Worry-O-Meter for the Toronto Maple Leafs
If you're a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, worrying might feel like second nature. This team, with all its ups and downs, curses, and ongoing debates, has kept fans on a roller coaster ride with their hands in the air for years.
Many hoped the Mitch Marner saga was the final chapter, expecting the team to move beyond the "Core Four" era and craft a new identity—one with less pressure and maybe more drama. That would have required a strong start to the 2025-26 season without Marner.
Instead, after 11 games, the Leafs sit at a confusing 5-5-1. While there have been moments of promise, like Matthew Knies steadily improving as the season progresses, the bad outweighs the good.
- The power play ranks in the bottom five across the league.
- Auston Matthews is off to a slow start by his own high standards.
- Goaltending has been unremarkable so far.
Despite these issues, 11 games is a small sample size. There are several interesting and potentially valid reasons for Toronto’s sluggish start.
Should fans already worry about the Leafs, or should they focus on enjoying the Toronto Blue Jays while the hockey team figures things out? Let's explore Toronto's early challenges with the Worry-O-Meter.
"I know we're all sick of talking about Marner and the Maple Leafs at this point, but if the team wanted to put the discourse to rest, a 5-5-1 start with some concerning losses against questionable opponents wasn't the way to do it."
Toronto fans face a season early on filled with uncertainty, reminding us that patience might still be the Leafs' best ally.