3 Maple Leafs Poised for a Bounce-Back Season

The entire Maple Leafs team needs to have a bounce-back season heading into 2026-27. The team had the worst season it has had during the Auston Matthews era, and that cannot happen again next season. They missed the playoffs, ticket sales were down and fans across the country were simply not happy.

Here are three Maple Leafs players poised for a bounce-back season.

Auston Matthews: Bounce-Back Season or More Struggles?

Auston Matthews is one of the three Maple Leafs poised for a bounce-back season. Two years ago, Auston scored 69 goals in 81 games. Over the last two seasons, he has scored 60 goals in 127 games. During that span, he scored only 15 power-play goals after scoring 18 during his 69-goal campaign.

This year has to be better, and I feel it will be. With new head coach Jim Hiller bringing a high-scoring style, plus new player Jack Roslovic, Easton Cowan getting more experience and young talent like Gavin McKenna coming in, there should be more help around Matthews. This is also his second year without Mitch Marner, so Auston should be more used to playing without his longtime running mate by now.

Getting Matthews consistency with his linemates could really help him have a strong season. For Jim Hiller, that has to be one of his biggest focuses heading into the year. With Auston having only two years left on his current contract, he has to be one of the players who delivers a bounce-back season.

Morgan Rielly: Bounce-Back Season or Trade Bait?

If something went wrong last year, Morgan Rielly was one of the first players fans blamed. Coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, he finished at minus-18 while scoring only 11 goals. Rielly is another Maple Leaf poised for a bounce-back season.

I keep going back to the 2018-19 season, when Rielly had the best year of his career. He scored 20 goals, added 52 assists for 72 points and finished plus-24. During that season, the team’s assistant coach was Jim Hiller, who is now the Maple Leafs’ head coach.

The Leafs have also brought in help on the back end with Darren Raddysh, someone who can take pressure off Morgan. He does not need to be the best defenceman on the team every night, and he will not have the pressure of running the top power play. He can just play his game.

If Morgan Rielly wants to stay a Maple Leaf, he HAS to have a bounce-back year.

Anthony Stolarz: Stay Healthy or Be Labelled Injury-Prone

For the first time since joining the Toronto Maple Leafs, Anthony Stolarz should get to do what he was brought in to do: be a strong goalie who can take on a starting role when needed. In his best year as a Maple Leaf, he was part of a tandem with Joseph Woll and played 34 games. He was above league average in goals-against average, save percentage and saves above expected.

His second-best NHL season came with the Florida Panthers, when he backed up the Leafs’ new starting goalie, Sergei Bobrovsky. Stolarz has shown he can play. The biggest question is whether he can stay healthy.

The Leafs should also be much better defensively. Bringing in Darren Raddysh and having Chris Tanev healthy again should mean this team allows fewer high-quality chances. That gives Stolarz a real chance to be one of the three Maple Leafs poised for a bounce-back season.

Will the Maple Leafs as a Whole Have a Bounce-Back Season?

Let’s be honest: I do not know if this team can be much worse. The Leafs have added a new GM, new players and a new coaching staff. It feels like they are trying to change the culture of this team, which is something we have all heard before.

But if these three players can have a bounce-back season, it will make a major impact and give Toronto a fighting chance to make the playoffs again.

Then they can break our hearts in the playoffs like always.

All jokes aside, as fans, all we can do now is wait and see. Will this team be better? Will key players have a bounce-back season? Or will it be another year where fans are putting bags over their heads, freaking out online and wondering how this team can be this bad?