Leafs Morning Take

Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill discuss Matthew Knies’ monster two-goal, one-assist performance in his Columbus Blue Jackets debut. Then, they dive into the latest news and notes from Leafs practice as Toronto prepares for Round 1 of the Battle of Ontario. Plus, they discuss Jake McCabe narrowly avoiding a serious injury in the season opener. Recently retired NHL coach Jacques Martin, who has seen his fair share of Battle of Ontario matchups, also drops by. And finally, the boys debut the first-ever edition of JAY or NAY, where Rosie breaks down and analyzes some Leafs-related fashion.

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Two-time Stanley Cup champion and longtime Senators head coach Jacques Martin joined Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill to discuss the Battle of Ontario, the Leafs’ offseason, and much more.

Martin reflected on the rivalry and what has made the Battle of Ontario so special over the years, joking that he was on the wrong end of a few of them. He also praised Toronto’s offseason improvements, giving John Chayka and company plenty of credit for upgrading the team’s depth, particularly on the third and fourth lines, while also addressing the goaltending.

Martin also discussed Daniel Alfredsson joining the Leafs, including his connection with Mats Sundin and the opportunity to take on a greater role in Toronto than he had in Ottawa.

Plus, Martin weighed in on the Kirill Marchenko-Matthew Knies blockbuster, Gavin McKenna’s impressive start to his NHL career, and why McKenna’s development needs to be monitored closely. He compared the situation to Marian Hossa’s NHL debut, when Hossa played seven games before returning to junior.

Finally, Martin shared his thoughts on the Sergei Bobrovsky-Anthony Stolarz tandem before reflecting on his retirement and what he plans to do with his newfound free time.

Hint: He’ll be watching a lot of hockey.

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Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green joins Nick Alberga & David Pagnotta ahead of Saturday night’s season opener against the Toronto Maple Leafs. Green discusses the excitement surrounding the start of the season, Ottawa’s injury concerns, and naming Thomas Chabot captain.

He also weighs in on Daniel Alfredsson facing the Senators for the first time since joining the Leafs’ coaching staff, saying, “I want nothing but the best for him personally. I can't say that about the team he's coaching for.”

Plus, Green reacts to the league-wide buzz surrounding the Kirill Marchenko trade and shares his keys to victory for Saturday night’s Battle of Ontario.

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Nick Alberga & David Pagnotta recap Toronto’s 2-1 win over the New York Islanders — win No. 1 of the Jim Hiller era. Anthony Stolarz was solid between the pipes with 26 saves, while Easton Cowan led the way offensively with a goal and an assist.

Plus, Pagnotta dishes on what else the Leafs could be up to on the trade market — hint: they may be looking to add some help on defence.

Meantime, Columbus Blue Jackets GM Don Waddell drops by to discuss the blockbuster Marchenko-Knies deal, and how it all came together. Also, ahead of Saturday night’s Battle of Ontario opener, Ottawa Senators head coach Travis Green joins the show to tee up the big matchup, too.

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Don Waddell, President of Hockey Operations & GM of the Columbus Blue Jackets, joins Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill for a behind-the-scenes look at how the Matthew Knies–Kirill Marchenko blockbuster came together.

Waddell details when the Leafs first entered the equation, Columbus’ read on Knies, what it’s like being an NHL GM in 2026, and what it was like negotiating with John Chayka. Plus, Waddell reveals whether he’s more of a caller or a texter — and explains why he can’t stand the infamous 👍 emoji, despite how often it gets sent around the NHL.

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Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill recap the Maple Leafs’ 3-2 loss to the Montreal Canadiens in the season opener. The boys break down all the big storylines from the opener, including Raddysh’s turbulent debut, McKenna’s first taste of NHL action, Marchenko’s impact, and Nylander’s two-goal performance.

Plus, the Leafs may not be done making aggressive moves. On Tuesday night’s edition of TSN’s Insider Trading, Chris Johnston reported that Toronto could still be active in the trade market. Nick & Jay discuss the possibility of the Leafs targeting Carolina Hurricanes RFA Alex Nikishin.

Finally, the boys look ahead to the second half of the back-to-back, as Toronto welcomes Matias Maccelli and the New York Islanders to Scotiabank Arena.

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Former Montreal Canadiens captain and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Max Pacioretty joins Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill ahead of the season opener to discuss the rivalry, his time in Toronto, the blockbuster Matthew Knies/Kirill Marchenko trade, and the current Leafs roster.

Pacioretty opens up about what makes the Toronto-Montreal rivalry so unique and how different his experiences were playing for both sides. He jokes about going from being the captain in Montreal to being in and out of the lineup during his final season with the Leafs.

He also weighs in on the Knies/Marchenko trade, and he had plenty to say about the player Toronto is losing. “For me, Matthew Knies is just a horse. I don’t think people realize how big & strong this guy really is. I know the guys loved him on that team.”

Pacioretty explains why he believes Toronto must be getting something significant in return if they were willing to move on from Knies, despite admitting he doesn’t know much about Marchenko.

He also discusses the challenges of preparing for a season opener, especially with all the attention surrounding the Leafs and Canadiens, before reflecting on his own time in Toronto. Pacioretty explains why he became so physical during his final season and how that experience gave him a newfound appreciation for players who consistently play that style.

Finally, Pacioretty gives his thoughts on the current Leafs, why he believes they can get back to the playoffs, and Auston Matthews’ offseason. He reveals that he recently texted Matthews to tell him how good he thinks he’s moving.

And Pacioretty has plenty of praise for Gavin McKenna, whom he got to see up close while coaching in the Big Ten last season.

“His talent with the puck is just ridiculous.”

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Dan Milstein, agent for Kirill Marchenko, joins Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill to break down his client's blockbuster trade to Toronto and six-year, $75 million contract extension.

First, Milstein provides an update on whether Marchenko will make his Maple Leafs debut in the season opener, revealing that the team is working through immigration paperwork and there’s a good chance he’ll play.

Milstein then takes us through the timeline of the trade, revealing that everything came together quickly and that Columbus GM Don Waddell gave Marchenko’s camp permission to speak with Toronto at approximately 1 PM on Monday. Milstein explains why Toronto was high on Marchenko’s list, what nearly derailed the deal, and why the Maple Leafs logo was a major factor in his client wanting to come to Toronto.

He also breaks down Marchenko’s game, including his versatility to play both wings, before addressing Andrew Raycroft’s recent comments about Marchenko’s conditioning. Milstein was blunt in his response, saying he felt the need to quickly shut down the accusation and defend his client. Milstein also shares that Marchenko worked extremely hard this summer and is ready to go.

Finally, he provides a candid look at how everything unfolded between Marchenko, his camp and the Columbus Blue Jackets. A fascinating, transparent conversation with the agent behind one of the biggest moves of the Maple Leafs' offseason.

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Nick Alberga & Jay Rosehill preview the Maple Leafs’ season opener against Montreal, just hours after John Chayka pulled off a huge move, sending Matthew Knies to Columbus in a deal that landed Kirill Marchenko in Toronto.

The boys set the scene for opening night, break down the blockbuster trade and discuss what Marchenko brings to Toronto. Plus, Dan Milstein, Marchenko's agent drops by to dish on the trade. Also, Max Pacioretty, who played for both the Leafs and Canadiens, stops by ahead of the opener, too.

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