Maple Leafs news and rumors: Marlies, Groulx and Woodcroft & Matthews – Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

There is no time for silence around the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, and this stretch is no different. Between the playoff push from the Toronto Marlies and the ongoing speculation about the NHL’s coaching search, there are short-term urgency and long-term questions about the franchise. Add in a few players trying to force their way into the postseason conversation, and it’s a week where a few things feel connected.

Central to it all is development. The Marlies are in a strong playoff battle, and individual performances out there are starting to matter as much as the scoreboard. Meanwhile, the big-picture talk surrounding the Maple Leafs continues to focus on how to get the most out of the core already in place, but it feels like it hasn’t fully clicked under pressure.

Marlies Let Game 2 Slip Against Cleveland

The American Hockey League (AHL) Marlies couldn’t carry the momentum from their Game 1 victory into Saturday night, falling 3-1 to the Cleveland Monsters in the evening’s North Division final at one game apiece. Cleveland dominated most of the first two periods, outscoring the Marlies 24-18 overall and doing a good job of stopping Toronto from generating sustained offense.

The Monsters got rolling early when Roman Ahcan finished off a 2-on-1 run to open the scoring, and they doubled the lead late in the first half with Mikael Pyyhtiä’s deflection. The Marlies finally showed some life in the third period, but Cleveland goalie Zach Sawchenko shut the door the rest of the way. Toronto made a big push of late, but they spent most of the night chasing the game.

One bright spot for the Marlies was Benoit-Olivier Groulx, who scored a shorthanded goal after a ridiculous leaping run into the end boards. It was his third goal of the playoffs and second in as many games. The series now returns to Toronto for Game 3, where the Marlies will try to dominate home ice.

Groulx Creates Strong Case for Maple Leaf Career

If there’s one Marlies player who’s starting to turn heads right now, it’s Groulx. After posting a goal and two assists in Game 1 of the series, he followed it up with one goal for Toronto in Game 2. Suddenly, after a bit of a lull before the playoffs, Groulx is starting to look like one of the Marlies’ most important players at the right time.

The 26-year-old had a solid season, scoring 28 goals and finishing with 52 points in 59 AHL games, while also adding five points in Game 13 with the Maple Leafs. What stood out from his NHL appearance was the speed and power he brought. He played fast, direct, and didn’t look overwhelmed by heavy minutes or a bigger role than expected.

At this point, this playoff run feels like more than just a Marlies story. Groulx is apparently trying to get into the conversation for a full-time NHL spot next season. For a team that will be looking for affordable depth options who can contribute, he does exactly what you want to see in a player trying to climb the ladder.

Can Jay Woodcroft Get Auston Matthews Rolling Again?

One coaching name that continues to make more sense for Toronto is Jay Woodcroft. His time with the Edmonton Oilers was short, but the results were hard to ignore offensively. In his full season behind the bench, Connor McDavid put up 153 points, Leon Draisaitl scored 128, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins broke through with a 100-point campaign.

That’s what makes the fit in Toronto at least debatable. Under Craig Berube, the Maple Leafs are built and moving slowly. They are focused on defense, but the attack looks weak. Auston Matthews is still producing, but not at his usual elite level.

Woodcroft’s reputation is that he can run an offense that powers top players without completely opening up the game defensively. There is also a belief in some circles that his time in Edmonton ended too soon, with major problems tied to roster building and goaltending instead of coaching. On a Maple Leafs team still trying to find balance, he could be an interesting name to watch.

What’s Next Before the Maple Leaves Turn the Page?

The next few weeks are about planning what offense this team wants to lean on before the big changes come. The Marlies’ playoff run will continue to be a testing ground for players trying to prove they can handle bigger responsibilities, and performances like Groulx’s will sharpen the internal decisions the team must make.

At the NHL level, the coaching conversation isn’t going away anytime soon. Whether it’s Woodcroft or someone else, the team is clearly evaluating the kind of ownership it wants to pursue going forward. The tension between structure and offense remains, and how they answer that question will set up not only next season but the next phase of the core surrounding Matthews.