With so many clubs returning to the playoff pool after varying absences, no room for the defending Cup champs or the fallen Leafs.<\/p>\n
Get the latest from Lance Hornby straight to your inbox Sign Up <\/p>\n
Published Apr 10, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 6\u00a0hours ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 3 minute read<\/p>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n You can save this article by registering for free here<\/a>. Or sign-in<\/a> if you have an account.<\/p>\n A year\u00a0ago, they fought a\u00a0high-stakes, seven-game series with Stanley\u00a0Cup implications.<\/p>\n Advertisement 2<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.<\/p>\n Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account.Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on.Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists.Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.<\/p>\n REGISTER \/ SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.<\/p>\n THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.<\/p>\n Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.<\/p>\n Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authors<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n On Saturday, the Maple\u00a0Leafs\u00a0and Panthers will be scrapping over who will be cast\u00a0into\u00a0the NHL\u2019s bottom five\u00a0next week.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Not only are both missing the playoffs, the Leafs are in talks with Florida assistant general manager Sunny Mehta<\/a> to perhaps leave the two-time champs and put Toronto back on track to ending a 59-year title drought.<\/p>\n But the humbling of the Leafs after their nine-season run of playoff appearances and an off-year for the Panthers after three straight trips to the final, aren\u2019t the only remarkable shifts to the post-season bracket.<\/p>\n Four, and possibly five, new clubs are back in the Eastern Conference dance, while up to three have re-entered the Western picture.<\/p>\n We apologize, but this video has failed to load.<\/p>\n Play Video<\/p>\n Welcome back, after a league-worst 14-year hiatus, to the Buffalo Sabres. Also quite likely back in is Philly after four sitting out, Pittsburgh after three, Boston re-arming in just one summer and Detroit, still hoping to end its drought at nine seasons.<\/p>\n Just outside the wild-card window approaching this weekend is Columbus, which narrowly missed a berth last year, and the New York Islanders, who also came up short in 2024-25.<\/p>\n Your Midday Sun<\/p>\n Thanks for signing up!<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Advertisement 3<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n In the West, Anaheim has cured its seven-year itch, while\u00a0Utah put up its\u00a0\u2018X\u2019 on Thursday, the Mammoth\u2019s\u00a0first\u00a0since moving from Arizona.\u00a0The Predators are\u00a0back in\u00a0the hunt, too.<\/p>\n There were no games Friday<\/a>, ahead of six frenetic final days of the regular-season schedule.<\/p>\n \u201cWe could see the highest year-over-year playoff turnover in\u00a0league\u00a0history,\u201d a release from NHL Stats\u00a0noted\u00a0Friday afternoon. \u201cThe current record is seven teams (set\u00a0four\u00a0times\u00a0between\u00a02014-15\u00a0and \u201820-21). There are currently 11 teams either inside\u00a0the bracket or within four points of it after missing out last season,\u00a0including\u00a0three that have already clinched.\u201d<\/p>\n Specific to the\u00a0Leafs\u00a0and the East, the changing of the guard\u00a0of up to five teams\u00a0can match\u00a02016-17 (the start of Toronto\u2019s\u00a0playoff\u00a0streak) as the most since conference play\u00a0was\u00a0initiated\u00a0in 1974-75.<\/p>\n WHAT\u2019S AT STAKE FOR TORONTO ON SATURDAY?<\/p>\n Scotiabank Arena will have a weird vibe for a supposed meaningless game between eliminated clubs. They\u2019re tied at 78 points with the Cats at the end of a five-game trip, all losses to date. But if any team can rest a bit on its laurels, it\u2019s Florida.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Meanwhile, it\u2019s Toronto\u2019s\u00a0final\u00a0Hockey Night in Canada date and second last at home, where they\u2019ve been a bust.<\/p>\n But a significant chunk of its fan base wants them to fade through their last three games also (here Monday against Dallas and Wednesday in Ottawa) hoping Florida and others pick up enough points to land the Leafs in the league\u2019s bottom five.<\/p>\n Pending the draft lottery, that would revert this year\u2019s traded first-round draft pick from Boston. Fifth-from-bottom Seattle, which has had ex-Leaf Bobby McMann score seven goals in 13 games since the trade, has the biggest say in the Leafs\u2019 draft fate at present, sitting a point behind with a game in hand.<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Chris Pronger taking cautious approach to Maple Leafs executive opening<\/p>\n <\/a> LEAFS TAKEAWAYS: Artur Akhtyamov set for first NHL start against Islanders<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n The\u00a0Leafs\u00a0had a mandatory day off from practice Friday after back-to-back defeats to Washington and the Islanders.<\/p>\n Joseph Woll is expected to start in net Saturday after Artur Akhtyamov\u2019s full debut as an NHL starter, a 60-minute shooting gallery in New York facing 44 pucks.<\/p>\n The extent of Anthony Stolarz\u2019s lower-body injury should be updated Saturday after further medical imaging as well as the ailments of defenceman Brandon Carlo and winger Dakota Joshua<\/a> from the same game.<\/p>\n Centre Luke Haymes, with his Ottawa-area family in attendance, had an assist in his first NHL game and won four of 10 draws.<\/p>\n Defenceman William Villeneuve and forward Ryan Tverberg are also up from the Marlies on emergency recall, the former most likely to play in the next couple of days.<\/p>\n![\"Florida](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0411-aj-greer-panthers-auston-matthews.jpg\")
Florida Panthers’ A.J. Greer checks Toronto Maple Leafs’ Auston Matthews during a game earlier this season. The Canadian PressArticle content<\/p>\n![\"Toronto](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/identity\/logo-identity-tsun.svg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\n![\"Loading...\"](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/common\/icon-spinner-animated.svg\"){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n![\"opening](\"https:\/\/dcs-static.gprod.postmedia.digital\/20.9.1\/websites\/images\/newsletters\/icon-sun-middaySun.svg\"\/){kind=icon}
<\/p>\n![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0411-chris-pronger-blues-suit.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Goaltender](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0409Akhtyamov-scaled-e1775708515520.jpg\")
<\/p>\n