Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Koblar, Lalonde, Hildeby & Big Stolarz Decision – Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

Koblar was considered a surprise pick when the Maple Leafs selected him in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft, but he gives the organization reason for optimism. He is showing more offensive confidence than expected, and has been trusted in key situations in Norway during the tournament.

For a player entering the draft with questions about consistency and speed, this type of showing is important. The organization will still want to take a closer look before making any big predictions, especially about his skiing and how he handles fast competition. But so far, he’s doing exactly what should be done after being nominated: forcing people to take notice of him.

Derek Lalonde Added to Toronto Coaching Search

The Maple Leafs are reportedly in talks with Derek Lalonde about their coaching position. Lalonde joined the Maple Leafs as an assistant coach last summer after spending parts of three seasons as the head coach of the Detroit Red Wings. After being fired midway through the 2024-25 season by the Red Wings, he quickly landed in Toronto as part of Craig Berube’s staff.

Lalonde has been one of the leading voices behind the penalty kill for the Maple Leafs, who were one of the better units in the NHL last season. Still, it’s weird to see him become a candidate after the organization moved away from Berube and looked for a new direction. Maybe it’s just part of the “extensive” search promised by John Chayka. So far, names like Jay Woodcroft, David Carle, and Manny Malhotra have generated a lot of buzz. For anyone who has watched Lalonde during his few stints on the Hockey Night Canada panel, he is amazing with his intelligence about the game.

Dennis Hildeby’s Waiver status could force a goaltending decision

One of the quietly important stories surrounding the team right now involves Dennis Hildeby and the eligibility of waivers. Hildeby will lose his release clause next season, meaning the Maple Leafs will have to clear him before sending him back to the American Hockey League (AHL). There is no chance that he can resign.

Hildeby is still a work in progress, but the upside is clear. His NHL performance last season was so impressive that teams around the league should have taken notice. At 6-foot-7, with a poised stance and an incredibly good gait, he looks exactly like the type of goalie a rebuilding team would jump to take advantage of.

That makes the situation difficult for Toronto. The Maple Leafs already have Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz, but Stolarz still has fitness issues after not being a full-time NHL starter. If Chayka believes Hildeby is ready for a bigger role, moving Stolarz for cap flexibility becomes a possibility.

What’s Next for Maple Leaves?

What’s next for the Maple Leafs likely depends on whether the organization tries to patch holes or rebuild. The hiring of coaches is important because it is a big starting point for what kind of team this leadership team wants to build.

That may make youngsters like Koblar and Hildeby more connected to that big picture than fans realize. The club has spent years plugging away at players rather than developing players. Do the Maple Leafs finally have the guts to enter a phase where young players and internal development begin to carry more weight?

The truth is, I don’t know where the team will go. I’d like to think they might start doing things differently, rather than just rehashing the same old script.