William Nylander scored both Toronto goals<\/p>\n
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Published Apr 11, 2026 \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 Last updated 1\u00a0hour ago \u00a0\u2022\u00a0 4 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 Leafs Nation, you have your wish.<\/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 The Maple Leafs have fallen into the bottom five in the overall National Hockey League standings<\/a>.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n A 6-2 Leafs loss against the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena on Saturday night, coupled with a Seattle Kraken win against the Calgary Flames<\/a>, put the Leafs in 28th overall in the 32-team NHL.<\/p>\n Seattle has 79 points with three games to play; Toronto, which has lost five consecutive games, has 78 points and two games left.<\/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 William Nylander scored both Leafs goals, making his fourth two-goal game of the season.<\/p>\n Three takeaways:<\/p>\n TAKE YOUR PICK<\/p>\n Under normal circumstances, there would be nothing to celebrate in a 2025-26 season that has been a massive disappointment for the Leafs.<\/p>\n With a dearth of prospects coming down the pike, that the Leafs could have a top-five selection in the 2026 NHL draft has been playing at the psyche of the fan base for weeks, and that pick is closer to becoming a reality.<\/p>\n If Toronto maintains its 28th spot, or drops further, it will retain its 2026 first-round pick. Sent to the Boston Bruins trade involving defenceman Brandon Carlo last March, the pick is top-five protected.<\/p>\n The Leafs would then keep their fingers crossed that they don\u2019t fall out of the bottom five based on what happens in the draft lottery, which is scheduled for May 5. In the lottery, the most a team can drop is two spots, if at all.<\/p>\n If the Leafs finish fifth-last, they would pray to the hockey gods that a team other than one in the bottom four doesn\u2019t win the lottery. In that case, the Leafs would be knocked out of the top five picks, and the Bruins would receive the pick.<\/p>\n Advertisement 4<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n If the Leafs hang on to the pick, their 2027 first-rounder would go to the Bruins or the Philadelphia Flyers (who acquired a first-round choice from the Leafs last year in the Scott Laughton trade last year). At any rate, the Leafs would not have their own first-round pick next year or in 2028. They did acquire a 2027 conditional first-round pick from Colorado in the Nicolas Roy trade in March; if the Avs pick is in the top 10, they will send their 2028 first-rounder, which would be unprotected, to Toronto.<\/p>\n The bottom line is that there could be a glimmer of hope for the Leafs and the 2026 draft where one has not previously existed.<\/p>\n Advertisement 5<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n SHARP IMPRESSION<\/p>\n Defenceman William Villeneuve played 18 minutes 45 seconds in his National Hockey League debut<\/a> on the Leafs blue line and didn\u2019t look out of place.<\/p>\n Villeneuve\u2019s partner initially was Simon Benoit before he was switched later in the first period to play on Oliver Ekman-Larsson\u2019s right side.<\/p>\n \u201cProbably my first shift,\u201d Villeneuve said, referring to what he would remember about his first NHL game. \u201cI got worked pretty bad. But (overall) it was unbelievable. It wasn\u2019t the result we wanted, but I\u2019ll remember that day for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n That is one bonus for the Leafs in falling out of playoff contention, while suffering more injuries, is that they can get a look at some Toronto Marlies who otherwise would not have had an opportunity. Centre Luke Haymes and goalie Artur Akhtyamov fall into that category as well.<\/p>\n For Villeneuve, it was four years of work with the Marlies after the Leafs took him in the fourth round of the 2020 draft that resulted in his chance.<\/p>\n Advertisement 6<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cI thought he was really good,\u201d Leafs coach Craig Berube said. \u201cCouple first shifts, there was nerves and stuff. He did a lot of good things, competed, defended hard, moved the puck very well. I was pretty happy with him.\u201d<\/p>\n Whether Villeneuve plays in the Leafs\u2019 final two games \u2014 and why shouldn\u2019t he \u2014 he should have a boost of confidence going into training camp from his initial NHL taste.<\/p>\n Either way, it\u2019s going to be a key summer for Villeneuve. If the Leafs don\u2019t make the necessary changes in their defence corps during the off-season, the 24-year-old should have a greater opportunity once September rolls around.<\/p>\n COUNT WOLL AS A FAN<\/p>\n Joseph Woll couldn\u2019t help but smile from the bench as he watched Akhtyamov turn aside 39 shots against the New York Islanders on Thursday.<\/p>\n It was Akhtyamov\u2019s first NHL start after he mopped up in a game against Edmonton in December, and Woll liked what he witnessed.<\/p>\n \u201cI love his game,\u201d Woll said. \u201cI think he\u2019s sick, so it\u2019s pretty cool from my perspective to watch him.<\/p>\n Advertisement 7<\/p>\n This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.<\/p>\n Article content<\/p>\n \u201cHe got shelled a little bit, especially early on, but he looked great out there. Pretty pumped for him.\u201d<\/p>\n What does Woll love about Akhtyamov?<\/p>\n \u201cHe has that Russian swagger to him,\u201d Woll said. \u201cI love watching guys like (Igor) Shesterkin, (Ilya) Sorokin, he has that same kind of vibe to him. He\u2019s quick and I enjoy watching him.\u201d<\/p>\n Woll also mentioned Andrei Vasilevskiy and Sergei Bobrovsky.<\/p>\n If it was our decision, we would give Akhtyamov one more start as the Leafs close out their schedule, whether it\u2019s at home against Dallas on Monday or in Ottawa on Wednesday.<\/p>\n The Leafs\u2019 development of Dennis Hildeby and Akhtyamov also could help tamp down worries about the club\u2019s future in the bigger picture.<\/p>\n tkoshan@postmedia.com<\/a><\/p>\n X: @koshtorontosun<\/p>\n Read More<\/p>\n Injuries, absentees, no playoffs make Maple Leafs-Panthers shell of a rivalry<\/p>\n![\"Florida](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0412mackiesmall-scaled-e1775959133305.jpg\")
Florida Panthers forward Mackie Samoskevich protects the puck from Maple Leafs defenceman Simon Benoit in Toronto on April 11, 2026. Photo by Cole Burston \/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}
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