Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Marlies, Groulx and Woodcroft & Matthews

There’s never really a quiet moment around the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, and this stretch is no different. Between a playoff push from the Toronto Marlies and ongoing speculation about the NHL coaching search, there is some short-term urgency and long-term questions around the franchise. Add in a few players trying to force their way into the conversation for next season, and it’s a week where a few things feel connected.

At the centre of it all is development. The Marlies are in a tight playoff battle, and individual performances down there are starting to matter just as much as the scoreboard. Meanwhile, bigger-picture talk around the Maple Leafs continues to focus on how to get the most out of a core that’s already in place, but still feels like it hasn’t fully clicked under pressure.

Marlies Let Game 2 Slip Away Against Cleveland

The American Hockey League (AHL) Marlies couldn’t carry the momentum from their Game 1 win into Saturday night, falling 3-1 to the Cleveland Monsters and evening the North Division Final at one game apiece. Cleveland controlled most of the first two periods, outshooting the Marlies 24-18 overall and doing a good job keeping Toronto from generating much sustained offence.

The Monsters got rolling early when Roman Ahcan finished off a 2-on-1 rush to open the scoring, and they doubled the lead late in the first period on a Mikael Pyyhtiä deflection. The Marlies finally showed more life in the third period, but Cleveland goalie Zach Sawchenko shut the door the rest of the way. Toronto pushed harder late, but they spent too much of the night chasing the game.

One bright spot for the Marlies was Benoit-Olivier Groulx, who scored a shorthanded goal after racing onto a funny bounce off the end boards. It was his third goal of the playoffs and his second in as many games. The series now shifts back to Toronto for Game 3, where the Marlies will try to regain control on home ice.

Groulx Is Making a Strong Case for Maple Leafs Duty

If there’s one Marlies player really starting to turn heads right now, it’s Groulx. After putting up a goal and two assists in Game 1 of the series, he followed it up with Toronto’s lone goal in Game 2. Suddenly, after a quieter stretch earlier in the playoffs, Groulx is starting to look like one of the Marlies’ most important players at exactly the right time.

The 26-year-old has had a strong overall season, scoring 28 goals and finishing with 52 points in 59 AHL games, while also adding five points in a 13-game stint with the Maple Leafs. What stood out in his NHL looks was the pace and energy he brought. He played fast, direct, and didn’t look overwhelmed by tougher minutes or a bigger role than expected.

At this point, these playoffs feel like more than just a Marlies storyline. Groulx is clearly trying to push his way into the conversation for a full-time NHL spot next season. For a team that will be looking for affordable depth options who can actually contribute, he’s doing exactly what you want to see from a player trying to climb the ladder.

Could Jay Woodcroft Get Auston Matthews Rolling Again?

One coaching name that keeps making more sense for Toronto is Jay Woodcroft. His stint with the Edmonton Oilers was relatively short, but the results were hard to ignore offensively. In his one full season behind the bench, Connor McDavid posted 153 points, Leon Draisaitl hit 128, and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins broke out for a 100-point campaign.

That’s what makes the fit in Toronto at least worth discussing. Under Craig Berube, the Maple Leafs were structured and slow. They focused on defensive responsibility, but the attack looked weak. Auston Matthews still produced, but not at his usual elite level.

Woodcroft’s reputation is that he can run an offence that empowers elite players without completely opening the game up defensively. There’s also a belief in some circles that his time in Edmonton ended a little too early, with bigger issues tied to roster construction and goaltending rather than coaching. For a Maple Leafs team still trying to find a balance, he might be an interesting name to watch.

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

The next few weeks are really about sorting out which direction this group wants to lean into before any major 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 only sharpen the internal decisions the team must make.

At the NHL level, the coaching conversation isn’t going away any time soon. Whether it’s Woodcroft or someone else, the team is clearly evaluating the kind of identity they want to pursue moving forward. The tension between structure and offence remains, and how they answer that question will shape not just next season but the next phase of the core around Matthews.