Is this Maple Leafs forward still a fit on the team?

"His offensive production has been modest, and his game has evolved noticeably post-surgery. The explosiveness that once made him a sneaky transition threat hasn't fully returned, forcing him to lean more heavily on positioning, timing, and experience. Instead of driving play through speed, he now supports it through structure. While this shift hasn't made him ineffective, it has certainly changed the type of player he is."

"Perhaps the biggest factor influencing his 2025-26 season is the growth of the Leafs' younger forwards. Toronto's youth movement has pushed players like Easton Cowan and Nick Robertson into larger roles, creating real pressure on Järnkrok's minutes. For the first time, he's no longer the natural "next-man-up" when the Leafs shuffle their top nine. Instead, he's one of several options and often not the priority."

Järnkrok remains physically limited after surgery, producing modest offense as his game adjusts away from speed toward positioning, timing, and experience. He now supports play through structure rather than creating consistent rush chances or dictating tempo. The Leafs' youth movement, including Easton Cowan and Nick Robertson, has reduced his minutes and removed his status as the automatic next-man-up, turning him into a depth option. His penalty-killing role has become situational as coaching favors faster, more aggressive choices. He continues to offer reliable hockey sense and veteran leadership, but his on-ice impact has waned.

Read at Editor In Leaf