronto. I can’t wait to hear the boos reign down. This will be pure entertainment.
Does he deserve it? The better question is if that matters and the answer to that is no, it doesn’t. After leaving and then openly admitting to canvassing players about the living situation in Las Vegas at the 4 Nation Cup, as well as his teammate Ryan Reaves and being excited because they gave the city rave reviews, I don’t think Marner deserves any type of warm reception upon his return.
He checked out long ago and instead of accepting a trade, which would have allowed the Leafs to recoup valuable assets, he acted selfishly and denied them the opportunity. His attitude on the ice certainly won’t be missed, no matter how talented he is.