Well, it’s another season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and to say it’s been up and down so far would be a fair statement. So, I figured it’s time to take a look at what’s gone right, what’s gone wrong, and some of the questionable decisions along the way as we break down The Good, The Bad and The Ugly of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ 2026-27 season so far.
THE GOOD
The Leafs are MUCH more exciting to watch!
Last year, this team was legitimately unwatchable at times. They were so boring that watching paint dry comes to mind when I think about last season. This year, however, it’s a completely different story. They’re scoring goals, staying competitive in every game, and even when they’re down, it feels like they have a legitimate shot at coming back.
The numbers back that up as well, with Toronto scoring 50 goals through their first 13 games, averaging 3.85 goals per game compared to 3.09 last season. That’s a pretty significant jump, and you can really feel the difference watching them. They’ve also won four straight games, including a 7-2 win over the Edmonton Oilers. Now, does that mean they’re a better team overall? Not necessarily, but they’re a hell of a lot more entertaining!
Auston Matthews looks like he’s back!
Not having Auston Matthews killing penalties and constantly focusing on defence all the time is really paying off, and it’s making a huge difference in his game and for the team. Through 13 games, Matthews has 9 goals and 10 assists for 19 points, putting him on pace for around 120 points over a full season.
That’s the kind of production we’ve come to expect from Matthews, and we’re finally seeing the Matthews of old again. He also scored against Edmonton, continuing his strong start to the season. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Matthews is at his best when he’s being used to score goals, not when he’s being asked to do everything defensively.
Easton Cowan is playing like a cowboy!
Easton Cowan has been playing at a very high level, and wow, does he ever look like a legitimate top-six forward now! Through 13 games, Cowan has 5 goals and 7 assists for 12 points, putting him on pace for around 76 points over a full season.
Not bad for a kid who spent last season developing in the AHL! It’s clear that the time he spent developing has paid off, and we’re starting to see what this kid is capable of at the NHL level. He’s also been heating up lately, with 5 points over his last three games, including an assist on Auston Matthews’ goal against Edmonton. If he can keep playing at this level, the Leafs might have themselves a very important piece of their future.
The Matthew Knies trade is looking pretty good!
I know trading Matthew Knies was a controversial move, but so far, it’s looking pretty good for the Leafs. Kirill Marchenko has been excellent, putting up 6 goals and 8 assists for 14 points through his first 13 games, putting him on pace for around 88 points. That’s the kind of production Toronto was hoping for when they made the deal. Marchenko has also been a major part of the power play, with four goals on the man advantage, and he’s been producing consistently, including five points over his last four games. The Leafs also signed him to a six-year, $75-million extension, so they’re clearly counting on him being a major part of this team for years to come.
The Leafs also acquired Miles Wood and Elvis Merzlikins in the trade, giving them additional depth up front and in goal, while Toronto gave up Knies, Steven Lorentz, Emil Andrae and a 2027 second-round pick. Columbus also retained 18% of Merzlikins’ salary in the deal. It’s still early, but Marchenko is looking like a legitimate top-line player, and I think the Leafs have to be pretty happy with how this trade is working out so far.
The kid looks good!
Gavin McKenna has played well, in my opinion, and I really don’t understand some of the criticism he’s been getting. Through 13 games, McKenna has 3 goals and 5 assists for 8 points, putting him on pace for around 50 points over a full season.
Now, considering the minutes he’s been given, I think that’s pretty impressive for a rookie. He played just 11:31 against Edmonton and still managed to pick up an assist. He’s making the most of his opportunities, and there’s plenty to like about his game so far. Is he perfect? Of course not, he’s a rookie, and he’s going to make mistakes, but I think the Leafs have handled his development pretty well so far.
The penalty kill deserves some love!
Now, this is something I think deserves a little more attention. For all the defensive issues this team has had, the penalty kill has actually been one of the bright spots. Through their first 10 games, Toronto was killing penalties at an impressive 96.9%, successfully killing 30 of 31 penalties, which had them ranked first in the NHL at that point.
That’s pretty damn impressive, especially considering some of the issues they’ve had defensively at even strength. Now, they did give up a power-play goal against Edmonton, but overall, this is one area where the Leafs have been doing a lot of things right. If they can bring some of that defensive structure into their five-on-five play, I think it could make a huge difference.
THE BAD
Team defence continues to be an issue!
Now, the last four games have been better, but team defence really does seem to be an issue for the Leafs. They’re allowing way too many high-danger scoring chances, and it feels like every game they’re giving up multiple odd-man rushes. The numbers aren’t exactly pretty either, with Toronto allowing 41 goals through their first 13 games, an average of 3.15 per game. Their expected goals against were also sitting around 3.59 per game through their first 12 games, while their overall expected-goals share was just 47.5%. That tells you opponents were generating more quality scoring opportunities than the Leafs, and that’s certainly not something you want to see.
Look, I love that this team is scoring more goals and playing a more entertaining style of hockey, but you can’t keep giving up these kinds of chances and expect to win consistently. At some point, the defence needs to tighten things up, especially when the offence isn’t scoring four or five goals a night.
The injury bug is starting to bite!
This one can’t really be helped, but the injury bug is starting to bite the Maple Leafs. This is one of the oldest teams in the NHL, with an average roster age of 30.24 years in an October 15 study, ranking them as the third-oldest team in the league. I do wonder if that’s going to become an issue as the season goes along. Can this team stay healthy over an 82-game season, or will their age start to catch up with them?
That’s something I’m going to be watching closely, because the last thing this team needs is to start losing important players for extended periods of time, especially with some of the defensive issues they’ve already been having. When you’re relying on older players to play important minutes every night, injuries can become a real concern, and I do wonder if that’s something that could hurt this team later in the season.
They need more scoring from the defence!
The Leafs also need to get more offensive production from their blue line. Darren Raddysh has been looking better lately, but you’d still like to see him start putting up more points. Through 13 games, Raddysh has 6 assists and no goals, which is a pretty big difference compared to the 22 goals and 70 points he put up in 73 games last season. Now, I’m not saying he needs to score 70 points again, but you’d certainly like to see more offence from him. That’s what you paid him for, after all! Toronto needs its defencemen to contribute offensively, and right now, they’re just not getting enough consistent production from the back end.
To be fair, there have been some encouraging signs lately. Morgan Rielly has picked up 5 assists over his last three games, while Troy Stecher has scored the game-winning goal in back-to-back games. So maybe things are starting to turn around, but I’d still like to see more consistent production from this group.
THE UGLY
The atmosphere at Scotiabank Arena needs to be better!
I hate to say it, but the atmosphere at Scotiabank Arena needs to be better. The lack of passion in the building is honestly kind of sad. It’s a corporate crowd, and it shows both in person and on TV. When you compare the atmosphere in Toronto to what you see in Ottawa or Montreal, something is clearly missing.
This is one of the biggest hockey markets in the world, yet the building just doesn’t have the energy you’d expect. Look, I know Leafs tickets aren’t cheap, and that’s probably part of the problem, but it would be nice to see a little more passion in the building. This is Toronto, one of the biggest hockey markets in the world. The atmosphere should reflect that!
Fans need to chill out about Gavin McKenna!
The fans seriously need to relax when it comes to rookie Gavin McKenna. People are tracking his ice time like a doctor trying to track my Monster Energy intake! From broadcasters constantly bringing it up to fans losing their minds because he’s getting one minute less than second-overall pick Ivar Stenberg, it’s getting ridiculous. McKenna is still a rookie, and not every game needs to turn into a debate about how many minutes he’s playing.
And let’s look at the production: through 13 games, he’s already got 8 points and is on pace for around 50 points over a full season. For a rookie playing the minutes he’s getting, that’s pretty good in my books. Not every young player needs to be thrown into the top six and given 20 minutes a night right away. Let the kid develop, give him time, and stop treating every shift like it’s a national emergency!
FINAL THOUGHTS
At the end of the day, this Maple Leafs team is far from perfect, but I will say this: they’re a hell of a lot more entertaining to watch than last season. There are some real positives, especially with the younger players stepping up and Auston Matthews looking like his old self again. The offensive numbers are encouraging, but the defensive numbers tell a different story. Scoring nearly four goals a game is great, but giving up more than three isn’t exactly a recipe for long-term success.
The four-game winning streak is certainly encouraging, and beating Edmonton 7-2 is nothing to complain about, but the defensive issues and injuries are things that could come back to bite this team as the season goes along. It’s still early, and there’s plenty of hockey left to play. The question is, can the Leafs clean up their mistakes and build on the good, or will the same old problems continue to hold them back?
Only time will tell, but at least this year, they’re giving us something worth watching! What do you think? What’s been the good, the bad and the ugly for the Toronto Maple Leafs so far? Let us know in the comments!
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