The Toronto Maple Leafs are facing a perplexing situation early in the 2025-26 NHL season: a palpable sense of disconnection despite the undeniable talent on their roster. After 11 games, with a record of 5-5-1, the team is struggling to find consistency and cohesion, leading to questions about their status as true contenders.
Head coach Craig Berube has been vocal about the team's struggles, particularly in the neutral zone. Following a 6-3 loss to the Columbus Blue Jackets, Berube pointed to a lack of connection and a tendency to overcomplicate the game. "We forced pucks when we didn't need to and turned them over," Berube said. "I just felt like we were disconnected at times getting through the neutral zone. It cost us". The Blue Jackets were able to capitalize on these turnovers, exploiting the Leafs' defensive vulnerabilities on the rush.
Captain Auston Matthews echoed Berube's sentiments, suggesting the issue is more "cerebral than an effort thing". Matthews defended the team's work ethic but acknowledged that "breakdowns happen and mistakes happen, they're too big". This points to a deeper problem than just a lack of effort; it suggests a disconnect in communication, anticipation, and overall understanding of the game plan.
Several factors contribute to this sense of disconnection. The Maple Leafs have struggled with consistency in all three zones, often giving up odd-man rushes and failing to capitalize on their own offensive opportunities. Giveaways have been a recurring issue, directly leading to goals against. Moreover, the team has had a tendency to give up two or more goals in the second period in over half of their games played.
The goaltending situation has also added to the team's woes. With Joseph Woll absent early in training camp due to a personal matter, Anthony Stolarz and Cayden Primeau have been sharing the net, with neither establishing themselves as a clear number-one. While Primeau won his first two games with the Maple Leafs, he has allowed three or more goals in each of his starts, posting a save percentage of just .838. The team needs Woll back as soon as possible.
The Maple Leafs' defensive play needs to improve, as well. The team has struggled to defend against the rush, allowing opponents to glide through the offensive zone with little resistance. "We need support coming from F3 and vice versa, just being more connected throughout the whole ice and not giving up these three-on-ones, three-on-twos, two-on-ones, that end up in the back of your net," an unknown source said.
Despite the challenges, there is optimism that the Maple Leafs can turn things around. The team possesses immense talent, and a renewed focus on communication, simplifying the game, and improving defensive structure could help them find their rhythm. As Berube noted after the loss to Columbus, there were still "a lot of good things" to build on. The Maple Leafs will need to address their disconnect issues quickly if they hope to live up to their potential this season.
