3 Maple Leafs Under the Microscope in 2026-27

Rielly has gotten slower, getting blown by on multiple occasions and looking like he’s struggling to keep up with the speed of the game. He missed out on 50 points in back-to-back seasons and was on for the second- most five-on-five goals against this season with 78. He’s not a true number one defender and hasn’t looked like one as of late. The hope is that he can bounce back, but time is running out and if he can’t figure it out, then the temperature of moving on from him would increase. 

As of now, he’s still with the team, but there have been points where it looked like he was out the door. It’s clear that both player and team need a split and both could benefit from a change. He’s the longest tenured player with the team and has seen his fair share of highs and lows, but his play as of late has been a concern. Regardless of the rumours, all eyes are going to be on him this season as the scrutiny over his play on both sides of the puck continues. 

Would improvements on the backend and change with the head coach help as Jim Hiller is now in charge? It’s always possible, but Rielly needs to show results and fast. 

Sergei Bobrovsky

It really is weird to see a player with the pedigree that Sergei Bobrovsky has on this list. He’s a two-time Stanley Cup Champion with the Florida Panthers and has won the Vezina Trophy twice in his career. He’s an established starter and it’s something the Maple Leafs haven’t really solidified lately as there have been a lot of unknowns at the position.

However, Bobrovsky hasn’t quite been consistent in the regular season as he has in the playoffs where he has been lights out. He had his worst statistical season with a 3.07 goals against average and .877 save percentage. He had the worst SV% at 5-on-5 among goalies that played 2,000 minutes (.887) and goals saved above average of -17.07. Now, the Panthers were riddled with injuries and Bobrovsky didn’t have the same team in front of him on a nightly basis.

Bobrovsky did have chemistry with Anthony Stolarz and did have strong performances in the playoffs. He’s 37 and it was a gamble to sign him if you’re banking on trying to replicate that again. Though newly hired vice-president of sports performance Andy O’Brien doesn’t see it that way.   

The hope is that they can share the starter role and alleviate the pressure from each other like they did when they won their first Cup. It’s a short-term deal (three years at $7 million per year) and he has the resume to back it up. Seeing as goaltending was a problem last season, he was brought in to be the solution. 

Auston Matthews

After another disappointing season, Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews didn’t hold back when the season was done, taking ownership for the result of the season.

“We didn’t meet the goals or the expectations that we set out at the start. And ultimately that’s on me, that’s on us as players,” Matthews said on locker clean out day. “Everybody here wants to win, wants to do their part to help the team win.” (from, ‘Opinion | Auston Matthews on his Leafs future: ‘I don’t really know.’ Read into it what you will’, Toronto Star – 4/16/26)

With his season cut short with a knee injury that required surgery, Matthews saw last season end with his lowest point total in his career. Matthews has at least hit the 60-point mark and surpassed 30 goals, but that ended. Chalk it up to a lot things, no elite playmaker, being more defensive minded, Matthews wasn’t himself offensively. Now that he’s recovering and getting ready for next season with a new coach in the room, Matthews has a chance to rebound and be the dominant goal scorer everyone knows him to be.

When you’re the captain, you’re going to have all eyes on you. Since he became the leader of the team, he has looked good, but not great. We know what he’s capable of as a player who can still be a strong defensive player and wire home 50-plus goals a season. It’s a fresh start and along with the team, Matthews knows that he needs to be better.