The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into the 2025-26 season with significant changes and a renewed sense of urgency to contend for the Stanley Cup. After another disappointing playoff exit, General Manager Brad Treliving has made some bold moves, leaving the team with several burning questions as they approach the new season.
The most significant change this offseason was the departure of Mitch Marner, who was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights. Marner's absence leaves a gaping hole in the Leafs' top-six forward group. He was a consistent 100-point player and a key playmaker for Auston Matthews. Finding a way to replace that level of production is a major concern.
Several players could potentially step up to fill Marner's role. William Nylander is one option to move to the top line alongside Matthews and Matthew Knies. However, keeping Nylander on the second line with John Tavares might create a more balanced offensive attack. The Maple Leafs acquired Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth, and he may get a chance to play in the top six. Nicolas Roy, acquired in the Marner trade, is another candidate, though he is likely better suited for a third-line role. Ultimately, the Leafs may need to acquire another top-six forward to truly fill the void left by Marner.
While Matthews still had a good season in 2024-25, it was considered a disappointment by his standards. He scored 33 goals and 78 points in 67 games, a drop from his 69-goal performance the previous season. It was apparent that Matthews was dealing with an injury that lingered throughout the year.
With a full offseason to recover and rehab, the Maple Leafs are counting on Matthews to return to his elite form. If he can stay healthy and become a consistent 50- or 60-goal scorer again, it would significantly boost the team's offense. The team's success is heavily reliant on offensive production from Matthews, Nylander, Tavares, and Knies.
One of the bright spots for the Maple Leafs last season was the strong play of their goaltending duo, Anthony Stolarz and Joseph Woll. Both goalies had career-best numbers and gave the team a chance to win every night. Stolarz, in particular, was outstanding when healthy, posting a 2.14 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage.
However, Stolarz was limited to just 34 games due to injury. Woll has also had his share of injury issues. The Maple Leafs need both goalies to stay healthy and maintain their high level of performance. If they can do that, the Leafs should have a solid foundation in net.
In addition to Maccelli and Roy, the Maple Leafs brought in several other new players this offseason, including Dakota Joshua, Michael Pezzetta, and Henry Thrun. It remains to be seen how these players will fit into the lineup and what kind of impact they will have.
Joshua is a physical forward who can provide some secondary scoring. Pezzetta is known for his toughness and energy. Thrun is a young defenseman with potential. These players will need to prove themselves in training camp to earn a spot on the roster and contribute to the team's success.
The Maple Leafs have a new head coach in Craig Berube. Berube has a reputation for being a no-nonsense coach who emphasizes structure and accountability. He won a Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019 and is expected to bring a winning mentality to Toronto. The Maple Leafs also added Derek Lalonde as an assistant coach.
Berube's challenge will be to instill a greater sense of discipline and resilience in the team, particularly in the playoffs. The Maple Leafs have struggled to perform their best when it matters most. Berube needs to find a way to get the team to play with more urgency and determination in high-pressure situations. With a few key changes to the roster and a new voice behind the bench, the Maple Leafs are hoping that 2025-26 will finally be the year they break through and make a deep playoff run.
