You can feel the weight and hope swirling as the Toronto Maple Leafs head for the 2025-26 NHL season. Fans have seen teams loaded with skill trip up when it matters most. Now, after a summer of bold trades and tough choices, everyone wonders: will this group finally change the story, or will familiar doubts ruin the party again?
How Will Brad Treliving’s Moves Change the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2025-26?
General manager Brad Treliving has shaken up the roster, but not everyone is buying in. A lot of analysts say the Maple Leafs are still a longer shot for the Stanley Cup than battle-tested teams like the Vegas Golden Knights.
On a recent broadcast, Bryan Hayes and Dave Feschuk talked odds. Hayes didn’t hold back, calling a Leafs championship “the most difficult to envision” just because of the long wait since their last one.
Feschuk echoed that thought, pointing out the Maple Leafs are talented, but the history and reliability of Vegas are tough to bet against.
“I think if you had money on this, you would be crazy to not bet on the Golden Knights. They’ve shown an aptitude for figuring it out. Even though you worry about the injuries in the backend. They’re not a super-powered team,” Feschuk said.
Hayes argued that Vegas has earned its reputation for battling and finding ways to win games. The Toronto Maple Leafs might have plenty of roster quality, he said, but their history creates doubt around their chances.
That’s the baggage Toronto is hoping to dump as they step into a season that looks more like evolution than a full reset.
This isn’t some blow-it-up rebuild. The Toronto Maple Leafs are sticking with their core, but making targeted changes to the pieces around it.
The re-signing of John Tavares ensures there’s veteran leadership at center. Matthew Knies also signed a new contract, which means the Leafs keep his two-way game and added grit.
Even bigger, Mitch Marner was sent to Vegas in a sign-and-trade deal. That trade cleared cap space and signaled that Toronto wants to get tougher, not just out-skill everyone.
What Makes the Maple Leafs Different After Key Trades and New Additions?
That new attitude showed with the summer pickups. Dakota Joshua and Michael Pezzetta are known for physical, hard-nosed play. On defense, Brandon Carlo was brought in last season and brings size and a shutdown mentality to the blue line.
Treliving has made it clear: for the Toronto Maple Leafs to win when it matters, they need to battle harder and match, if not top, the physical play of rivals.
Nick Robertson, who often finds his name in trade rumors, is staying in Toronto for now. His speed and knack for scoring make him a threat on secondary lines.
Easton Cowan, picked in the first round in 2023, might have his best shot at a top-nine forward spot with Marner now gone. That gives Cowan a clear path to more ice time if he can take advantage.
The big question: can Auston Matthews stay healthy, will the secondary forwards step up, and is William Nylander ready to drive his own line?
Right now, Toronto looks built to at least challenge for the Atlantic Division. The first few weeks of the 2025-26 campaign will show if all these changes are enough to finally change the Leafs’ story or if the old doubts will keep hanging around.