The Toronto Maple Leafs are navigating a season of high expectations and constant adjustments, with recent news and rumors swirling around several key players. Here's a breakdown of the latest developments concerning Scott Laughton, Dakota Joshua, Nicolas Roy, and Matt Benning:

Scott Laughton:

Scott Laughton, acquired by the Maple Leafs at last season's trade deadline from the Philadelphia Flyers, has been a topic of discussion regarding his future with the team. Laughton is in the final year of his contract, carrying a relatively small cap hit due to salary retention. While it took him some time to adjust to his new team, Laughton has expressed that he has enjoyed his time in Toronto. There are no conversations or contract negotiations at this time. Before being traded to the Maple Leafs, Flyers coach John Tortorella shared a heartfelt message, acknowledging Laughton's importance to the team's culture.

Dakota Joshua:

Dakota Joshua, who was acquired from the Vancouver Canucks, is aiming to solidify his role within the Maple Leafs' lineup. The Maple Leafs view Joshua as a versatile player for the bottom six, capable of contributing on the forecheck, providing secondary scoring, and bringing physicality to the game. After the Maple Leafs acquired Joshua from the Canucks in exchange for a 2028 fourth-round pick, analysts noted that Joshua is a player who will go to bat for the head coach. He is under contract for two more years after this one at $3.25 million annually. There are reports that the Maple Leafs coach hopes that benching Dakota Joshua will help him find his identity.

Nicolas Roy:

Nicolas Roy, acquired in a trade that sent Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights, is currently sidelined with an injury. Coach Craig Berube has provided updates, indicating that Roy is skating on his own but still has a ways to go before returning to the lineup. Before being injured, Roy's performance had been a topic of discussion, with some suggesting he hadn't fully met expectations since joining the team.

Matt Benning:

Matt Benning was acquired as part of the trade that sent Timothy Liljegren to the San Jose Sharks. However, there were immediate rumors that the Maple Leafs might look to trade Benning again shortly after acquiring him. Although Benning stated his intention to work hard and make it difficult for the Leafs to trade him, he was later placed on waivers. Benning spent a significant amount of time with the Toronto Marlies of the AHL.

Team Performance and Other News:

The Maple Leafs have shown flashes of brilliance but are still working towards consistent performance. Goaltending has been a pleasant surprise, with Joseph Woll and Dennis Hildeby posting solid save percentages. However, the team is still looking for ways to capitalize on their strong goaltending. Recently, the Maple Leafs had a solid 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers.

Overall, the Maple Leafs are striving to find consistency and solidify their roster as they navigate the current season.