The Toronto Maple Leafs enter the 2025-26 with a new identity after several seasons of the failed Core Four experiment. The Leafs now promise to be a deeper, more resilient club designed to excel in the postseason.
The offseason additions, while bolstering depth, lack the sort of high-end scoring that contending clubs need throughout the season and playoffs. That’s the biggest question the Maple Leafs will need to answer this season.
Figuring out where the high-end scoring will come from is rather straightforward. The Leafs have two elite forwards in captain Auston Matthews and William Nylander. So, the question the Maple Leafs will need to answer in 2025-26 is: Is Auston Matthews healthy?
Last season, Matthews was limited to 67 games due to an upper-body injury. The precise nature of that injury is unknown. What is known is that Matthews sought every solution possible, even going to Germany at one point for treatment.
Even with injuries slowing him down, he scored 33 goals and 78 points. That’s a career year for an average NHLer. But Matthews isn’t an average NHLer. He’s a former Hart Trophy winner and two-time 60-goal scorer.
As such, notching 33 goals after topping 40 five straight seasons is a down year by all measures. If Matthews isn’t healthy, it may signal an unfortunate decline that could represent the beginning of a decline for one of the NHL’s most talented players.
Maple Leafs’ Depth Meant to Support Matthews
The Maple Leafs’ additional depth is intended to support Auston Matthews. Yes, Matthews will play a prominent role for the team. He’ll get his 20 minutes a night, often against the opposition’s best players.
But the depth around him could be the solution to helping Matthews get to his usual video game-like numbers. That depth will be under stress from the start as the Maple Leafs will need to make up as many points in the standings as they possibly can.
A subpar regular season will only fuel criticism and speculation about the team’s shortcomings, especially in light of Mitch Marner’s offseason departure. If the depth can pick up the slack, the pressure could come off Matthews’ shoulders, allowing him to do what he does best.
A healthy Matthews could return to the 60-goal form, potentially getting back into the Hart Trophy conversation.
Toronto Could Face Serious Questions if Matthews Unhealthy
Despite Auston Matthews’ assurances that he’s fully healthy for this upcoming season, the Maple Leafs will face serious questions if he remains unhealthy.
The loss of their biggest scorer could force GM Brad Treliving to find additional scoring. Not only is that not easy, but it’s very expensive to acquire.
Unfortunately, the Leafs don’t have the assets and draft capital to make a major move. While landing another high-end scorer like Kirill Kaprizov would be a dream for fans, it’s not realistic.
The Maple Leafs, whether they like it or not, will depend on Auston Matthews’ health this season. As long as he can avoid major injuries, the team will be fine moving forward. Otherwise, another disappointing season could be on the horizon in Toronto.
Maple Leafs Must Answer this Question in 2025-26