Burn it down? Why the Maple Leafs 2025–26 failure demands a core cleanout

Last March, the Toronto Maple Leafs were clinching a playoff spot on their route to their first Atlantic Division title. Fast forward to March 2026, and the team is fighting for a great spot in the NHL lottery.

From being second last in the Atlantic Division to losing captain Auston Matthews for the remainder of the season, it has not been a fun year to be a Maple Leafs fan. The disappointment all year—fans are finally ready to see it end.

The Leafs have eight games remaining of this horrific season, which fans, and maybe the players, are hoping will come quickly. Heading into the new season, it should be quite a busy summer for the organization. Here are some moves that should happen. 

Management shake-up

This year’s failure can be blamed on almost everyone in the Leafs organization, but names that have come up are Head Coach Craig Berube and General Manager Brad Treliving. 

Last season, Berube coached the team to a 52–26–4 record, claiming their first Atlantic Division title. Compared to this season, 31–30–13 so far with some games remaining, this is simply not good enough. Could it be Berube losing the room? Are we looking at a Mike Babcock-type situation? 

From what was put out onto the ice, this team cannot play Berube-style hockey, hard, physical, dump-and-chase. Shaking up the head coach position is always the easy route for many struggling teams, and with many former NHL coaches looking for work, Berube might be on his way out.

Bringing in Treliving as the general manager has always had some heat, given how his tenure ended with the Calgary Flames; many fans could not stomach him joining their precious Leafs. This year was not a great look for Treliving as he gave up key players such as Bobby McMann, Scott Laughton, and Nic Roy for a couple of decent picks and no prospects. 

MLSE President Keith Pelly put faith in these two guys to take the Leafs into the promised land, and it seems now that this faith might be fading away.

Trading big-name guys

When it comes to big trades, the Leafs rarely ever get brought up, and for good reason. You have guys like Auston Matthews, William Nylander, John Tavares, Matthew Knies, Morgan Rielly, and even Mitch Marner when he was a part of the team. All this talent and no success; the leadership and core of this team for years have eaten most of the cap space, yet given the fanbase zero results in multiple postseasons.

The time feels right to move on from some of these guys. Morgan Rielly is a start. Ever since his breakout 72-point season, he has not been able to be that guy on the back end for the Maple Leafs, especially since Berube took over the bench. In his last two seasons combined, Rielly accumulated 74 points in 151 games, not worthy of a number-one defenceman. 

Matthews and Nylander have been through it all with the Leafs, a part of every heartbreaking loss in the postseason. Trading one of your big players might bring in more assets to diversify the lineup, well-rounding the team. Nylander has another six years left on his deal at $11.5M, while Matthews has another two years at $13.25M, and they aren’t getting any younger. Trading one of them now could benefit the team in the future and could land something they have been missing forever.

A No. 1 defenceman

Leafs fans have, for years, complained about not having a number-one defenceman, as Rielly cannot play up to the Cale Makar or Quinn Hughes standard. A defenceman who can play both ends on the ice, quarterback a power play, and lead a penalty kill is an asset that the Leafs could’ve used in the nine consecutive playoff runs against teams like the Washington Capitals, Boston Bruins, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Florida Panthers.

A common trait in Stanley Cup winners is having an elite defenceman, and that’s what Toronto is missing. Looking into the offseason, the Leafs need to dive headfirst into a defenceman contract and sign or trade for one. An elite defenceman could solve all of Toronto’s problems and get them further in their quest for Lord Stanley’s Cup.

A season to forget leads into an offseason that may have fans keeping their hopes for the 2026–27 season.