A shakeup behind the bench appears to have finally woken up the Toronto Maple Leafs.

The Leafs have struggled as a whole throughout the 2025-26 season, and at one point found themselves dead last in the Atlantic Division. Sensing a change was needed, they chose to fire assistant coach Marc Savard.

Savard, who was hired ahead of the 2024-25 season, was in charge of the Leafs’ power play. At the time of his firing, they had a league-worst 13.3 per cent conversion rate.

Whether it’s having Savard gone or perhaps the jolt this group needed, the Leafs suddenly look like the team fans have become accustomed to. 

The Leafs have not only won four straight games but are now 8-0-2 since relieving Savard of his duties. The sudden surge has them in the top wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference, and just five points shy (with a game in hand) of the Montreal Canadiens for third in the Atlantic.

To no surprise, given the amount of offensive producers they possess, the Leafs’ power play has suddenly jumped to 24th in the NHL at 17 per cent. There’s still plenty of room for improvement, but it’s come a long way from where it was less than a month ago.

It also doesn’t hurt, of course, that Auston Matthews is beginning to look like himself again.

After an overall disappointing 2024-25 season, Matthews had once again struggled to begin the 2025-26 campaign. He’s picked it up as of late, however, scoring eight goals and 14 points over his last eight outings.

With how they’ve looked as of late, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Leafs remain hot for the remainder of the season. The real challenge, of course, will be the playoffs, where this team has struggled to live up to the heavy expectations that come with playing in Toronto.

Lead photo by

Sergei Belski/Imagn Images