Toronto Maple Leafs News & Rumors: Struggle Continues with Wall, Nylander and Primo – Hockey Writer – Toronto Maple Leafs
The Buffalo Sabers moved to .500 with a 5-3 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night in Buffalo. It was a statement game for Buffalo, with Mathias Samuelsson scoring twice in his first career multi-goal performance and Alex Tuch shorthanded late in the third period. Tag Thompson and Jiri Kulic also had a goal and an assist each, while goaltender Alex Lyon stopped 29 of 32 shots. The win moves the Sabers to 4-1-0 in their last five games after going three-game winless to start the season.
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It was another frustrating outing all week for the Maple Leafs. Toronto extended its winless streak to three games (0-2-1), once again gave up the first goal and spent much of the night chasing the game. William Nylander, Auston Matthews and Dakota Joshua scored, but the Maple Leafs never led and had more holes on defense with both Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev sidelined. To add insult to injury, Nylander exited late in the third quarter with an apparent issue. There’s no break in Toronto’s schedule – the rematch will take place on Saturday night at Scotiabank Arena.
Item 1: Joseph Wall is about to return
Joseph Wall has rejoined the Maple Leafs and resumed ice action more than a month after leaving the team due to personal reasons. Although he remains on long-term injured reserve until Nov. 1, his return is a welcome sign for a club that relied heavily on Anthony Stolarz early in the season. Toronto’s goaltending situation has been inconsistent, and Wall’s return brings much-needed stability.
When Wall is cleared, he’s expected to be Stolarz’s backup — though his playing time may be closer to that of a tandem. With Caden Primo filling in, the Maple Leafs have temporarily bought themselves some breathing room. Still, Wall’s emergence changes the dynamic, adding competition and experience to the mix to bring too much pressure into October.
Item 2: Nylander exits the game late
Toronto’s loss wasn’t the only bad news on Friday. William Nylander left the game with an injury late in the third quarter and did not return. Head coach Craig Berube did not provide a postgame update, leaving his status for Saturday’s home rematch uncertain. Nylander’s goal earlier in the game — his third of the season — brought his total to 14 points in eight games.
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If Nylander misses time, Toronto’s forward line will be stretched thin. Without Nylander, the offensive burden shifts more to Matthews and the bottom six players. This is not a sustainable formula. The Maple Leafs need more help from depth scorers like Nicholas Robertson. If Nylander cannot play, Sammy Brice is expected to be in the lineup on Saturday.
Entry 3: Maple Leafs seek revenge, Primeau in trouble
The Maple Leafs will turn the net over to Caden Primo in Saturday’s rematch with the Sabers. Primo made his Toronto debut earlier this season and hit 26 of 30 shots in a 7-4 win over the Nashville Predators. The 25-year-old is still trying to prove he belongs at the NHL level, and starting the second half of back-to-back games is a key chance to do that.
Toronto’s defense has been a mixed bag, and Primo will be tested by a Buffalo team that looked confident and fast on Friday night. With Wall on the verge of returning, Stolarz is shouldering the bulk of the load, and Primo’s performance could determine whether he remains with the big club or returns to the Toronto Marlies if Wall is activated.
Article 4: Maple Leafs’ defensive depth under the microscope
With Chris Tanev on reserve due to injury and Morgan Rielly sidelined, Toronto’s blueline has struggled to gel. Players like Simon Benoit were pressed for longer periods of time, with mixed results. The team’s defensive structure under Berube is still a work in progress, and the team has yet to find the cohesion that was stronger than last season’s Maple Leafs.
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Those injuries and inconsistency have forced Toronto to rely more on goaltending — a tough ask in a tight early schedule. As Wall gets closer to returning, his calm, skilled game could be the stabilizing force the team desperately needs.
What’s next for the Maple Leafs?
Toronto will look to regroup quickly when it hosts Buffalo on Saturday night. The team’s priorities are clear: tighten up defense, find more consistent scoring from the middle six, and closely monitor Nylander’s status.
If Wall returns as planned and the roster is stable, the Maple Leafs should have a chance to reset before the rigorous November schedule begins. But for now, this team needs a win — not just to arrest the slide, but to prove they can react when the going gets tough.
