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Toronto Maple Leafs week in review: Week 2

Originally posted on 6IX ON ICE | By Cody Misyk | Last updated Oct 20, 2025 5:20 PM ET

The Toronto Maple Leafs are coming off an acceptable week. Things have not been great, but they have not been bad. The team had a couple of strong performances against the Nashville Predators and New York Rangers this week, scoring nine goals in two games. Unfortunate losses against the Detroit Red Wings and Seattle Kraken cover up the positive aspects of the early season. Let’s take a look at how the Leafs are doing after week two.

The offence remains mediocre

After the first week of the season, the depth forwards were carrying the Leafs’ offence. Going into week two, guys like Nylander, Matthews, and Tavares needed to step up their game. Thankfully, they have had at least one of them score a point in the last four games. The recent home game against the Predators was the most significant offensive explosion of the season. Each of the big three forwards had two or more points, while Matthew Knies had himself a three-assist game. With Marner gone, is it time for Knies to step up as a scorer? He certainly has done so early in the season.

One of the biggest concerns with the offence is the power play. Knies scored the team’s first power play goal on Thursday against the Rangers. This snapped the team’s 0/8 power play streak to begin the season. After Tavares netted the second power play goal of the year Saturday against the Kraken, the team has now gone 2/14, sitting 25th overall in the NHL. This rough start will likely get better as the season progresses. I do not think it is any more than an early-season slump.

Some good news for the offence is that the schedule plays in their favour in week three. The team has four of five days off, then has a back-to-back against the Buffalo Sabres on the weekend. This could be a great opportunity for the offence to explode, although Buffalo has turned things around in the last couple of games.

Easton Cowan makes his NHL debut

The most popular news surrounding the Leafs recently was the news of forward Easton Cowan making his NHL debut against the Red Wings. Cowan was selected in the first round of the 2023 NHL Draft and has been the Leafs’ top prospect since. The young forward was a star in the OHL with the London Knights, where he won two league championships and one Memorial Cup. Although things went extremely well in the OHL, Cowan received a lot of hate due to his performance at the last two World Junior Championships. This may have altered people’s opinion of Cowan, but he truly is a fantastic hockey player.

The 20-year-old made his NHL debut on Oct. 13 alongside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies. He recorded his first NHL point the next day against the Predators. It is uncertain whether Cowan will remain on the first line, but he is certainly good enough to stay on the team. A depth role is likely better for him at this stage in his career. It will be interesting to see where Craig Berube places the forward in the lineup moving forward.

Stolarz rips into the team’s performance

After Saturday night’s disappointing loss against the Kraken, goaltender Anthony Stolarz was not afraid to hold back his frustrations. The goaltender stated:

“When we work hard, the results come. You can’t play for 20 or 30 minutes, we gotta do it for a complete 60.”

Stolarz has every right to be upset, as the team has been inconsistent to start the year. It has become a bit of a trend in Toronto for the Leafs to have these slow and sloppy stretches in the season. Through the first few games of this season, Stolarz was the one holding the Leafs in games. That is not something that the team can rely on for the entire year. As Stolarz expressed, the team needs to play a full sixty minutes.

What is next?

The Leafs will get a bit of a break going into week three. They only play in three games, two of which are against the Sabres. Those should be easy wins for a team of the Leafs’ calibre. Earlier in the week, they have a much tougher task in taking on the New Jersey Devils.

The Devils have had a fantastic start to the season. They currently sit second in the Metropolitan Division with a 4–1 record. After a 5–3 win against the Edmonton Oilers, forwards Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes are leading the way early in the season. Former Leaf Connor Brown has had an excellent start to his season in New Jersey, where he has three goals in the first five games. Tuesday will be a good test for the Leafs. The Devils are a fast and strong team that is currently missing their starting goaltender, Jacob Markstrom.

Has the loss of Mitch Marner been a reason why the Leafs’ inconsistencies have continued? Or is it just another early-season slump? Be sure to tune in as the Leafs take on the Devils Tuesday night.

This article first appeared on 6IX ON ICE and was syndicated with permission.

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