Toronto Maple Leafs
A preview of the 2026-27 NHL season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, including predictions from VSiN NHL Expert Jonathan Davis. For all other NHL team previews, check out our NHL page.
Key Additions: Jim Hiller (head coach), Sergei Bobrovsky, Darryn Raddysh, Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic, Emil Andrae, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, Brandon Duhaime, Zack MacEwen
Key Departures: Craig Berube (head coach), Joseph Woll, Simon Benoit, Nick Robertson, Dennis Hildeby, Calle Jarnkrok, Brandon Carlo
Overview
The 2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs season was a major disappointment, as their 30-point drop from the prior season was a franchise worst. Toronto missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015-16 and ended the league’s longest active postseason streak at nine. The nightmarish season ultimately led to the firings of both Head Coach Craig Berube and General Manager Brad Treliving. Former LA Kings bench boss and a one-time Maple Leafs assistant coach, Jim Hiller was hired to replace Berube, and 37-year-old John Chayka, who has been out of the league for the past six years, is the new GM. The Leafs got a pretty good consolation prize this summer: they won the Draft Lottery and selected Gavin McKenna. McKenna has the potential to be a generational player. A freshman at Penn State last season, he led the team in points (51) and ranked third in goals with 18. Toronto made a big splash in free agency, highlighted by the signings of Sergei Bobrovsky and Darryn Raddysh.
Offense
The combination of injuries to Auston Matthews (60 games) and William Nylander (65 games), along with adjusting to life without Mitch Marner, made Toronto’s offense look ordinary at times, even though it scored only 15 fewer goals than in 2024-25. The Leafs big four of Matthews, Nylander, John Tavares, and Matthew Knies combined for a 34-goal drop, with Nylander having the biggest fall with 15 fewer goals. General Manager John Chayka was busy in the off-season acquiring players for specific roles to help balance the offense. Gavin McKenna (1st overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft) and Jack Roslovic (free agent) should boost the top six. Chayka rebuilt the team’s bottom-six forward group with additions of Nick Paul, Teddy Blueger, Brandon Duhaime and Colton Sissons.
Defense
Only the Vancouver Canucks (314) gave up more goals than the 295 surrendered by the Maple Leafs last season. Outside of 24-year-old Emil Andrae (acquired from Philadelphia), the Leafs blueline is a group of “thirtysomethings.” Darryn Raddysh comes to the Maple Leafs following a career season in Tampa. His 22 goals were just six fewer than the 28 goals scored by 13 blueliners that suited up for Toronto last season, with 10 of his goals coming on the power play. Morgan Rielly (one goal) was the only Leafs blueliner last season with a power play goal. Rielly was the center of trade talks throughout the summer but for now remains with the only team he has played for in his 13-year career. Overall, this is a respectable top six defense, but not an elite one. If Chris Tanev (played only 11 games last season) stays healthy and Emil Andrae and Darryn Raddysh provide legitimate second-pair quality, Toronto’s defense could be good enough to support a playoff-caliber team. If Tanev breaks down again, the blue line becomes much more vulnerable.
Goaltending
The future is now in Toronto, and with that, the Leafs traded two of their goalies of the future in the summer, sending Joseph Woll to Philadelphia and Dennis Hildeby to Tampa. In comes two-time Stanley Cup Champion Sergei Bobrovsky, where he will be reunited with Anthony Stolarz. The two were the Panthers goaltending tandem when they won the Cup in 2023-24. I would anticipate with the Leafs wanting to keep Bobrovsky “fresh” for the playoffs, he starts fewer than 50 games for the first time since the 2022-23 season.
Player to Watch
Maple Leafs fans are salivating over Gavin McKenna’s potential to help shift the team into immediate Stanley Cup contention. He’s already generating massive buzz as a potential franchise-changing talent. DraftKings is offering McKenna at 25+ goals (+140) and 60+ points (+100). I did make a one-unit bet on McKenna for 60+ points. He is slotted for a top-six role and second power play unit.
Outlook
With eight players brought in via trade and free agency, a new head coach, the Maple Leafs will look very different this coming season. General Manager John Chayka added players to the team’s bottom six who clearly understand their roles, unlike in past seasons when some players hoped for a promotion to a top-six role. While the Leafs should be far better than last year’s team, I still have them on the playoff bubble.
Team Futures
Regular Season Points: 95.5 (Over -130, Under +100)
To Make the Playoffs: (-125)
To Miss the Playoffs: (-105)
To Win the Division: (+950)
To Win the Eastern Conference: (+1800)
To Win the Stanley Cup: (+3500)
2025-26 Recap
Record: 32-36-14 (78 points, 8th Atlantic Division)
Over/Under: 46-32-4
Home Favorite: 12-11 // Home Dog: 6-11
Road Favorite: 3-6 // Road Dog: 8-21
Win Score 4 or more: 25 of 32 // Lose Give Up 4 or more: 38 of 50
Puck Line Wins: 18 of 32 // Puck Line Losses: 32 of 50
Front End Back-to-Back: 5-10 // Back End Back-to-Back: 6-9
Points Leader: William Nylander – 79
Goal Leader: John Tavares – 31
Teams First Goal Leader: William Nylander – 8
Assist Leader: William Nylander – 49
Shots on Goal Leader: Auston Matthews – 227
Blocked Shots: Jake McCabe – 190
Depth Chart
Forwards
Matthew Knies / Auston Matthews / Jack Roslovic
Gavin McKenna / John Tavares / William Nylander
Dakota Joshua / Teddy Blueger /Easton Cowan
Nick Paul / Colton Sissons / Brandon Duhaime
Defense
Jake McCabe / Darren Raddysh
Morgan Rielly / Christopher Tanev
Oliver Ekman-Larsson / Emil Andrae
Goalies
Sergei Bobrovsky / Anthony Stolarz
