As the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to reel with their lacklustre and poor performance post-Olympic break, so too are their playoff hopes as it was dealt another blow with another major and disappointing loss at the hands of the Ottawa Senators.
They were completely dominated as they were out-chanced 29-14 at five-on-five and it was deemed flat out “embarrassing” and needing “more pride” from captain Auston Matthews. As the loses pile on, this team clearly doesn’t have what it takes to play to a high level and standard. As they spiral out of control this feels very reminiscent to a past season that many in Leafs Nation would like to forget.
The 2013-14 Season: The One Many Want to Forget
To this point, it has been uninspiring and extremely inconsistent for the Maple Leafs and after a three-game winning streak before the Olympic break, the team wasn’t fully out of a wild card spot. However, losing their next three games since coming back has put a damper on things and they’re back right where they started and are left trying to salvage the season.
At one-point things were starting to look up. On Jan. 13, the Maple Leafs were holding down a wild card spot after they had won eight of their last 10 games. That night, they faced the Utah Mammoth and that’s where things started to fall apart. The Maple Leafs lost that game 6-1 and lost eight of their next nine games, including a 0-5 home-stand and being outscored 25-12. They’re getting out chanced, outshot and outplayed on most nights and only having two shots in the first period and 10 through 40 minutes against the Senators is as humiliating as it can get.
This season draws comparison and feels very reminiscent to not just the 2011-12 “18-wheeler off a cliff” season, but the 2013-14 season where it was a monumental drop off. A playoff spot was a real possibility as the Maple Leafs were second in the Atlantic Division. The playoffs were well within their grasp. They ultimately had one of the most embarrassing fallouts ever, missing the playoffs completely and going 3-13 in their final 16 games. They were averaging 35 shots against per game and 3.56 goals against. The Maple Leafs now are averaging 31.9 SA/GP and 3.45 GA/GP for the season as that alone is a concern. (from, ‘Maple Leafs GM Brian Burke: It was like an 18-wheeler going right off a cliff’, Toronto Star – 3/2/12)
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The similarities between the two teams are very striking. Optimism continues to fade fast and the Maple Leafs season feels lost. Even if by some miracle they make it, it’ll be a quick first-round as they don’t have what it takes to win at all this season. This teams’ flaws have been evident even in their wins and their effort has always been called into question, as not many were convinced well before the Olympic break.
That season is one that many would like to forget, but many are reliving it right now. It may feel that a lot has changed since then– and it has– but everything about this season feels like it hasn’t as history is repeating itself.
2025-26 Maple Leafs Match 2013-14 Team
When you look at the 2025-26 Maple Leafs, on paper it should warrant being at least a playoff contender and not one to miss the playoffs. With a team that includes the likes of Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, Matthew Knies and Morgan Rielly you would expect at least some sort of positive results.
That 2013-14 team doesn’t really match in comparison as Phil Kessel was the only true star talent on the team with 80 points. They had James van Riemsdyk, Nazem Kadri, Tyler Bozak and Rielly was just starting out as a rookie, but that team, felt like they would regress and they did. The 2025-26 team’s experience and skill set outmatch what they had back then, however, there are positives and negatives.
Nylander still leads the team offensively with 52 points, but his defensive game and puck management has been called into question. Matthews has looked good, but he hasn’t taken charge like he has consistently, despite winning a gold medal. Tavares is aging, Knies has looked good but, there have been times where he hasn’t been at his best. Rielly continues to struggle with the pace of the game and within his own end.
The roster construction is different but what hasn’t changed is the way they have played on the ice. The same old lifeless and uninspiring play remains as they have no compete, energy or pushback while they get completely outmatched. It’s a concern that their effort is always in question and not learning from their past mistakes continues to fly over their head that. In this league– or any of the major sports– if you’re not at your best and don’t play to a high level, you’re not going anywhere.
Related: Maple Leafs Expected to Discuss Future With Morgan Rielly
The Maple Leafs are falling off a cliff just as hard and quick as they did in 2013-14. While the roster has changed drastically since then, the mindset and play hasn’t as they’re emulating that same downfall. There has to be change as there’s no way that they can have any success with the way they’re falling down the standings and in constant embarrassing fashion.
Statistics from Natural Stat Trick and NHL.
