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2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs General Discussion

cw said:
10 home games vs 7 home games last year
2 playoff teams vs 6 playoff teams last year.
I don't think they're as good a team as last year.
Still early.
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I'm encouraged by what I've seen in the last 4 periods. Trending in the right direction. However, the start to that Pittsburgh game, and especially the second period, should serve as a stark reminder of how easily things could regress if they get lazy again.

I still think this is a team that could be better suited for playoff hockey than previous versions. We will see.
 
Chris said:
I'm encouraged by what I've seen in the last 4 periods. Trending in the right direction. However, the start to that Pittsburgh game, and especially the second period, should serve as a stark reminder of how easily things could regress if they get lazy again.

I still think this is a team that could be better suited for playoff hockey than previous versions. We will see.
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I'm a Leafs fan. I truly hope so.
I need to see a lot more before I'll get very excited about their playoff chances.
It is still early. By games 20-25, I think we'll have a better idea.
 
Considering the drop off in star power heading into the season, should matching the YTD performance from last season count as a positive?
 
I think the overall record is probably a bit of a positive. There were enough changes to the lineup that having a bump in a road was expected. The lack of Woll to start the season hasn't helped either.

I don't think that the last 4+ periods of hockey really undo the fact that the first couple of weeks the way the Leafs played was dreadful, not just in terms of some sustained pressure but it boring hockey to boot.

That being said, they are 6th in the conference in point percentage and only 3 points back of 1st place.

Montreal sitting with 20 points in 14GP has only 4 regulation wins and have relied on 5 3 on 3 wins and 2 OT/SO losses to get there. I think the Leafs are fine but we will see over time.
 
cw said:
10 home games vs 7 home games last year
2 playoff teams vs 6 playoff teams last year.
I don't think they're as good a team as last year.
Still early.
Click to expand...
At the same time teams are moving all over the place and it depends on which teams are on heaters or not. The Canadiens and Red Wings are 1-2 in the Atlantic. Penguins 2nd in the Metro, Mammoth 3rd in Central, Ducks 1st & Kraken 3rd in Pacific. Kind of unfair to call all but 2 teams the Leafs played this year as non-playoff teams as of right now.
 
herman said:
Considering the drop off in star power heading into the season, should matching the YTD performance from last season count as a positive?
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Apparently not.

I also have a hard time believing that this team isn't potentially as good as last year - it's not like they made the finals. The team as of Wednesday night had one of the highest goals for and very high 5v5 goals. We are not want for scoring, which was easily the main thing everyone was worried about. I think the defensive side of the game can come around. I don't think they're as bad a defensive team as we think. They're also very low on combined SV% and have an absurdly low PP. I think everything regressing to where it should be, giving Stolarz some rest, tightening up defensively and just more time together with normal lines will cure a lot of this team's problems.
 
herman said:
There's no extended roadtrip to bond over until late November. The Leafs are fortunate the Jays are interesting right now.

I agree with the above on the disconnect between the playstyle and the personnel; it's more thinking than doing right now, and sometimes just outright doing it wrong. There are flashes where it clicks, but it's not muscle memory yet. Certainly the more puck skilled players will chafe at not having the puck, but the point is that come playoffs, you're even less likely to have to puck. The regular season is when this team needs to learn how to consistently keep getting the puck back in the DZ and the OZ, and get good at operating in chaos to win the board and slot battles.

I saw some improved dump-ins; they should be considered area passes, preferably into a lane where your team has a good speed differential. Chemistry within the lines is needed to read where to place the puck (and when); consistency is needed on the somewhat thankless task of fetching.

Most playoff goals come from forcing turnovers in the OZ, or counter rushes from the DZ blue line, and PP.
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https://twitter.com/x/status/1986901992686645502
Mini road trip was all they needed
 
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