For the first time in the Auston Matthews era, the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves sitting dead last in the Eastern Conference after Buffalo’s 4–1 win over Carolina bumped them down yet again. It’s fair to say the Leafs have hit rock bottom. Through 22 games, they sit at 9-10-3 with just 21 points per start, a start nobody in Toronto saw coming. The one saving grace? There’s still time. A lot of it. With more than 60 games left on the schedule, and only a four-point gap separating them from a playoff spot. The season is far from lost. But if the Leafs are going to climb out of this early-season crater, the urgency has to kick in now.
A Familiar Situation, With a Different Coach
The Maple Leafs have been in this kind of hole before. Back in 2019–20, under Mike Babcock, Toronto sat at almost the same record, 9-10-4. The Leafs dropped six straight games before management finally made a change behind the bench. But this situation feels different. Despite the Leafs’ early-season struggles, Craig Berube isn’t anywhere near the hot seat. He’s the same coach who helped deliver the team’s first Atlantic Division title in decades. Berube also pushed the Florida Panthers to Game 7, something a coach in the Matthews era hasn’t accomplished. Berube has earned enough trust and credibility that a rough stretch won’t shake his position, and the players know it.
The hole the Maple Leafs have dug themselves into can’t be pinned solely on Craig Berube. Toronto has been crushed by injuries early in the season. Losing star forwards Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies for significant stretches, blows any team in the league would struggle with. But beyond the injuries, it’s clear the Leafs are still adjusting to the identity Berube wants them to play with. The defensive structure has looked disorganized in their own end. The forwards haven’t sustained nearly enough pressure in the offensive zone. The goaltending has failed to come up with the timely saves needed to steady things. It’s a combination of issues, not one singular problem, that has put the Leafs in this position.
Leafs’ Supporting Cast Must Step Up Before It’s Too Late
The Maple Leafs desperately need more from their offseason additions if they want to dig out of this early-season hole. None of Brad Treliving’s moves have soften the blow of losing Mitch Marner. Matias Maccelli hasn’t found chemistry on the top line with Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies the way many assumed he would. Dakota Joshua hasn’t brought the consistent physical edge or three-zone reliability the Leafs targeted when they signed him. And while Nicolas Roy, the piece coming back in the Marner trade, has shown flashes, however his season has been derailed by injuries, limiting any real momentum.
Max Domi is another player under a heavy spotlight this season. His game is built on speed, skill, and playmaking flair, and in past years with the Leafs, he’s shown he can rise to the moment.
Domi scored the overtime winner in Game 2 against the Senators, provided Toronto’s only goal in the Game 7 loss to Florida, and set up the series-winning goal in Game 6 versus Ottawa. When the stakes were highest, he delivered. The Maple Leafs need that version of Max Domi again.
Instead, his season hit a low point in overtime against the Blue Jackets on November 20th. Domi’s turnover in the offensive zone led directly to Adam Fantilli‘s game-winning goal, and on the backcheck, he looked like he had more to give but didn’t execute. For a player expected to be a key offensive driver and late-game threat, those mistakes stand out even more.
If the Leafs are going to climb out of this early-season hole, they need Domi to rediscover the impact, urgency, and reliability he’s shown in past playoff moments. His ceiling is high, but Toronto needs him playing at that level consistently.
The Few Bright Spots
The Maple Leafs’ season hasn’t been all dark; there have been a few standout positives keeping this team afloat.
John Tavares is playing some of the best hockey of his Maple Leafs career. He’s attacking plays with confidence, driving possession, and delivering in key moments when Toronto needs him the most. Whether he’s setting up chances or finishing them himself, Tavares has been a stabilizing force for a team dealing with constant chaos around him. Through 22 games, the Oakville native has racked up 12 goals and 15 assists for 27 points, elite production at a $4.3 million cap hit. At this point, you could make a real argument that Tavares has one of the best-value contracts in the entire NHL.
William Nylander has also been a bright spot and continues to look like one of the most dynamic offensive players in the league. He’s scoring highlight-reel goals, driving the rush with ease, and producing at a blistering pace with 10 goals and 19 assists in just 19 games. Every year, Nylander seems to find another level, and this season is no exception. Right now, he’s arguably Toronto’s most dangerous weapon, capable of flipping a game with a single shift.
Moving Forward
The Leafs still have plenty of work ahead if they want to climb out of this early-season hole, but there’s reason for optimism. Once the roster is healthy, players should be able to develop stronger chemistry, and the team’s talent can start to consistently shine. William Nylander and John Tavares will need to maintain their strong starts, setting the tone for their teammates, while Craig Berube continues to hold players accountable. At the same time, Brad Treliving will have to assess the roster and determine if any moves are necessary to strengthen the team’s depth and put Toronto in a position to contend for the Stanley Cup.
Main Photo Credit: Eric Hartline – Imagn Images
