There’s always a bit of an extra charge when a player, new to one team, faces the club he used to play for.
asserted
he → ’ → club
Usually there’s some money on the board for the teammate who scores the winning goal.
asserted
who → ’ → goal
They’re called revenge games.
asserted
They → call → ?
Consider Scott Laughton scoring as a Leaf in his return to Philadelphia last season.
asserted
Laughton → consider → Philadelphia
Or, um, Mitch Marner’s Golden Knights beating the Maple Leafs twice.
asserted
Knights → beat → Leafs
In an off-season filled with many changes, here’s a look at some of the revenge games the Leafs will participate in during the 2026-27 season.
asserted
Leafs → fill → season
It will only be the second game of the season, but it will be interesting to see how the Islanders use winger Matias Maccelli.
asserted
Islanders → see → Maccelli
He was really only so-so in his only season in Toronto with 39 points in 71 games, but he does carry a chip on his shoulder.
asserted
he → carry → shoulder
The Leafs’ pre-season opens Saturday with split-squad games against the Canadiens and Knies back on the top line.
asserted
season → open → line
The Leafs’ pre-season opens Saturday with split-squad games against the Canadiens and Knies back on the top line.
asserted
season → open → line
It’ll be Colton Sissons’ first game against the team he went to the Stanley Cup final with, but the game will still probably revolve around the Marner narrative.
asserted
game → go → narrative
Marner’s agent, Darren Ferris, did the player no good when he rehashed his reasons for departing Toronto in a podcast appearance this summer.
asserted
he → do → appearance
It included the fact that Marner didn’t get all the signing bonuses Auston Matthews did when they signed as rookies.
asserted
they → include → rookies
Centre Nicolas Roy was part of the ballast overboard when the Leafs raised the white flag at the trade deadline.
asserted
Leafs → raise → deadline
They did get a top-10 protected first-round pick from the Avalanche for him.
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They → get → him
He’ll be remembered fondly.
asserted
He → remember → ?
A prized late bloomer developed by the Marlies, Bobby McMann was another player moved at the trade deadline.
asserted
McMann → prize → deadline
He thrived in Seattle, as fans knew he would, and re-upped with the team.
asserted
he → thrive → team
Will Simon Benoit bring out his superman punch?
asserted
Benoit → bring → punch
Edmonton Oilers at Leafs
Mike Babcock and his bevvy of ex-Leafs — Zach Hyman, Kasperi Kapanen and Frederik Andersen — coaches his first game in Toronto in nearly seven years.
asserted
Babcock → coach → years
His reputation was in the dumpster following his days behind the Leafs bench.
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reputation → follow → bench
New Leafs forward Jack Roslovic would have had his revenge in Edmonton on Oct. 24.
asserted
Roslovic → have → Oct.
Los Angeles Kings at Leafs
Not only did Laughton score in his return as a Leaf in Philadelphia, he scored against the Flyers again in his second game.
asserted
he → score → game
He loved playing here, too.
asserted
He → love → ?
Could he do the same as a Los Angeles King?
uncertain
he → do → King
Florida Panthers at Leafs
It will be a night for Sergei Bobrovsky to remember.
asserted
Bobrovsky → remember → Leafs
Maybe even too emotional as he faces his former teammates for the first time.
asserted
he → face → time
Maybe some Senators fans will show up to boo Brady Tkachuk.
asserted
fans → show → Tkachuk
Hopefully forward Nick Paul will love killing the Lightning as much as he loved killing the Leafs.
asserted
he → love → Leafs
Throw in defenceman Darren Raddysh on Toronto’s side and the delightful possibility that Dennis Hildeby could be in net for Tampa and you’ve got a popcorn-popper of a game.
uncertain
you → throw → game
Pittsburgh Penguins at Leafs
Won’t winger Nick Robertson just love it if he gets a goal or two as a Penguin?
asserted
he → love → Penguin
The Robertson lovers will be quick with the “I told you so’s” on social media.
asserted
I → tell → media
Defenceman Brandon Carlo gets a chance to show what he can do as a Blue.
asserted
he → get → Blue
Betting no one says “I told you so” here.
asserted
I → bet → you
The Aporia
