Are the Maple Leafs Really Better? 3 Reasons For Optimism

After an ugly 78-point season that saw the Toronto Maple Leafs miss the playoffs, the organization enters training camp with a new look. The team is quite different, both in its players and its front office, and it has become one of the league’s most divisive teams.

James Mirtle of The Athletic suggested several questions still surround this team. Mirtle writes:

“While there’s a fair debate to be had about just how good this Leafs team will be, what’s indisputable is Toronto is going to be interesting — perhaps even the most interesting team in the league…”

source – ‘Why the Maple Leafs are the NHL’s ultimate Hail Mary of 2026-27’ – James Mirtle – The Athletic – 09/17/2026

All of this led me to ask whether this season’s Maple Leafs are actually a better group than last season’s squad. I have a few reasons to be optimistic.

1. New Leadership, Different Philosophy

Mirtle points out that two of the architects behind last year’s collapse — the head coach and general manager — are gone. That alone is reason to have faith this team can’t be worse than last season’s.

Craig Berube and Brad Treliving were raked over the coals for how they built and ran the team. New coach Jim Hiller isn’t expected to preach the same possession-limiting style, and new GM John Chayka, whatever questions still surround him, has already proven he’s unafraid to make moves.

For some, it’s addition by subtraction, even if the additions still have their own question marks. Many were surprised that Chayka was chosen to run the team. Few saw the Hiller hire coming.

2. Real Roster Upgrades

Toronto didn’t just change things behind the bench and at the top— it changed the roster. Much of the core remains, but they added new pieces, including a new No. 1 goaltender with a Stanley Cup and Vezina pedigree: Sergei Bobrovsky. Can he be the solution? Last season offers uncertainty. His overall resume does not.

The Maple Leafs also got a legitimate puck-moving defenseman in Darren Raddysh, who is coming off a strong season with a division rival in Tampa Bay. He had a career year, and may not repeat it, but most believe he’s the real deal.

Of course, adding Gavin McKenna as the No. 1 overall pick is a game-changer.

All represent legitimate additions of talent. Add in the hope of better health for captain Auston Matthews and defenseman Chris Tanev, and the pieces exist for real improvement.

3. Nowhere to Go But Up Offensively and Defensively

Toronto finished 16th in the NHL in goals per game last season and ranked near the bottom of the league in both shots and scoring chances against. Simply regressing toward the mean in those categories — let alone building on the roster changes — should push the Leafs’ numbers in the right direction.

In other words, the odds that they’ll be worse than they were last season are low.

What If They Aren’t Better?

One of the more interesting comments Mirtle made in his article caught my attention, perhaps more than anything else. It’s what he said about the Maple Leafs if it turns out they aren’t all that good.

“And regardless of how you feel about the Leafs’ chances, as a fan or a hater or something in-between, it’s probably fair to say this: You’re going to be watching them, whether they’re good or bad. Because they’re going to be intriguing — and there’s going to be an awful lot on the line.”

He’s not wrong. This team got a whole lot more interesting with all the changes they’ve made. Perhaps they aren’t a Stanley Cup contender. My bet is they’ll offer up glimpses at times throughout this season that they could be.