3 Maple Leafs Who Could Completely Change the Team’s Outlook in 2026-27 – The Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

Auston Matthews, Morgan Rielly, and Sergei Bobrovsky all have reasons to rebound in 2026-27. And if they do, the Maple Leafs could look very different from the team that disappointed last season.

2025-26 Was a Maple Leafs Season to Forget

The Toronto Maple Leafs head into the 2026-27 season hoping to put last year behind them. That’s easier said than done. After finishing first in the Atlantic Division and second in the Eastern Conference in 2024-25, the Maple Leafs took a major step backward the following season. Losing Mitch Marner, making major changes in the front office, and moving on from head coach Craig Berube left the team trying to figure out exactly what it wanted to be.

Now, with John Chayka reshaping the roster and Jim Hiller behind the bench, there is at least a sense that Toronto is trying to become a different kind of team. That does not guarantee success. But it does create an opportunity for several players who underperformed, or were limited by circumstances, to have bounce-back seasons.

Here are three Maple Leafs we believe could rebound in a significant way.

Auston Matthews Gets His Offensive Freedom Back

If the Maple Leafs are going to return to contention, it almost certainly starts with Auston Matthews. He’s still one of the NHL’s elite goal scorers, but last season did not feel like a typical Matthews season. Whether it was injuries, system adjustments, or simply the weight of carrying too much responsibility, he did not look as consistently dominant as fans have come to expect.

The new coaching staff may give him a better chance to get back to what he does best: creating offence. Under Craig Berube, there was a heavy emphasis on structure and defensive responsibility. Those things matter. But Matthews is at his best when he dictates play in the offensive zone and forces defenders to react to him.

If Jim Hiller allows the team’s top players to play with more pace and creativity, Matthews could see a significant jump in production. A healthy Matthews returning to the 50-goal range would not be a surprise. In fact, it might be the single biggest factor in whether Toronto’s season changes dramatically.

The System Works for Morgan Rielly

Morgan Rielly is another player who could benefit from a change in philosophy. Rielly has always been most effective when he is involved in transition, joining the rush, and creating offence from the back end. When he is forced into a more conservative role, some of his best qualities are naturally reduced.

That is why this season feels like an opportunity for him. Chayka’s offseason moves suggest the Maple Leafs want more puck movement and offensive support from the defence. If that is the direction, Rielly should be one of the biggest beneficiaries.

He does not need to become a Norris Trophy candidate again for this to be considered a bounce-back season. But if he returns to driving play, contributing on the power play, and producing closer to his stronger offensive years, Toronto’s defence will look much more dangerous.

Rielly has been through enough ups and downs in Toronto that counting him out completely would be a mistake.

Never Count Out Sergei Bobrovsky

This is the boldest prediction of the three, but it may also be the most interesting. Bobrovsky’s numbers last season are not what Toronto is hoping for. A .877 save percentage and a 3.07 goals-against average are not the numbers of a goalie who is carrying a team.

Anthony Stolarz may begin the season as the safer option, and the team will likely lean on both goaltenders. Still, Bobrovsky has built a career on responding when people start to doubt him. He has been through stretches where his play dipped, only to rediscover his form when the games mattered most.

If Toronto’s defensive structure improves under Hiller, Bobrovsky may not need to be spectacular every night. He simply needs to be reliable enough to give the Leafs a chance to win. And if he finds another level later in the season, the conversation around Toronto’s goaltending could change very quickly.

The Bigger Maple Leafs Prediction

The real prediction here is not just that Matthews, Rielly, and Bobrovsky will have better individual seasons. It is that the Maple Leafs themselves will look more like a team moving forward rather than one trying to recover from what was lost.

Matthews could regain his offensive dominance. Rielly could become a more impactful puck-moving defenceman again. Bobrovsky could stabilize the crease. If all three happen, Toronto will not simply be a better version of last year’s team. It will be a different team entirely.

And after the disappointment of last season, that may be exactly what the Maple Leafs need.

[Note: I want to thank long-time Maple Leafs’ fan Stan Smith for collaborating with me on this post. Stan’s Facebook profile can be found here.]