3 biggest disappointments for Maple Leafs this season

"The Toronto Maple Leafs have not had the best start to their season. Sure, their record of 8-5-1 to start the 2025-26 campaign isn't that far off from just last year, in a season where they ended up at the top of the Atlantic Division, but there are little nuances that aren't clicking well enough. It's almost like you can sense some pieces needing fixing or replacing, or just playing better hockey."

"Max Domi should be the posterchild when it comes to underperforming areas of this Leafs team. He got the first crack at replacing Mitch Marner on the top line next to Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies but played so poorly through the first weeks that he has quickly fallen out of grace and tumbled down to the fourth line. With just one goal and four points in 14 games, Domi has been below replacement level offensively and doing what he normally does on the defensive side of the puck: Absolutely nothing."

"Stolarz just led the NHL in save percentage for the past two seasons but under fairly beneficial workload. He played a career-high 34 games last season and looked unstoppable during the regular season, but has followed that up with a below-average .895 save percentage through the first 11 games of his season. Maybe it's in Joseph Woll's absence and him being officially the Leafs' starter that gave him more pressure to perform than he's ever had in his career -- or it's just the Leafs being a much slower defensive team this time around."

The Toronto Maple Leafs began the 2025-26 season 8-5-1 with subtle execution and roster-fit issues. Three players were identified as disappointing, with two described in detail. Max Domi began the year on the top line replacing Mitch Marner beside Auston Matthews and Matthew Knies, then slid to the fourth line after poor play, posting one goal and four points in 14 games while providing minimal defensive value; rookie Easton Cowan has matched his point total in fewer games. Anthony Stolarz, coming off consecutive league-leading save percentage seasons under lighter workloads, posted a .895 save percentage through 11 games, with increased starter pressure and a slower defensive team cited as possible factors. The team faces decisions on fixing or replacing underperforming pieces to regain stronger form.

Read at Editor In Leaf