The Toronto Maple Leafs cannot afford many more efforts like their 6-3 loss to the Minnesota Wild on Monday, as the club was lethargic after returning from a long road trip, but did not really start to play until the third period. The Leafs continue their crucial pre-Olympic homestand against the Detroit Red Wings at Scotiabank Arena on Wednesday.
The Wings will be relatively well-rested compared to Toronto, as they last played on Sunday, a 4-3 overtime victory over Ottawa, but the Leafs should be properly motivated in their fourth and final meeting with their Atlantic Division foe. Toronto was blown out and got stonewalled by Cam Talbot in home–and-home losses during the opening week of the season, and lost 3-2 in overtime just after Christmas at Little Caesars Arena.
Toronto is eight points behind the Wings in the Atlantic race, who along with Montreal, have been surprisingly consistent and yet to recede back to the pack in the East. Winger Matthew Knies and defenseman Troy Stecher did not practice on Tuesday, but head coach Craig Berube is expecting both to play on Wednesday. Dennis Hildeby, who made 33 saves in the OT loss on December 28, is expected to get the start.
The trade rumors are beginning to percolate with two weeks to go before the Olympic roster freeze, and according to TSN and the Athletic insider Chris Johnston’s updated trade board, Leafs defenseman Simon Benoit could be someone who the club moves before the break or the March 6th trade deadline. The 27-year-old blueliner has been in and out of the lineup, in spite of the defense being short-handed, and has never really regained the level of play he displayed before signing a three-year contract extension.
Benoit is someone that the Leafs could deal in either eventuality, whether they are legitimately in the playoff race or looking to recoup some draft capital, as he provides physicality and has another year left on his contract at an AAV of $1.35 million.
If GM Brad Treliving is looking for an upgrade on defense or someone right-handed to play limited minutes, not named Philippe Myers, Benoit could be a piece sent back in a deal for cap reasons. That would fit in a potential trade scenario for former Leaf Luke Schenn or Toronto native Dougie Hamilton, but in the case of Hamilton, the club would have to clear cap space by putting Chris Tanev on LTIR and have New Jersey retain a portion of his $9 million cap hit.
All trade speculation hinges on the Leafs remaining in the playoff race through the next eight games. If they begin to fall back in the playoff chase, the likelihood of Treliving putting someone like winger Bobby McMann on the trade block increases, since the 29-year-old is on pace for a career-high in points and a second straight 20-goal season.
TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS (24-17-8 – 56 POINTS)
vs.
DETROIT RED WINGS (30-16-4 – 64 POINTS)
JANUARY 21, 2026 ▪ 7:00 PM EST ▪ SCOTIABANK ARENA (TORONTO, ON)
TV: SPORTSNET ▪ RADIO: SPORTSNET 590
MAPLE LEAFS HISTORY vs. DETROIT RED WINGS
| All-Time Record: | 303-287-93-7 (690 Games) |
| All-Time Home Record: | 180-111-47-4 (342 Games) |
| 2024-25: | 3-1-0 |
| Last Five: | 2-2-1 |
| Last 10: | 4-4-2 |
| First Matchup Between Clubs: | January 4, 1927 (Toronto 2 at Detroit 1) |
| All-Time Record: | 303-287-93-7 (690 Games) |
| All-Time Home Record: | 180-111-47-4 (342 Games) |
| All-Time Road Record: | 123-176-46-3 (348 Games) |
| Last Home Win vs. Opponent: | April 17, 2025 (Toronto 4 vs. Detroit 3 – OTW) |
MAPLE LEAFS / RED WINGS – 2025-26 TEAM STATS
| TORONTO | DETROIT | |
| Goals For Per Game: | 3.37 (5th) | 3.10 (17th) |
| Goals Against Per Game: | 3.33 (25th-T) | 3.02 (14th-T) |
| Power Play %: | 17.2 (23rd) | 25.2 (6th) |
| Penalty Kill %: | 83.1 (4th-T) | 78.9 (17th-T) |
| Shots For Per Game: | 27.1 (22nd) | 28.1 (16th) |
| Shots Against Per Game: | 31.5 (32nd) | 28.0 (14th-T) |
| Faceoff %: | 56.5 (1st) | 50.5 (13th-T) |
| (NHL rank in parenthesis) | ||
Home › Forums › Are The Leafs Looking For Reinforcements?
Tagged: nhl, Toronto Maple Leafs