Playing hockey for the Toronto Maple Leafs comes with an insane amount of pressure. Every single year, regardless of the previous season’s results, the stakes are always high for the Maple Leafs.
Last season was one full of positives for the Leafs. Craig Berube made a massive impact behind the bench, their goaltending tandem was among one of the best in the league, even though they battled some injury troubles, and several Maple Leafs took huge strides individually, including Matthew Knies and Jake McCabe. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the end result they wanted in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but it’s hard to ignore the fact the Leafs gave the Florida Panthers the hardest run for their money throughout the postseason, and frankly, it wasn’t even close.
Heading into next season, the pressure continues for the buds, but who is under the most? Here’s five Maple Leafs facing the most pressure heading into the 2025-26 campaign:
Stolarz had himself an impressive statistical season, his first as a Leaf, but unfortunately, couldn’t stay healthy, which wasn’t entirely his fault. Losing the 31-year-old netminder in Game 1 against the Panthers was a massive blow for the Leafs, and many folks have wondered throughout the offseason what could have been if he played all the games against his former club.
Stolarz has a ton of pressure riding into next season. He’s in the final season of his two-way deal that’s paying him $2.5 million AAV, and if he wants an extension, which could be double the money per season for him, he’ll need to prove to GM Brad Treliving and the organization that he can be relied upon to be available.
The Edison, NJ native posted a 21-8-3 record, with a 2.14 goals against average, and a .926 save percentage. Godly numbers, and among the very best in the league, but the appearances need to rise, and unfortunately for him last season, it was tied to his health, and not necessarily his performance, which he can control. All signs are pointing to Stolarz wanting to stick around Toronto on a long-term contract extension, but don’t expect to see Treliving offer anything anytime soon. The Leafs’ goaltender has to prove that he can be relied upon, and after year one, there’s certainly some question marks lingering.
Don’t blame Morgan Rielly for his contract, as former GM Kyle Dubas offered him the money, but when it comes to pressure heading into next season, Rielly will be among the most on the Maple Leafs. At $7.5 million AAV, Rielly’s expectations from the fan base are sky high.
Rielly led the Leafs blueline with 41 points in 82 games, and raised his game in the postseason, with seven points in 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games. However, it was the defensive side of the puck where Rielly struggled at times throughout last season, and he’s a bit of an outlier when it comes to other defencemen throughout the league. Rielly makes $7.5 million, and is the highest paid d-man on the Leafs by a country mile, however, he’s not someone who can quarterback a top power-play unit, and he doesn’t see a lick of ice-time killing penalties. Seems odd, doesn’t it?
There’s been some rumblings the Maple Leafs were considering asking Rielly to waive his no-movement clause this summer, but from all accounts, that hasn’t been the case just yet. The veteran blueliner, and longest-tenured Leaf is signed through the 2029-30 season, but if he’s not capable of being an impact top-four defenceman in Toronto next season, and his game takes a step back on the production side, the noise surrounding his future with the franchise will become deafening.
Goodbye Mitch Marner, hello Max Domi? The 30-year-old has a golden opportunity to play on the top line next season alongside Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews. Domi can distribute the puck with the best of them, and there’s certainly a gaping hole on the right side of the top line, a place Domi is reasonably familiar with.
Domi and Matthews are very close off the ice and it shows on the ice. The chemistry can’t be questioned, but what can be, is Domi’s ability to play a 200-foot game, and remain level headed, and consistent throughout the entire regular season and playoffs. Domi had some horrible stretches of production last season, he couldn’t find the back of the net to save his life early on, and frankly, it became a distraction for him.
Next season, it’s going to be paramount for Domi to find some early success, get one past a goaltender, but also showcase to Berube and the coaching staff that he’s willing to do whatever it takes without the puck to gain trust, and remain on Matthews’ wing. If Domi can’t stick as the top-line right-winger, then things get complicated. With John Tavares locked in at the number-two hole, Nicolas Roy and Scott Laughton among centre options for the bottom six, and with David Kampf hanging around, down the middle is crowded for the Leafs. If Domi wants to create for himself, he’d be wise to focus on being the best right winger possible, and cement himself in Marner’s spot in the lineup.
Speaking of Laughton, everyone should wash last season away. Laughton had a tough time transitioning out of Philadelphia, and the trade to his ‘home-town’ team wasn’t as easy as many hoped for, including among the Maple Leafs’ organization, and Leafs Nation.
Laughton will be given a clean slate heading into 2025-26. Berube is likely to play him ahead of Kampf as the Leafs’ fourth-line centre, and seeing how he and Roy lineup will be one of the many internal competitions to follow throughout training camp, preseason, and the early stages of the regular season.
Laughton’s game improved during the playoffs, as he created strong chemistry with Steven Lorentz and Calle Jarnkrok. Will these three get another look next year? Hard to say at this point, but there’s certainly a realm of possibility. The 31-year-old Laughton is entering the final season of his contract, so there’s a ton to play for next year. He only has so many multi-year contracts left in his career, and if he wants a chance to retire as a Leaf, he’ll need a more consistent season in his first full year in Toronto.
Brad Treliving paid a massive price to bring Laughton in. Ideally, a team isn’t trading a first-round pick for a fourth-line centre, so it will be interesting to see if Laughton can cement himself as the shut-down third-line centre, or even slide over to Roy’s wing, if asked. Berube has some options with his lineup next season, and with a slight DNA change, it will be fun to watch how the roster plays itself out through training camp. If you’re talking pressure surrounding Maple Leafs next season, Laughton is among the top of the list.
While Matthew Knies, Nick Robertson, and even Calle Jarnkrok could be under the microscope next season, the last spot in our pressure cooker goes to Bobby McMann. The 29-year-old is a pending unrestricted free agent, and there’s going to be plenty of eyes on his consistency heading into next season.
McMann scored 20 goals in 74 games last season, and showed off his speed and strength throughout the year. The 6-foot-2 winger was among the team leaders in hits with 136, and if he wants to secure a spot among the Leafs middle-six, the physicality must continue, and so too must the consistent production.
McMann had stretches of brilliance last season, but unfortunately he also had too many stretches of being snake-bitten. With a motor like his, his release, and his willingness to drive to the front of the net, 20 goals should be the standard. At 29 years old, a contract year, the stakes are very high for McMann heading into the 2025-26 season. The interesting aspect here is the fact this will only be McMann’s second ‘full’ season as an NHL pro. He set a career high dressing in 74 games for the Leafs last season, and one way he could become an absolute staple in the Leafs lineup, is becoming a penalty-killing option. With Marner gone, there’s some holes to fill, and this hasn’t been a role McMann has been asked to complete before, however, with his speed, he could become a weapon shorthanded.
The pressure is always on in Toronto, but heading into next season, these five Maple Leafs are facing the most.
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