Maple Leafs fans give their spiciest takes about the team going into 2025-26 season

There is certainly reason to believe that the Leafs will regress with Marner out of the picture. For all of the reasons to be frustrated with his play when it matters, it’s hard to deny that his prowess in the regular season was a big part of why they were able to reach the playoffs in all nine seasons he was with the team. His departure and some other things reverting to the mean suggest their chances of once again winning the division are not as high as they were a year ago.

At the same time, the regular season has never been the issue for the Leafs because they have nearly a decade’s worth of evidence to suggest they can do well in the 82-game slugfest. It’s the postseason that is the obstacle they need to overcome, and perhaps the improved depth goes a long way in ensuring that they do better than Game 7 of the second round. I’m sure many members of Leafs Nation would take a slightly worse regular season if it meant a deeper playoff run.

Auston Matthews will no doubt be a point of focus for Leafs fans in terms of his health and what he can do with Marner gone. There is certainly a world where the injury concerns are behind him and he returns to the form many have become accustomed to. William Nylander seems to be improving every year, so seeing him take another step would make sense. Joshua is healthy and motivated, so there’s a good chance for a bounceback. Same goes with Morgan Rielly, who now has a stable partner who meshes well with his play style.

If Maccelli can regain some confidence lost during his lone season in Utah, it could pay dividends for the Leafs. When he is on his game, there are few players more creative and effective at playmaking than he is. Of course, his offensive output depends on where Craig Berube envisions him playing but the opportunity is there for Maccelli to rebound in a big way.

As mentioned earlier, Matthews’ health will play a signifcant factor in how things go for the Leafs next season. He may say that the injury concerns are now just a memory, but it’s also possible that they continue to be a thorn in the side. That would obviously not bode well for him and the team’s chances at success so seeing how his health holds up will be a major talking point.

We got a lot of submissions in regards to Marner and the Vegas Golden Knights; some suggested he and his new team will do better than the Leafs, and others felt otherwise. The idea that his production would significantly regress is quite the reach, but boy would that be something if it came to pass. Make no mistake, Leafs fans will be paying close attention to how Marner’s season unfolds with plenty of comparisons made to Toronto and Vegas.

The Leafs winning the Stanley Cup? Now THAT is a spicy take! But if that does come to pass, it would be quite something if Knies is the one who takes home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

We want to hear from you: what’s your spiciest Leafs take heading into the 2025-26 season?