#toronto-maple-leafs

#toronto-maple-leafs

After all, they struggled to just an 18-15-6 record and often found themselves near the bottom of the standings, including the Atlantic Division basement for a little while. In order for the Maple Leafs to turn things around for the second half to give themselves a chance of still making the Stanley Cup Playoffs, there are three main areas that they will need to improve upon.

The team has had one game-changing blue-liner since that title, in Borje Salming, so Tanev's play last year was a breath of fresh air to Toronto's defensive core. Signing a 35-year-old defenseman to a six-year deal was risky, so it's unfortunately not surprising that he got hurt this year. Tanev has only played 11 games and it's quite possible that those will be the only 11 games he plays this year, as missing the entire season seems like a serious possibility.

Nick Robertson made the most of an expanded role in the Toronto Maple Leafs' recent 4-0 victory over the New Jersey Devils, continuing a stretch of strong play that is becoming harder to overlook. Given increased ice time in the win, Robertson again delivered effective, consistent play, reinforcing the idea that he has earned an expanded role as coach Craig Berube evaluates his lineup options.

I thought it had a huge impact. I am not sure exactly what started it. I didn't ask him. But he took off a good player for five minutes. He is a good player himself, but those are just the things he is capable of doing. He is a big guy who can handle himself and is physical. I thought the guys really fed off it. We were really physical after that fight.

The Toronto Maple Leafs' season is still on the brink of completely falling apart. They have lacked a scoring touch that most are used to seeing from a team with high-end scorers. While GM Brad Treliving could roll the dice on making a move before or by the trade deadline to try and help salvage what's been a disappointing season so far, he could look to help improve the team, within the system, for next year.

Like I said, we talked this morning and everybody needs to step up, for sure. We might have a couple of different younger guys in there tonight, but the team game is what it's all about for us. When you have injuries like this, we don't know if Matthews is playing tonight, we need a really strong team game tonight. The team game can get you through it.

Pavel Zacha is exactly the kind of middle-six forward the Leafs should be calling ahead of the trade deadline this March. At 28 years old, he brings a combination of size, versatility, and offensive ability that would help a Leafs lineup desperately in need of secondary scoring and depth centre options. Zacha is under contract with the Bruins through 2027-28 with a $4.75 million average annual value, making him a mid-term asset for a team looking to compete now and in the near future.

Rifai is working his way back from wrist surgery that has kept him sidelined for the entire season to date, and was placed on waivers on Sunday in order to report back to the American Hockey League. The 27-year-old defenceman has played in one game for the Marlies this season and had 13 points in 63 games for the AHL squad in 2024-25.

The improvement just happens to sync with the return of Chris Tanev. Tanev returned to the lineup on December 23 against the Pittsburgh Penguins. And the Maple Leafs' defense looked overhauled. All of a sudden, the Leafs have a serviceable defense core. Tanev, along with waiver claim Troy Stecher, has added stability to the blue line. That's not hyperbole. The eye test confirms it. The Pittsburgh game was a good example.

As always, in season shopping is a bit more limited, and impulse buying has been a mistake in the past and accepting the best of inferior options is part of what has got the Leafs into their current predicament. Although Brad Treliving provided Craig Berube with a second vote of confidence on December 23, it probably doesn't hurt to at least know who is out there and if there is a potential fit for the Leafs on the coaching or managing side of the business.

Last year, the Blue Jays practically fell flat with their worst performance during this part of the decade when they finished dead last in the American League East with a 74-88 record. Not only that, many of their stars were underperforming while they had a mass exodus of players at the trade deadline just hoping that they could acquire some key pieces to help their future.

In the NHL, not all wins carry the same weight, and divisional games often matter most when shaping the standings. Points earned against familiar rivals don't just add up; they directly push teams up or down in the standings. That's where the Toronto Maple Leafs have fallen short so far this season.