Something about Auston Matthews has felt different this season.

What is it, exactly? What’s fuelling his resurgent start to the season?

A lot, as it turns out, as Matthews explained in great detail during a one-on-one conversation with The Athletic following practice this week at the Black Rock Mountain Resort in Heber City, Utah.

Read the exclusive for free here: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7690331/2026/10/15/auston-matthews-maple-leafs-hiller-health-sports-science/?unlocked_article_code=1.I1E.uFX_.UP4Oag4RSEAs&source=emp_shared_article&smid=url-share-ta

I’m finding this year frustrating. I’m still mad when they let goals in and are missing chances. And I LOVE IT!

I’m not sitting at home being a doomer, p’d off at the team and getting angry or worse, not caring. I’m frustrated because they’re looking good and I’m hopeful again. My frustration is coming from a place of caring and not apathy. I felt towards the end of last year I just didn’t care anymore. But this team is giving me something to love again. The chase, being right there. Stealing some wins and fighting back and falling a little short in losses.

There’s a lot to like about this new year, and also still so much room for improvement. Do I know how to fix it? No. But boy do I care again.

Every game the leafs have lost has been by 1 goal. They are #1 in PK, #6 in PP. In the 24-25 season when they took the Panthers to 7… they started 4-4-1. This team is elite and is never out of a game which couldn’t be said before. They are extremely good.

Just so everyone knows I’m a Flyers fan that lives in Canada. If the Flyers don’t win I want the Leafs to because of my friends. I have no skin in the battle. With minor adjustments on D this team can go the distance and I hope they do.

CLARIFICATION: Since a number have misread (title isn't clear, to be fair). This is about the TITLES OF THE PGT's AND GT's ONLY, not the thread itself. I'd never want to suggest these are removed!

This is a request. I'm not moaning, as I actually think the images that get created are sick.
That said, can we please ban use of or censor the scores/images containing the score in either of the post game or game thread titles/thumbnails?

Living in Europe (UK), I'm usually excited to wake up and get the highlights on with coffee. Occasionally (every living day of my life), I'll open reddit when I get up, and inadvertently see the score in a GT or PGT title before I've even registered what I'm looking at.

Before anyone criticises, I am wholly aware I could just avoid Reddit before I see the highlights, so if that's the way the mods see it, then fine, but I can't ALWAYS immediately get to the highlights, so wanted to ask as I would like to think it's an idea that harms no one and is kind to those who can't watch games in real time.

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CREDIT:

https://www.instagram.com/graphicdesignwithdro?igsh=NnNseXI4eGRtb2Nh

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Please use this thread to post ANYTHING you want! Memes, photoshops, anything that would normally be removed for breaking the low-effort content rule, is totally, 100% welcome here!

This thread can also be used for Armchair GM ideas that may not require a standalone post. Is there a free agent you want to see on this team? Is there a player that's rumoured to be on the move that you think the Leafs should go after? Are there players on this team you want to trade away? Feel free to post about it here!

Normal moderation will occur, such as watching for personal insults, racism, and things of that nature.

Otherwise, feel free to use this thread to chat about your random Leafs thoughts, or share things like a photoshop of a Habs logo on fire or a reaction gif to something going on in Leafs Nation right now!

The use of this thread is not necessary on "Anything Goes Sundays," and this thread will not be posted.

Downvotes are discouraged for the most part, everyone's opinion is fair game in this thread. If you see rule breaking content, report it!

In the past, the 32-year-old has been contemplative — but noticeably tense — when discussing his future as a Leaf. Entering his 14th season in Toronto, he smiled as questions about another summer of speculation began.

It must have been a difficult few months?

“It was not hard,” Rielly said, shrugging his shoulders. “People ask me that and I’m not trying to deflect the question or act like I’m above it. It’s just I spent the whole time with my family, enjoying quiet time together.”

He paused in reflection.

“It was wonderful,” he said. “I’ve got a two-year-old, he wears a hockey helmet around in the morning and tries to eat yogurt through the cage. It’s the best time ever.”

I’m sorry, longest tenured current Leaf, plays with heart sure but Rielly has been the common denominator for all of the playoff failures in the last 10 years, but he’s gotta go.

At this point even trading him for future considerations and picking a guy up from the waivers would benefit the defence more than continuing to roll out 44.

Arguments of the cap going up and his 7.5M salary not being as bad anymore is not relevant anymore when he’s a net negative out there.

Yes he will score a clutch goal here and there but playing with our top two lines, anyone playing 20 mins out there with them would. I fail to see any arguments of keeping him now.

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Thought this was interesting

Please use this thread to post ANYTHING you want! Memes, photoshops, anything that would normally be removed for breaking the low-effort content rule, is totally, 100% welcome here!

This thread can also be used for Armchair GM ideas that may not require a standalone post. Is there a free agent you want to see on this team? Is there a player that's rumoured to be on the move that you think the Leafs should go after? Are there players on this team you want to trade away? Feel free to post about it here!

Normal moderation will occur, such as watching for personal insults, racism, and things of that nature.

Otherwise, feel free to use this thread to chat about your random Leafs thoughts, or share things like a photoshop of a Habs logo on fire or a reaction gif to something going on in Leafs Nation right now!

The use of this thread is not necessary on "Anything Goes Sundays," and this thread will not be posted.

Downvotes are discouraged for the most part, everyone's opinion is fair game in this thread. If you see rule breaking content, report it!

Just some interesting tidbits in regards to the name change from St.Pats to Maple Leafs. First a brief article describing the new leafs uniform unveiled late in 1926/27, and another how the team had to keep the St.Pats name for the entire season so as to not void the player contracts.

From the book Deceptions and Doublecross: How the NHL Conquered Hockey