The core four are no more in Toronto.
After seven years together, the Maple Leafs finally broke up their top-heavy, highly paid forward quartet, sending Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-and-trade over the offseason.
It was a much-needed change for everyone involved, but there’s still no replacing a 100-point, Selke-level winger, playoff struggles and all.
Because of that, the regular season could be more important than ever for the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2025-26, so what do we expect? Here are three predictions!
Matthews scores 50+ goals and pots 100+ points
Last season was a struggle for Auston Matthews, at least by his standards.
In his first year as captain, Matthews dealt with a nagging injury issue that kept him out of the lineup or at far less than 100 percent, even when in it.
While it's only the preseason, he's already looking more like himself to begin the new campaign.
Auston Matthews : ) pic.twitter.com/m2B9Dl8wYM
— Toronto Maple Leafs (@MapleLeafs) September 23, 2025
Now fully healthy after an offseason of being disrespected by hockey fans and the media, a motivated Matthews will get back to form, burying 50+ goals and racking up 100+ points.
He’ll prove that with or without Marner, he’s the same guy and still the best goal scorer in the world.
Rielly bounces back with 50+ points
The 2024-25 campaign was even more disappointing for Morgan Rielly.
Year one under Craig Berube didn’t go according to plan, and the 31-year-old put in the work this summer, eager to have his best season yet in 2025-26.
Toronto’s five-forward power play unit certainly took a bite out of Rielly’s production, but he’ll return to quarterback PP1, and that’ll help not only his numbers but also his confidence.
Count on a bounce-back year from the blue liner, which will include surpassing the 50-point mark for the fifth time in his career.
Maple Leafs are a Wild Card team
While parting ways with Mitch Marner had to be done, the Maple Leafs were unable to truly replace him, and that might not come this season.
Free agency was weak, and the trade market was dry, so Toronto, on paper, took a slight step back this summer, even with the acquisitions they made to improve depth.
Florida (even without Barkov) and Tampa Bay should be expected to finish near the top of the division, and Montreal is primed to leapfrog into the top three itself.
For those reasons, the Maple Leafs could end up in a Wild Card spot, though perhaps that will change their fortunes come playoff time; the fan base would certainly hope so.