4 Maple Leafs who will be X-Factors in 2025-26

The Toronto Maple Leafs are going to have a very different look and feel to their hockey club next season, and it’s going to be interesting to see who emerges as the x-factors on their roster.

General manager Brad Treliving had no choice but to move Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights, as the Leafs’ GM did well to land Nicolas Roy in return, and help solidify some depth down the middle of the ice. Treliving’s been very busy this summ er trying to change the makeup of the Leafs’ lineup, and looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, we wait and see how the lineup will be constructed, and who emerges as the unsung heroes throughout the year.

Here’s four Leafs who could become x-factors this upcoming season:

Matthew Knies

Knies has quickly become a very important player for the Maple Leafs, and with Marner leaving for the Vegas strip, the 22-year-old power forward is going to be given every oppourtunity to succeed. After several years of seeing Marner and Auston Matthews attached at the hip, look for Knies and Matthews to be locked in together now, which should bode well for production of the Maple Leafs’ top line.

Knies is a huge piece to Toronto’s core. He’s emerged as one of the best power forwards in the game, leaning on his size, speed, streng th, and work ethic to propel himself up the charts with a career season in 2024-25. With how well Knies is projecting, last season could become the baseline of expectations for his production, and there’s limited doubt a 40-goal, 80-point season could be well within reach.

The former second-round pick will play top-line minutes, he’ll be jumping the boards on the first power play, and with Marner and his 2:08 of ice-time per game shorthanded no longer an option, look for Knies to play a much bigger role on the penalty kill next season. If he continues to develop his game and commit to all three zones of the ice under Craig Berube’s guidance, the sky is the limit for Knies, who has a legit shot at making Team USA’s Olympic team. That’s going to be a huge motivator for him this upcoming season, so Leafs Nation should sit back and get some popcorn ready, because they are going to witness a very motivated Knies in blue and white.

Max Domi

Domi is goi ng to be a very interesting forward to watch during Maple Leafs’ training camp, because of his versatility to play all over the lineup. We’ll have to wait and see how Berube constructs his lines, but there’s a very good chance out of training camp, Domi’s given the first look on the right side of Knies and Matthews on the Leafs’ top line.

If Domi can find some consistency to his production, and a more committed approach to playing without the puck, he could secure himself as the top-line right-winger in no time. He has strong chemistry with Matthews on and off the ice, and considering his ability to distribute the puck, the Leafs would be very lucky for Domi to step in at the top of his game, because when it comes to feeding Matthews the biscuit, Domi does it just about as good as anyone in the league. So, the drop off from Marner on that aspect of the game, actually wouldn’t be as drastic as people think.

Domi was snake-bitten to start last season, so he’ll need a couple of early ones to gain some confidence, and he’ll have to work on staying level headed in crucial moments of hockey games. Berube would love for him to be more physical, so it will be interesting to see if he throws his weight around more, and surpasses his 31 hits from last season.

With Matthews, John Tavares, Scott Laughton, Roy, David Kampf, and even Dakota Joshua as options down the middle of the ice, and with the gaping hole at right-wing on the top line, Domi would be doing himself a ton of favors being able to lock down his spot on the Leafs’ top line. He’s likely penciled in at the moment, but we’ll have to wait and see how training camp and the preseason shake up to see if pe ncil, turns to pen.

Matias Maccelli

If Domi doesn’t start the season as RW on the top line, it’s likely because Matias Maccelli has shown up to training camp and made one hell of a first impression. The 5-foot-10 winger was acquired in a ‘quiet’ under-the-radar type of trade this summer from Treliving, and one that could have a massive impact on the Maple Leafs, next season, and beyond.

Maccelli had a down season with Utah last year, recording just eight goals, and 18 points in 55 games, however, there’s still plenty of untapped potential in the 24-year-old’s game, and the Maple Leafs are hopeful in the right situation, Maccelli will be able to flourish. His 22-year-old season Maccelli recorded 49 points in 64 games, and as a 23-year-old, he produced a career high 57 points in 82 games. If the Leafs get 60 points out of Maccelli in 2025-26, they’re going to be in very good shape.

Maccelli will battle it out for the top-line right-wing spot in camp, and he’ll also be given a look at left wing with Tavares and William Nylander on the second line. He’s not a physical checking-style forward, so if he’s going to become a piece of the Maple Leafs core, it would be wise for him to do whatever he can to secure a top-six offensive role. While he’s a magician with the puck, and it’s going to be very entertaining to see Maccelli distribute the puck, at the end of the day, it’s going to come down to his 200-foot game on how much of an impact he can make for the Leafs. If Maccelli doesn’t pay close attention to details without the puck, Berube won’t trust him enough to play him heavy minutes in Toronto’s top six.

The pending restricted free agent is playing for a long-term contract extension this upcoming season, so it will be intriguing to see how much of an impact Maccelli can make, early and often for the Maple Leafs.

Bobby McMann

Perhaps the biggest x-factor of them all could come in the form of Bobby McMann for the Maple Leafs. McMann’s coming off a 20-goal season, one in which he established career high’s in just about every aspect of his game last season, just his second as an NHL regular.

Entering his third ‘full season’, McMann has every opportunity to become an integral piece of the Maple Leafs core, and look for the 29-year-old to battle it out for a top-six spot on the wing throughout training camp, and the preseason. McMann’s a big body at 6-foot -2, 215lbs, and with his blazing speed, and willingness to throw his weight around, he’s someone with consistency to his production, could become a favourite of Berube’s next season. McMann landed 136 hits last season, third among Leafs’ forwards, and expect much of the same in 2025-26. One thing that may be different about McMann’s game next season would be some more time shorthanded, as the Leafs will need to re-gig their units shorthanded with Marner departing. With McMann’s speed, it’s a role he may be able to carve out for himself, and propel himself up the rankings as important forwards for the Leafs.

McMann’s going to be very motivated this upcoming season. He’s entering a contract year, at 29 years old, without a decorated resume, so whatever he can do in ’25-26 to impress Treliving and company, and solidify himself as a core piece for the Leafs which could warrant a three-to-four year extension, expect to see it out of McMann’s game.

McMann has 25-to-30 goal potential, he’s not shy to throw his weight around, and if he’s able to limit the dry spells, expect to see his name among the Leafs’ top three lines for the foreseeable future.

The Maple Leafs tried to change their DNA this summer, and you have to admit, they’ve done a pretty good job to mix up the forward group. With some fresh blood ready to battle it out at training camp, and several returning Maple Leafs looking to solidify their spot in Berube’s lineup, it’s going to be very entertaining to watch who emerges as x-factors throughout next season. Knies, Domi, Maccelli, and McMann all have great shots at leading the way.