Are the Maple Leafs Actually Getting Better This Offseason?

It’s the question no one in Toronto wants to ask out loud: Are the Toronto Maple Leafs improving this summer, or are they just rearranging the same old pieces, minus Mitch Marner?

Marner’s departure was long anticipated. With a $10.9 million cap hit entering the final year of his deal, Toronto had time to plan. And while losing a 100-point Selke-calibre winger is never easy, the financial flexibility should’ve been a springboard to build a deeper, more balanced team. Instead, there’s an argument that they’ve subtracted an elite player and added some role guys.

Do the Maple Leafs Have a Clear Direction?

The biggest concern is that the Maple Leafs didn’t seem to have a vision for how to use the savings from Marner’s exit. Rather than chasing top-tier help—either another high-end forward or a puck-moving defenceman—they spread the money thin. Depth pieces like Dakota Joshua and Nicolas Roy are useful, but they don’t replace Marner’s impact.

And Henry Thrun, their lone blue line addition, projects as a No. 6–7 defenceman. This was a team with a playoff-tested core that needed a supporting cast. Instead, they got… a different supporting cast.

The Maple Leafs Might Have the Same Defensive Issues

Toronto’s defence was already a weakness. The team ranked 23rd in expected goal share at 5-on-5 during the regular season and struggled again in the playoffs. Marner, for all the criticism he took, helped smooth over some of those issues with elite puck possession and transitional play. Now that he’s gone, the lack of puck movement from the back end is more glaring than ever.

Worse still, the Maple Leafs don’t have the trade capital they once did. After splurging on Brandon Carlo and Scott Laughton at last year’s deadline—with little return—they’re short on assets and options. They’ll likely need to trade contracts like David Kämpf or Calle Järnkrok to even try improving at the deadline. It’s not just a roster problem—it’s an organizational squeeze.

Playoff Grit or Playoff Mirage?

There’s a new narrative that Toronto’s moves make them “tougher to play against.” But toughness alone doesn’t win playoff series—top-end performance does. Marner, despite his playoff critics, has actually driven strong results: 74-point pace, positive goal share, and consistent top-line production.

Can the same be said for Joshua or Roy? The answer is no, and that’s before we even get into whether the team’s star players will continue to carry the weight on their own.