The Toronto Maple Leafs’ 4–3 overtime loss to the Seattle Kraken dropped their record to 3-2-1, and it feels every bit like a grind. This version of the team is hard to watch — not for lack of effort, but for lack of flow. The passes die in the neutral zone, the turnovers keep coming, and the goals, when they happen, come more from persistence than talent.
Related: 2 Takeaways From the Maple Leafs’ 4-3 Loss Against the Kraken
Goaltender Anthony Stolarz has been solid, battling through traffic and even contact, but he’s not getting much run support. His composure in the crease contrasts with the chaos in front of him. Calle Järnkrok’s surprising scratch for Steven Lorentz didn’t help matters. That decision backfired early, as both Lorentz and Dakota Joshua were caught flat-footed on Seattle’s opening power-play goal. Joshua looked a bit more engaged last night, but he’s not yet giving the Maple Leafs the kind of hockey they expected for his $3.25 million cap hit.
What’s clear is that this team has yet to find its rhythm. The shot blocks are there, and the grind is real, but there’s not enough speed or skill showing through the muck.
Item 1: Rielly, Nylander, and Tavares Drive the Bus
If there’s one reason the Maple Leafs stayed in this game, it was their veterans. Auston Matthews helped create a beauty — stealing the puck and setting up Morgan Rielly for an absolute snipe. Rielly, who’s quietly been at a point-per-game pace, looks more like his 2021 playoff self again. His confidence and poise under pressure stand out on a roster that still seems uncertain of its identity.
Related: John Tavares Records His 500th Point With the Maple Leafs
Then came the night’s biggest story: John Tavares’ resurgence. He scored twice — numbers 496 and 497 of his career — and added his 500th point as a Maple Leaf. Each goal came off classic chemistry with William Nylander, who had two perfect assists. The two looked in sync, and the slower pace of the game seemed to suit Tavares perfectly. When he finds those quiet pockets of space, he can still rip it like few others.
For all the talk of the Maple Leafs’ future core, nights like this remind fans that the old guard still drives the bus. Rielly, Tavares, and Nylander have been the team’s most reliable players early in the season — and that’s both comforting and concerning.
Item 2: Maple Leafs Chemistry Concerns and Physical Flashpoints
Beyond the scoreboard, this game exposed deeper chemistry issues. Matias Maccelli looked out of place again — hesitant on the boards, unsure in defensive coverage, and benched late by head coach Craig Berube. The experiment just isn’t clicking. Meanwhile, Max Domi’s unlucky deflection off his face led to another Kraken goal, but the real problem was how little help he got from his linemates Bobby McMann and Nicholas Robertson on the backcheck. Those are costly lapses for a team that can’t afford soft goals.
Related: Maple Leafs News & Rumours: Cowan, Jarnkrok & Growing Pains
The game also turned physical in the second half. Seattle amped up the hits, crashing into Stolarz twice, and the second time set off chaos. Stolarz threw his net and went after the culprit himself while Brandon Carlo stood by awkwardly. Carlo’s hesitation is starting to worry some fans; his skating looks heavy, and his decision-making is shaky. Berube may soon have to address that side of the blue line.
Over time, fatigue took its toll. Nylander had a late chance but couldn’t recover defensively, leading to the Kraken’s winner. It was a fitting end to a game where the Maple Leafs’ top talent worked overtime — literally — to mask deeper roster flaws.
What’s Next for the Maple Leafs?
The Maple Leafs have earned seven points in six games, but the way they’re playing feels like a warning sign. There’s grit, but not enough pace; commitment, but not enough creativity. Unless the team finds a better balance between its veterans’ reliability and its new faces’ energy, more nights like this one are coming.
For now, it’s still “stuck in the muck hockey” — and everyone can see it.
