Maple Leafs’ Issues From Last Season Continue to Persist in 2026-27

After a rough 2025-26 season and an offseason with a slew of changes on the ice and behind the bench, the Toronto Maple Leafs were supposed to be different this season. After a stretch where they went 4-0 and the vibes were high, everyone was in a great spot and it looked like things were turning for the better.

However, after four straight loses and only one win in their last seven games, the Maple Leafs appear to be back where they were last season. Despite the changes there are a lot of questions that had to be asked. While they continue to deal with the injury bug and a lot of key regulars are out, there are still some pressing matters for why they’re still at the bottom of the Atlantic Division.

Poor Defense Remains

It wasn’t long ago that I wrote that the Maple Leafs’ defensive play was going to be a cause for concern. Weeks later, that still appears to be the case, as it’s still the simple mistakes and lack of attention to detail that have been the reason why they continue to falter in their own end and lose games. 

The Maple Leafs have surrendered the fourth most goals against (69) and the sixth most shots per game (29.5). Diving deeper at their five-on-five results, it gets way worse. They have given up 50 goals already, only the Chicago Blackhawks and Vancouver Canucks have given up more. They have a 3.13 goals against per 60 rate, despite having a 2.62 expected goals against rate, where they’re middle of the pack.

They’re giving up more goals and chances against than they should, but in reality, coming in with majority of the same defensive core other than Darren Raddysh, these results are expected. For a team that wanted to be seen as a better transitional team on the breakout, their poor puck management, turnovers, not being aggressive on the rush and lack of awareness and positioning within their own end is extremely concerning. 

This team has done a good job to bounce back and show some fight. However, when they do put together strong back-to-back shifts or score a goal, they completely fumble it and lose it right away. The most recent example being Jack Roslovic scoring to tie the game against the Colorado Avalanche only for the Maple Leafs to give up the go-ahead goal almost a minute later where Gabriel Landeskog is left alone and no one is covering him.

It feels like déjà vu considering what we saw last season and it’s more so of the same this season. The lack of attention to detail and defensive play continues to be why they manage to lose the momentum as they’re unable to get any consistency. 

Head coach Jim Hiller admits that they made multiple poor decisions. Though, his comment about the team being who they are isn’t ideal as a coach. The onus is on him to quickly right the ship and not make this team average with their defensive play. It’s time for a message to be sent that this kind of play isn’t acceptable, though there have been multiple instances of that in the past where they still haven’t learned their lesson. Many are wondering if he was the right guy for the job.

Time Running Out for Bobrovsky

If you’re being paid the big bucks as a goaltender, the expectation is that the team needs you to keep the puck out of the net. Sergei Bobrovsky has yet to do that this season as he has allowed three goals or more in 12 of his 13 games played. Having a 3-8-2 record and a goals against average of 3.47 isn’t going to cut it.

While the defense hasn’t been strong in front of him, Bobrovsky hasn’t done his part at all, allowing a number of questionable goals, looked really shaky and has not been tracking the puck well. We know that there was going to be some risk signing a then 37-year-old goalie, but now this is what you get. Bobrovsky has also been known as a slow starter, but even these numbers aren’t helping his case.

While you want to give him a chance to rebound because you’re paying him like a starter, time is running out as valuable points are being lost as a result. There was a lot of faith put into him as Jospeh Woll and Dennis Hildeby were moved out. The only option you have is Anthony Stolarz and he has had better results this season with a .908 save percentage and a 2.72 GAA. He’s your only option at this point and he has looked steadier than Bobrovsky in the seven games that he has played in. 

While the defense has left him hung out to dry, Bobrovsky hasn’t helped his case either. This clearly isn’t the same goalie that won back-to-back Stanley Cups. While I was willing to give this a chance a month and bit into the season, it’s clearly not working out. It really might be time to ride the hot hand in goal and that is definitely Stolarz.

These were the areas that the Maple Leafs struggled with at the start of last season. If they can’t find their way out of it and string some wins together like early on in the season, it’s going to be another difficult season to watch.

Statistics from Natural Stat Trick and NHL.