The Maple Leafs' hype train keeps rolling, but it isn't time to jump on board yet with the Canadiens coming to town.
Who do you have winning the season opener between the Canadiens and Maple Leafs?
THN's Daily Puck Pick - September 29, 2026
The NHL season kicks off with one of the sport's most storied rivalries, as it does almost every season, with the Montreal Canadiens visiting the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Leafs are looking to bounce back this season after a tough 2025-26 that saw them sink low enough to draft Gavin McKenna first overall, whom they think could be part of the turnaround. Despite the hype, the Canadiens hope to ruin the rookie's debut and prove their Eastern Conference Final run last season wasn't a fluke.
Today's NHL bet
Bet: Canadiens ML
Odds: -110
Sportsbook: BetMGM Sportsbook
Record: 0-0
Profit/Loss: 0.00 Units
All betting lines are subject to change. Hockey is a difficult sport to predict, so please gamble responsibly.
Maple Leafs Overvalued at Home
The oddsmakers have this game in a pick 'em, which doesn't really reflect the rosters based on last season's results and the teams' respective offseasons. The Canadiens return essentially the same team that made the Eastern Conference Final, with one major addition: Chris Kreider, who has immediately claimed a spot on the first line.
The Maple Leafs improved under John Chayka this offseason, as the addition of Darren Raddysh gives them more offensive presence from the back end, and McKenna looks like he can drive offense from the second line with John Tavares and William Nylander. The bottom-six is also a more cohesive unit with people in their correct roles, which should help the team, and Sergei Bobrovsky brings something to the crease that they haven't had in a long time.
The Canadiens have great value here because they are still a better team than the Maple Leafs, and all of Toronto's moving pieces could mean it takes time to get up to speed. Even though the Maple Leafs start the season at home, they should at least be slight underdogs.
Kirill Marchenko Trade Makes Maple Leafs Worse in Interim
The Maple Leafs might've already been flat-footed after a questionable decision to fly to Arizona for the final days of training camp, but adding Kirill Marchenko surely injected life into the team on the eve of the season opener. Unfortunately, it remains to be seen whether Marchenko will play in the first game, and if he does, he won't be completely comfortable on his new team.
Marchenko might be an upgrade over Matthew Knies in the long term, but in the short term, the Maple Leafs could be shorthanded on Tuesday night.
Expect Slow Start for Maple Leafs
The Arizona trip could take it's toll on the Maple Leafs early, but it's also unlikely that McKenna has any four-goal debuts up his sleeve like Auston Matthews had in his first game. Toronto will get better as the season goes on, but the hype of McKenna's debut, the Marchenko trade, and all the new additions, is a recipe for a bit of a slow start at home, while the Canadiens are coming in loose and ready to play spoiler.
