5 bold Maple Leafs predictions for 2026

What a year 2025 was for the Toronto Maple Leafs. From having a new voice behind the bench in Craig Berube, pushing the eventual Stanley Cup champions to the brink of elimination, to powering through a ton of adversity and injury woes, it’s been a wild calendar year in Toronto.

There’s certainly been a number of ups and downs the Maple Leafs have navigated throughout the year, and heading into 2026, they’re 18-15-6, three points out of a playoff spot, and filled with uncertainty on, and off the ice. General manager Brad Treliving is never shy to ask around to gauge the trade market, he’s already fired an assistant coach, and he’ll have lots of decisions to make with the roster heading into the next 12 months.

Let’s dive into some bold Maple Leaf predictions for 2026:

Maple Leafs make the Stanley Cup Playoffs

It’s not the boldest start but the Leafs have 42 games left on their 2025-26 schedule, and have been playing much better hockey of late, even though they’re 5-3-2 in their last 10 games. They’ve battled, they’ve bought in, and they’re a confident bunch heading into 2026.

Goaltending continues to be a strength, regardless of who is in the crease. This is going to be a huge factor for their case to make the playoffs. Joseph Woll must stay healthy, because it doesn’t sound like Anthony Stolarz is anywhere close to returning. Dennis Hildeby has filled in nicely with a .914 save percentage, and the team will need his strong play to continue.

Health seems to be the biggest influence heading into the new year. The Maple Leafs are among the league leaders in man games missed, their two best players didn’t play the last game of 2025, and the back end continues to be without a couple of key pieces in Chris Tanev and Brandon Carlo.

It’s going to take a collective effort to stick to Berube’s structure, but if they can manage to maintain the cohesiveness, and the buy in, these Maple Leafs will be among the top eight teams in the Eastern Conference.

Robertson, McMann, Stecher receive contract extensions

Nick Robertson is becoming one of the most important forwards for the Leafs this season, and has been turning heads of late with his evolution into a complete, 200-foot hockey player. His hard work, commitment to his craft, and his dedication to buy into what Berube is selling will lead to a future with this hockey club. Robertson’s a pending restricted free agent, and expect to see a long-term extension coming for the speedy winger.

Bobby McMann, 29, is in a much different boat as he’s unrestricted at the end of the season, and while he struggled out of the gate, he’s been one of the best Leafs’ forwards to end 2025. McMann has a rare combination of size and speed, and with a consistent role among Berube’s top-nine, he’s going to be in the team’s long-term plans moving forward. Look for McMann to land a multi-year extension in 2026.

Troy Stecher became the talk of the town after being claimed off waivers from the Edmonton Oilers. Stecher’s been praised by his teammates for his competitiveness, and willingness to sacrifice whatever it takes to help the team win. In 21 games so far, Stecher is averaging over 20 minutes of ice-time per game, and is giving the Maple Leafs an element of speed, and grit from the right-side of their blueline, which is something this team has lacked for years. Look for the 31-year-old Stecher to continue to bump some of his teammates down the pecking order, and receive a two-year contract extension in 2026.

Maccelli, Laughton not extended after season

The boldness has risen, as Matias Maccelli and Scott Laughton will not be given contract extensions to play in Toronto after this season. In Maccelli’s case, there’s an outside shot he’s traded before the deadline in March, but regardless, he’s a pending restricted free agent, and look for the Leafs not to provide him a qualifying offer, or move him on the trade market.

Maccelli’s had his moments, and he’s as skilled as anyone among the Leafs forwards, but with his size, lack of speed, grit, and determination, Treliving would be wise to move on, and find Berube a player that fits more closely into the team’s structure.

Laughton is a tough one because the Leafs gave up a ton to acquire him, but he’s amounted to a fourth-line centre, with some flashes of brilliance. Laughton had a hard time getting accustomed to playing for his childhood team, he struggled last season, he got off to a tough start this year, and while he’s turned it around of late with his two-way impact, look for Laughton to move on to another chapter of his hockey career this summer outside of Toronto.

Domi, Stolarz, or Rielly traded at some point in 2026

Before the trade deadline? Perhaps if we’re discussing Max Domi’s future, but when it comes to Leaf trade candidates for 2026, you can circle Domi, Anthony Stolarz, and Morgan Rielly as the top three.

Domi’s been tough to watch at times with his care for the puck, lack of physicality, and detail orientation in his own end. He absolutely loves being a Maple Leaf more than anyone on the team, but that only gets you so far. We’ve seen numerous times over the years that sometimes, growing up a Leaf diehard doesn’t result in production on the ice wearing the blue and white. Domi has two seasons left on his deal at $3.75 million AAV, and owns a 13-team no-trade clause. Treliving would be wise to sell low if he has to.

Stolarz is a tough one because he just continues to struggle with injuries, which has been the constant theme for him throughout his NHL career. The best ability is availability, and heading into 2026, Stolarz is once again not available to help his teammates. With Woll and Hildeby under contracts at a very reasonable combined AAV for not only 2026-27, but also 2027-28, Treliving should see what value Stolarz has on the trade market. Yes, his extension hasn’t even kicked in, but he wasn’t given full no-trade protection, and only has say against half of the teams. Goaltending is a position of strength for the Leafs, and Treliving would be wise to try and land an impact forward, or power-play quarterback for a package centered around Stolarz.

Morgan Rielly is next up on the trade candidate list, and if you polled Leafs Nation at the moment, he’s probably going to lead the results in one player who needs a change of scenery the most. Rielly’s the longest tenured Leaf, he’s overpaid, which isn’t his fault, and while he’s chipped in with 25 points in 38 games, it’s his declining defensive-zone skillset that’s frustrating the fan base this season. If the Leafs are in the playoff mix creeping closer to the trade deadline, don’t expect to see Treliving ask Rielly for a list of teams he’d accept a deal too, but come summertime, there could be an uncomfortable conversation coming between the veteran defenceman and GM.

Auston Matthews leads Team USA in scoring

The Olympics are just around the corner, and with all the noise on Matthews’ lack of production this season, it feels very ‘Leafy’ if he was to suit up for Team USA and absolutely pop off with his American teammates.

Matthews didn’t play the Leafs’ final game of 2025, due to some soreness from blocking a shot the previous game. It’s been an up-and-down year that has many questioning if he’s fully 100 percent healthy, and there’s been a ton of speculation that his lack of production is centred around a nagging back injury that could eventually require surgery. Frankly, who knows, only Matthews can tell you exactly what’s going on and he’s not interested in doing that, so switching gears from blue and white to red, white, and blue, look for Matthews to turn back the clock and shine for Team USA.

The American and Leafs’ captain didn’t score in the 4 Nations Faceoff, but he chipped in with three assists. Look for Matthews to get an early goal in the Olympics, and ride the wave all the way into the gold medal game. Seeing Matthews catch fire on the international stage will send Leafs Nation into a tailspin, but regardless, the Olympics are going to be some of the most entertaining hockey games in history, and look for the Leafs’ captain to be right in the middle of it all.