After years of play -off failed, the Toronto Maple Leafs finally made Some very big decisions This season outside the season. Whether or not their hand was forced, they have ensured that the team will have a new identity in 2025-26.
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With Auston Matthews and William Nylyer still on the Roster, the Maple Leafs will be competitive again this season. However, they are also confronted with many questions. Here are the five most important questions for the team in 2025-26.
Can the Maple Leafs finally get it done?
Toronto has not won the cup since 1967. Their core group has struggled enormously in the late season, and now Mitch Marner is no longer in the team. He was moved to the Vegas Golden Knights for Nicolas Roy this summer and immediately signed an eight -year -old deal.
The management had to shake their core, but not having the 28-year-old will influence the production of the team’s regular season. However, it also gives them much more flexibility to fill other needs. Perhaps this step will turn out to be exactly what the team needed to get over the bump.
Will Rielly bounce back?
Morgan Rielly struggled a ton in 2024-25. His attack fell to only seven goals and 41 points, and he was defensively less than fantastic. That is not a good sign for a player who still has five years on a contract with a cap -hit of $ 7.5 million.
Although many have written off Rielly, he is only 31 years old and we have to give ourselves every reason to believe that he can go this season and go back to production. Although he may never be a real number one defender, he is a solid second pair defender at his best, and the Maple Leafs will be a much better team if he returns to form.
What happens to Robertson?
For the second consecutive summer there is trade speculation around Nick Robertson. The 23-year-old and the Maple Leafs narrowly avoided arbitration, agree with a one -year contract extension The day before the process was set to start.
Despite the contract extension, it is still uncertain whether Robertson will be in a Maple Leafs sweater in September. His attacking game did not develop as the organization had hoped, and Based on his trade request Last summer it is easy to wonder if he would be more than happy to get a chance somewhere else.
Can Tavares continue?
Tavares may not have been worth his $ 11 million cap -hit on the way to this low season, but he remains an excellent player, even at 34. His speed is missing, but he continues to prove in every season that his hockey -IQ makes more than his slow skates good.
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The question is whether Tavares can remain a big difference maker. He comes from a 38-goal, 74-point season in 75 games. If in 2025-26 he can get around that production everywhere, the Maple Leafs will remain a very dangerous team to play against.
How much impact does Marner’s departure have?
Despite the possible benefits, it is impossible to deny that losing Marner will influence the production of the regular season of the team. With all the criticism he has received, it is easy to forget that he comes from a career-high 102-point season and ended the last seven campaigns through a point per game.
Few point producers are better than Marner in the NHL. Moreover, he also plays a sound defense. Although many fans were not upset to see him go, the Maple Leafs in the front will look very different without their star wing.
Maple Leafs will be competitive again
Even without Marner, Toronto will be a very good team, if not a better one in 2025-26. They have great goal congregation, an underrated back -end and some of the most talented stars of the NHL in front. The questions, or perhaps doubts, around it for the play -offs are well justified, but it does not alter the fact that they are a very talented and competitive team.
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