The Toronto Maple Leafs enter the 2025-26 season with the same old questions and renewed expectations. Every summer brings a mix of excitement and frustration for fans—excitement because the talent on the roster is undeniable, frustration because the playoff results haven’t matched that talent. Now, as the team transitions into a new phase post-Mitch Marner, the conversation shifts toward how the Maple Leafs can balance present ambition with future sustainability.
Much of the talk this offseason hasn’t been about trades or depth charts; it’s been about identity. The Maple Leafs appear to have decided on the kind of team they want to be. No longer are they doubling down on their offensive firepower and hoping skill carries them over the hump. Instead, they are leaning into a more rigid, more resilient mindset to thrive under playoff pressure.
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Today’s edition of Maple Leafs News and Rumours addresses these questions, examining the cost of contending, the importance of mental toughness, and pondering whether the Maple Leafs are already closer to breaking through than many give them credit for.
Item 1: Is This the Price of Contending?
When a team is chasing a Stanley Cup, tough choices follow. The Maple Leafs know this all too well. At last season’s trade deadline, they moved key prospects Fraser Minten and Nikita Grebenkin to land Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton—veterans meant to shore up the roster in the short term. It’s a familiar playbook for contenders: spend on the future to address present weaknesses.
(Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)
The issue is what happens after the short-term push fades. As Steven Ellis pointed out, outside of Easton Cowan, Toronto’s forward pipeline is thin. Most of their drafted players profile as bottom-six contributors, not top-end offensive weapons. That’s fine for the grind of playoff hockey—where depth often decides series—but it doesn’t leave the team with much flexibility in the trade market or much hope for organically building the next wave of scorers.
That leads to the big question: Is this the model the Maple Leafs must follow as contenders? Perhaps that’s the way it should be done. However, the long-term costs are clear.
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Without reloading the farm system, Toronto risks being stuck in a cycle where every playoff push comes at the expense of the future. That gamble can work if it leads to a Stanley Cup. However, if it doesn’t, the bill eventually comes due—and rebuilding the pipeline becomes even more challenging.
Item 2: Can Mental Grit Make the Difference in 2025-26?
For all their skill and speed, the Maple Leafs have long been criticized for lacking one key ingredient: toughness. Not just the hits or penalty minutes you see on the scoresheet, but the mental toughness that separates good teams from great ones. Time and again in high-pressure playoff games, the Maple Leafs have tightened up. Even elite talent isn’t enough when the heat is on. Mitch Marner’s struggles in decisive games were often pointed to, but the pattern extended beyond one player—the team as a whole has sometimes failed to rise in the moments that matter most.
One of the big questions heading into this season is whether Auston Matthews can add a little more edge to his game. He has the size to play a more physical style, but so far it hasn’t been his way. John Tavares will occasionally lean into a physical exchange. Still, for the most part, Toronto’s top three forwards—Matthews, Tavares, and William Nylander—tend to avoid the scrums and steer clear of confrontation.
(Photo by Reuben Polansky-Shapiro/NHLI via Getty Images)
The issue isn’t just about throwing more hits; it’s about presence and gamesmanship. When you look at players like Brady Tkachuk, Brad Marchand, or even Connor McDavid (who might be the best person for Matthews to watch), they combine elite skill with an ability to provoke, defend, and set an emotional tone. For the Maple Leafs, finding that same blend of fire and finesse could be the missing ingredient. Matthews doesn’t need to become a pest, but he might need to step forward as a fierier kind of leader—one who can blend his world-class scoring touch with the intensity to get into an opponent’s face.
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Looking ahead to 2025-26, the opportunity exists for the Maple Leafs to redefine their identity. With Marner gone, the top line led by Matthews, Nylander, and Matthew Knies can set a tone that blends skill with resilience. Actual toughness won’t show up in extra fights or penalty minutes—it will show in confidence, accountability, and the willingness to do whatever it takes to win under playoff pressure. If the team can instill that mindset, they may finally have the mental edge they’ve been missing. I have to believe it starts with Matthews. I’m looking for him to exert a more confrontational leadership style. Can he (or will he) do it?
Item 3: Are the Maple Leafs Better Than We Give Them Credit For?
I’ve followed this rabbit hole before, but it keeps resurfacing. After the Florida Panthers series, it was easy to dwell on what went wrong for the Maple Leafs. But looking back, it might be time to reconsider how we view this team. Fans have a habit of seeing the team as “always missing something”—a misstep here, a soft moment there. Yet, there are signs that this roster might be closer to being a legitimate contender than many give it credit for.
Recent playoff runs have shown that Toronto has matched up well against elite competition, often outperforming them in head-to-head matchups. The series against Florida, for instance, was much tighter than commonly remembered, and specific aspects of the Maple Leafs’ games against the Edmonton Oilers suggest they were competitive even when the results didn’t fully reflect it.
Context matters, too. Toronto plays in one of the NHL’s toughest divisions. The Eastern Conference representative in the Stanley Cup Final has often come from the Atlantic Division. Always facing strong opponents early means that playoff exits don’t always tell the whole story. Taken together, there is a case to be made that the Maple Leafs might be closer to breaking through than the narrative of constant underachievement would have fans believe.
What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?
The 2025-26 season could define the new-look franchise. The departure of Marner has changed the lineup’s dynamic and, perhaps more importantly, the emotional tenor of the team. Management has already signaled its willingness to spend assets for short-term help, but the question remains whether these Maple Leafs can finally deliver when it counts. As all Maple Leafs fans know, that means more than just regular-season success—it means postseason success.
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For the fanbase, patience wears thin, but perspective matters. Toronto has a core group of stars in their prime, a chance to reset its culture, and (perhaps) enough supporting talent to make noise in a difficult Atlantic Division. The choices along the way will shape whether this team becomes remembered as a near-miss or as the group that finally got it done. For now, the season ahead could confirm old doubts or mark the long-awaited turning point in the Maple Leafs’ story.
