Leafs Hit the Road as Playoff Hopes Fade: What's Next for Toronto?
We’ve officially entered the blame game portion of the Toronto Maple Leafs’ season - and with how things have unfolded in 2025-26, it’s not hard to see why. After a brutal 0-4-1 homestand, the Leafs are heading west for a four-game road trip, starting in Seattle, with their playoff hopes hanging by a thread.
Let’s be clear: this isn’t just about a few bad games. With 29 contests left on the calendar, the Leafs are eight points out of a playoff spot. That’s a steep hill to climb, especially in today’s NHL, where three-point games are the norm and the standings can be painfully slow to shift.
Toronto’s next challenge comes against the Kraken, a team they’ve historically handled well (7-1-1 all-time), but history won’t help much if the current form doesn’t change. Anthony Stolarz is expected to get the start in net - his second since returning from a strange nerve issue that sidelined him.
His last outing? Five goals allowed on 30 shots against Vegas.
Not ideal, but the Leafs don’t have the luxury of waiting for perfect conditions anymore. They need results, and they need them now.
Meanwhile, the optics around this team are tough to ignore. Over in Ottawa, the Senators are riding high after a big win over Colorado - and here’s the kicker: they’ve played the same number of games as the Leafs and have the exact same number of points. That’s not exactly the company Toronto expected to be keeping at this point in the season.
Naturally, the frustration is boiling over. One theory circulating in Leafs circles?
That the team’s injury woes can be traced back to off-ice decisions, including the firing of several sports science and injury prevention staffers last summer by MLSE President Keith Pelley. But let’s be real - no amount of staffing changes could’ve prevented something like Dakota Joshua’s lacerated kidney.
Every team is dealing with injuries. This is the NHL.
It’s a grind, it’s physical, and it’s unforgiving.
Still, when things go sideways, people look for answers - or scapegoats. And with the Olympic break looming, there’s going to be plenty of time for reflection, conversation, and yes, more finger-pointing.
To help put the Leafs’ situation into perspective, 2009 Stanley Cup-winning coach Dan Bylsma weighed in with some candid thoughts. He didn’t sugarcoat it: the path back into the playoff picture is a tough one.
There are too many teams to leapfrog, and too many games likely to go to overtime. “Good luck with that,” he said - not dismissively, but realistically.
Bylsma also offered insight into what current Leafs head coach Craig Berube is likely facing right now. As Bylsma put it, “Every coach is hired to be fired.”
It’s a harsh truth in this business. But he spoke to the importance of blocking out the noise, managing the locker room, and knowing when - and how - to challenge players in today’s NHL.
It’s a delicate balance, and Berube’s walking that tightrope as he tries to steer this team back on course.
Looking ahead, the Leafs will continue their road swing with a stop in Vancouver on Saturday night. That one’s always circled on the calendar - not just for the rivalry, but for the spotlight it brings.
And if you’re looking for more insight into this turbulent Leafs season, former Toronto GM and longtime NHL voice Gord Stellick will be sharing his take soon. He’s seen a lot over the years, and his perspective on this current mess should be well worth hearing.
For now, the Leafs are searching for answers - and maybe, just maybe, a spark that can turn this season around. But with the clock ticking and the margin for error gone, the road ahead is as unforgiving as it gets.