For the first time in the Auston Matthews era, the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference after Buffalo’s 4–1 win over Carolina bumped them down yet again.

Sammy Blais has been placed on waivers, while Jacob Quillan will return to the AHL’s Toronto Marlies, the Toronto Maple Leafs announced ahead of Wednesday’s game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Maple Leafs have activated F Auston Matthews and F Nicolas Roy from IR.

The Toronto Maple Leafs got a much-needed road win on Wednesday night, beating the Columbus Blue Jackets 2-1 in overtime.

The Toronto Maple Leafs opened their road trip with a frustrating setback, falling 5–2 to the Montreal Canadiens at Bell Centre on Saturday. The defeat extended Toronto’s struggles, leaving them with just one win in their last eight games.

Auston Matthews is set to return for the Toronto Maple Leafs against the Columbus Blue Jackets after a lower-body injury. Forwards Matthew Knies and N

On defence, the Leafs are caught flat-footed often and are giving up too many odd-man rushes. On offence, the Leafs don’t forecheck with nearly the same ferocity and get slowed down in the neutral zone with relative ease. They’re not moving their feet, they’re getting beaten cleanly to pucks and look a step behind all over the ice.

The struggling Toronto Maple Leafs need an immediate boost to their roster, but they could have difficulty finding it in the trade market.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are spiralling, and a bad upcoming road trip could truly end their season. As the saying goes, you can’t make the playoffs early, but you can definitely miss them, and that’s where the Leafs are at right now.

Toronto latest loss away from home makes it the worst road team in the league at 1-6-0, outscored 32-21 in those games.