The Maple Leafs skated at Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
—<\/p>\n
Nicolas Roy<\/a> surged up to No. 12 on TSN\u2019s trade bait list<\/a> on Wednesday. <\/p>\n \u201cYou never know what\u2019s going to happen,\u201d the Leafs right-shot centre said. \u201cBut try not to think about it too much.\u201d<\/p>\n It\u2019s hard to avoid all the trade talk right now with Roy acknowledging he\u2019s well aware of the report on TSN\u2019s Insider Trading segment<\/a> that the Edmonton Oilers<\/a> may be interested in acquiring him. <\/p>\n \u201cWell, obviously I saw the rumour like everybody else,\u201d Roy said. \u201cBut, I mean, rumours, until they come true, nothing really happened. I mean, I wasn\u2019t expecting to be traded last summer and never heard any rumours and then it happened, and sometimes you hear rumors and it doesn\u2019t happen. So, yeah, I heard it like everybody else, but I\u2019m playing for the Leafs now and I want to be here.\u201d<\/p>\n The Leafs acquired Roy in a sign-and-trade deal that sent Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights<\/a>. <\/p>\n \u201cGrowing up, I was a Leafs fan so, for sure, it\u2019s really fun to be playing for this team,\u201d said Roy, who idolized former Leafs captain Mats Sundin<\/a> as a kid. \u201cObviously, playing in Canada, big market, everybody\u2019s really involved and obviously really good group of people so really enjoying my time.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy helped the Knights win a Stanley Cup in 2023 and centres are always a hot commodity this time of year. The 29-year-old Quebec native agreed with the idea that it can be a compliment to be on a trade list. <\/p>\n \u201cObviously I have a lot of playoff experience playing in Vegas for a while,\u201d he noted. \u201cSo, yeah, for sure a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n Roy has produced five goals and 15 assists in 58 games with the Leafs. He\u2019s won 52.4 per cent of his faceoffs.<\/p>\n Craig Berube<\/a> appreciates Roy\u2019s consistent effort. <\/p>\n \u201cI know what I\u2019m getting every night,\u201d the Leafs coach said. \u201cI know that his production is not where he wants it to be and we would like it a little higher too … He\u2019s had some real good opportunities to score more and it hasn\u2019t gone in but, overall, we\u2019re pretty happy with his game. He\u2019s done a good job killing penalties and just being used in different situations for us throughout the year.\u201d<\/p>\n ‘You never know what’s going to happen’: Leafs’ Roy well aware of Oilers rumour Nicolas Roy is no stranger to being dealt but as rumours circulate ahead of the deadline, including reports that the Oilers have interest in him, the Leafs forward knows what’s out there but is solely focused on the next game. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n There are six Leafs on TSN\u2019s trade bait list with winger Bobby McMann<\/a> (No. 9), centre Scott Laughton<\/a> (No. 23), defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson<\/a> (No. 26), defenceman Simon Benoit<\/a> (No. 42) and defenceman Brandon Carlo<\/a> (No. 45) joining Roy. <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t go sit around and talk to every guy about what they\u2019re thinking, but they\u2019re obviously thinking about it,\u201d said Berube. \u201cThat\u2019s natural … The deadline is around the corner here and there\u2019s a lot of talk and noise, but you got to block it out and play.\u201d<\/p>\n The NHL trade deadline is set for 3 p.m. ET on Friday. Will the Leafs scratch any players for roster management reasons?<\/p>\n \u201cNot tonight, but it could happen, obviously,\u201d Berube said following the morning skate. \u201cBut it\u2019s not gonna happen tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Things change quickly at this time of year and it turns out there will be roster management taking place on Wednesday. <\/p>\n TSN Hockey Insider Chris Johnston reports McMann and Laughton will not play in Wednesday\u2019s game against the New Jersey Devils<\/a>. TSN Hockey Insider Darren Dreger reports Ekman-Larsson will also not play. <\/p>\n Toronto Marlies centre Jacob Quillan<\/a> is in New Jersey and on standby in case the Leafs make trades and need more than the extra two forwards on the roster. <\/p>\n Toronto will also play on Thursday in New York against the Rangers.<\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Ekman-Larsson\u2019s wife is due to give birth soon. <\/p>\n \u201cI kind of want to leave that personal stuff out of it just for my wife\u2019s sake,\u201d the 34-year-old Swede said. \u201cShe\u2019s got a lot to think about at this time … We are focusing on controlling what we can control and go from there.\u201d<\/p>\n Ekman-Larsson is in the second year of a four-year deal with the Leafs. <\/p>\n \u201cWe love it here,\u201d he said. \u201cWe, as a family, we\u2019re super happy to be here and we want to stay here.\u201d<\/p>\n Ekman-Larsson leads all Leafs defencemen with 35 points. <\/p>\n ‘A lot to think about’: Ekman-Larsson dealing with trade talk with baby on the way Oliver Ekman-Larsson knows that trade speculation comes with the territory for a hockey player but he’s doing his best to leave his personal life out of the situation as trade talks heat up leading up to the trade deadline. Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube has seen nothing but professionalism from his defenceman. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Despite losing Marner, the Leafs entered the season with the expectation of making the playoffs for a 10th straight season. So, what went wrong? <\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d said centre Auston Matthews<\/a>. \u201cI mean, I think you can look at a lot of different factors. I\u2019m not going to sit here and speculate on what went wrong, I mean, we\u2019ve got a game tonight and that\u2019s kind of where my focus is at. Obviously, you never want to be in this situation. For us, you know, it\u2019s tough. It\u2019s obviously frustrating but we got a game tonight. We\u2019ve got to get ready and focus for that.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthews is in his second season as captain. How is the Arizona native planning to lead during this trying time?<\/p>\n \u201cJust staying positive,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd continue to do the right things on the ice and leading by example. I mean, you can only control what you can control, so for me it\u2019s the work ethic, it\u2019s the compete level that I play with.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthews has yet to score in four games since the Olympic break with the Leafs dropping all four games (0-3-1). He does have three assists during the skid. <\/p>\n \u201cGrind through it,\u201d Berube advised. \u201cHe\u2019s got to go out and lead by example on the ice and with work ethic. Obviously, we\u2019re counting on him to score goals amongst other things. That\u2019s what leaders do. And just keep everybody in check in the room and make sure we\u2019re going out and competing every shift and playing for the team. That\u2019s the biggest thing that, as a captain, he needs to handle.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthews also went goalless in his last three games at the Olympics. <\/p>\n ‘Not going to speculate on what went wrong’: Matthews admits to frustration with Leafs season As frustrating as it has been for the Maple Leafs during their four-game winless skid, Auston Matthews believes the team should be proud of the effort they put forth in their last game against the Flyers. The Leafs captain is doing his best to stay positive and lead by example during a difficult stretch for his club. <\/p>\n — <\/p>\n Injuries have played a role in Toronto\u2019s slide to last place in the Atlantic Division. Chris Tanev<\/a> has only played 11 games this season.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wanted to try to come back and play this year, but it didn\u2019t work out so he got the operation,\u201d Berube said. <\/p>\n Tanev is expected to fully participate in training camp in September. The 36-year-old defenceman, who has been sidelined since December, underwent successful core muscle surgery on Wednesday in New York and will miss the rest of the season. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n Matthews will be playing Jack Hughes<\/a> for the first time since the Devils centre scored the golden goal in Milan. <\/p>\n \u201cEverybody from that team\u2019s had a whirlwind couple weeks, but him probably more than anybody,\u201d Matthews said. \u201cI\u2019m so happy for him. He\u2019s an incredible, incredible person, incredible player and I think all the attention and stuff that he\u2019s getting couldn\u2019t have happened to a better person.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthews has already faced some of his USA teammates in the NHL since the Olympics, including Tampa Bay\u2019s Jake Guentzel<\/a>, Florida\u2019s Matthew Tkachuk<\/a> and Ottawa\u2019s Brady Tkachuk<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a little interesting after going from that and then coming back and playing against each other and competing,\u201d Matthews acknowledged. \u201cBut, no, it\u2019s cool. And, like I said, I\u2019m extremely happy for him, couldn\u2019t have happened to a better guy.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthews and the Hughes brothers shared the podium during a post-win news conference in Milan when the Leafs captain was asked if the gold medal could help him get over the hump in the NHL. <\/p>\n \u201cDoesn\u2019t matter what anyone says now,\u201d Jack interjected with a smile. \u201cAuston Matthews<\/a> is a winner.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what the media in Toronto should be talking about,\u201d Quinn Hughes<\/a> added. \u201cAuston Matthews<\/a> led us to a championship\u201d<\/p>\n What did Matthews think of the brothers leaping to his defence? <\/p>\n \u201cIt was nice,\u201d he said. \u201cBoth of them stepping up like that was obviously nice. I think the world of those two as people.\u201d<\/p>\n Matthews on Hughes brothers having his back at Olympics: ‘Stepping up like that was nice’ Auston Matthews will go head-to-head against Jack Hughes when the Maple Leafs visit the Devils Wednesday night. All the attention the Devils forward has been getting has been fun to watch from afar for the Leafs captain. Matthews was also appreciative of the support he got from Jack and his brother Quinn after their gold medal win at Milano Cortina 2026. <\/p>\n —<\/p>\n