The Daily Goal Horn

An analyst stirs the pot with a bold take on Auston Matthews carrying Toronto as the ultimate standalone superstar in a league full of stacked rosters. Leafs Nation debates this nonstop because AM's goal-scoring machine act defines their hopes amid playoff droughts. NHL insiders know one elite sniper changes everything, but does Matthews' shine blind everyone to Toronto's supporting cast flaws?

Hall of Famer Mike Modano breaks down how America's first men's hockey gold since 1980 ripples into the NHL spotlight for Auston Matthews. The former U.S. Olympian eyes the Toronto star's game as this Olympic high fuels national pride and player legacies. With Hughes brothers leading the charge, Modano sees big motivational waves hitting the league's top Americans right now.

John Tavares skips practice with the flu bug hitting at the worst possible time, just as the Maple Leafs gear up for Tampa Bay on Wednesday. The 35-year-old assistant captain anchors Toronto's top-six production with 20 goals and 47 points through 57 games, but now his status hangs in the balance against a Lightning squad that loves feasting on shaky lineups.

John Tavares, the steady assistant captain who's notched 20 goals and 27 assists in 57 games, sits out Tuesday's practice battling the flu right before the Lightning clash. William Nylander shakes off Olympic rust, hitting the ice for the first time since his two-goal, two-assist showing for Sweden in the quarters. With Toronto clinging to seventh in the Atlantic at 27-21-9 and 25 games left, every body counts in this post-break sprint.

The Maple Leafs and Scott Laughton signal mutual interest in a long-term extension, but cap crunch and term talks promise the real battle ahead. Toronto brass covets the gritty center's fit amid playoff pushes, while Laughton's camp plays leverage from a hot market. Dubas-era dealmaking tests patience as deadline whispers grow louder in Scotiabank Arena.