LAS VEGAS — The Maple Leafs continue a long stretch of games mostly away from Toronto on Wednesday with a trip to Las Vegas to face off against the surging Golden Knights. The locals have won five of their last six and like the Leafs, find themselves atop their respective division. The Leafs have a decent 8-4-1 record all time against Vegas. They also find themselves in a decent run of form as well, having won eight of their last 10.
Yet the overarching storyline that will colour whatever result is the impending trade deadline. With 48 hours to go until the NHL trade deadline, the Leafs have yet to make any moves to bolster their team. And after division rivals Florida Panthers swung for defenceman Seth Jones and with the Tampa Bay Lightning reportedly in the mix for Yanni Gourde, the clock is starting to tick a little louder for the Leafs. Yes, general manager Brad Treliving tried to temper expectations on Saturday, but it’s worth wondering if his approach could change considering what two teams hot on the Leafs’ heels have done at the deadline.
Projected lines
Knies – Matthews – Marner
Holmberg – Tavares – Nylander
McMann – Domi – Robertson
Lorentz – Kampf – Jarnkrok
Extras: Dewar, Reaves
Rielly – Ekman-Larsson
McCabe – Myers
Benoit – Timmins
Mermis – Tanev
Woll (Likely starting goaltender)
Analysis: It was good to see Chris Tanev back in a full morning skate for the first time since he was forced out of a Feb. 25 win against the Boston Bruins with an upper-body injury. Skating with recent call-up Dakota Mermis, however, suggests his return to game action won’t come tonight against the Golden Knights.
Steven Lorentz looks ready to return to the lineup after missing the Leafs’ last two games with an undisclosed injury. His presence should bolster a fourth line that has looked out of sorts as of late.
Chris Tanev (upper body) on the ice at Leafs skate in Vegas @TSN_Sports pic.twitter.com/aeYtDtzauc
— Mark Masters (@markhmasters) March 5, 2025
What we’re watching
Can the goaltending rebound?
After a string of strong appearances last week against the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Rangers, both Joseph Woll and Anthony Stolarz weren’t at their best in each of their most recent games. Looking big picture, the Leafs have gotten the kind of goaltending they’ve long dreamt of this season. They’ll need more of it to get past the Knights and maintain their lead atop the Atlantic Division.
Joseph Woll is the projected Leafs starter. He shut out the Golden Knights with an impressive 31-save win on Nov. 20.
Last game for any roster players?
Wednesday night’s game against the Golden Knights will be the Leafs’ last before the trade deadline. While the Leafs would likely have to ship out one of their top prospects or their 2026 first-round draft pick to land a crucial piece ahead of the deadline, they may also have to move a roster player to create some salary cap space. And so could this be the last time we see, say, Nick Robertson in a Leaf jersey? These are hypotheticals of course, but it does feel like someone may play their last game for Toronto tonight in Las Vegas.
Pre-game reading
• The NHL trade deadline is Friday at 3 p.m. ET. What should the Leafs do? Jonas Siegel lays out three possible paths. James Mirtle says the Leafs need to prioritize the blue line. Mirtle also laid out the team’s cap situation here. Read up on all the players who could be moved in Chris Johnston’s latest trade board.
• The Leafs signed prospect Borya Valis over the weekend. Who is he and what does he bring to Toronto?
• ICYMI: Here’s what GM Brad Treliving had to say Saturday about the Leafs at the trade deadline.
How to watch
The Leafs take on the Golden Knights in Vegas at 10 p.m. ET on TSN.
(Photo of Joseph Woll: Emilee Chinn / Getty Images)
