Why the 2026 Maple Leafs Could Be Better Than Anyone Expects

The Toronto Maple Leafs could be in a far better spot this season than they ended up last season. The new leadership group, under GM John Chayka, has made a number of changes that could give them a chance at making the playoffs.

Here are three really casual reasons why:

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Reason One: The Maple Leafs Improved the Roster Balance

Toronto’s summer moves come with a big bump in overall quality, adding a number of new pieces while trimming some of the guys who weren’t working. The big headline is the Net Rating added: +21 on The Athletic‘s metric. That’s an improvement. You’re swapping out a messy mix of questionable fits and bringing in guys who should fit better.

These new players include Jack Roslovic, Nick Paul, Teddy Blueger, Colton Sissons, plus a couple of defensive and depth options like Brandon Duhaime and Emil Andrae. It’s not like the Maple Leafs signed a superstar, but it’s the kind of “clean it up and make it function” improvement that can change results fast.

Reason Two: The Defensive Rebuild Is a Real Upgrade

This is where Toronto might take a big step. The defence isn’t just “different,” it’s better structured. Darren Raddysh has top-pair potential in the right situation because of his five-on-five play-driving, and Andrae adds another layer that Toronto didn’t really have.

Even if Raddysh doesn’t repeat last season’s performance, the point is that the Maple Leafs moved away from the bottom-five defence group and toward an average defence group. That might not sound impressive, but compared to what they had, it’s a massive step forward.

Reason Three: If Bobrovsky Bounces Back, the Team Could Click, and the Ceiling Rises

The wildcard is obviously Sergei Bobrovsky. Toronto’s goalie setup right now isn’t perfect, and a lot depends on how Bobrovsky performs. But if Bobrovsky rebounds even a bit, it can flip the Maple Leafs from “needs luck” to “actually scary.”

And on top of all that, you’ve got two extra variables. Gavin McKenna has the potential to be a game-changer pretty early, and head coach Jim Hiller comes in as a coaching boost. As The Athletic put it, there’s “no way he’s worse than Craig Berube.”

The Bottom Line for the Maple Leafs

Put all that together, and it’s tough to argue Toronto didn’t improve more than anyone else this summer. If Bobrovsky holds up and those newer pieces contribute quickly, the Leafs could be way better than last year’s version.

Related: Latest Gavin McKenna Video Shows This Kid Might Be Pretty Good