The Toronto Maple Leafs have the NHL’s flashiest rookie headed into 2026-27 in Gavin McKenna, the first-overall pick who arrives with all the buzz that comes with elite offensive upside. But he is not the only player in Toronto who could take a noticeable jump next season.
There are a few less obvious names on the roster who have a real chance to outplay expectations. Easton Cowan, Bo Groulx and Emil Andrae each bring a different kind of upside, and each has a path to becoming more than just a depth option for the Maple Leafs.
Cowan was one of the few bright spots in what the source described as a nightmare 2025-26 season for Toronto. The 21-year-old forward held his own in his first NHL campaign, finishing with 11 goals, 29 points and 72 hits in 66 games. That kind of production gave the Maple Leafs a useful blend of secondary scoring and physical play, and it also hinted at more to come.
With a full season of NHL experience under his belt, Cowan looks like a player who could push into another gear. If his offense climbs and he grows into a high-impact top-six role, that would be a major lift for a team trying to get back into the playoffs.
Groulx is another name worth watching. The 26-year-old forward put together a strong year with the Toronto Marlies, piling up 28 goals and 52 points in 59 games. That performance earned him another look with the Maple Leafs, and he made the most of it when he got back to the NHL for the first time since 2023-24.
In 13 games with Toronto, Groulx chipped in three goals, five points and 34 hits. That was enough to leave a solid first impression, and it puts him in the mix for a roster spot next season. If he carries that momentum forward, he could carve out a steady role in the Maple Leafs’ bottom six.
Andrae arrives in Toronto as a newcomer with some upside of his own. The 24-year-old defenseman set new career highs with the Philadelphia Flyers last season, finishing with two goals, 11 assists and 13 points in 61 games. Now he gets a fresh start with the Maple Leafs, and there’s reason to think the change could help.
A new environment can open things up for a player, and Andrae may be a case where that matters. On Toronto’s current roster, he should have a better chance to see regular ice time than he did in Philadelphia. That makes him a quietly interesting breakout candidate to keep tabs on next season.
In Other News...
Matthew Knies Deal Already Looks Better For The Leafs
Matthew Knies long-term deal with the Maple Leafs was signed with the usual mix of hope and risk that comes with paying for upside before it has fully matured. Toronto committed six years at a $7.75 million average annual value in 2025, betting that Knies would keep trending into a key top-six piece and that the price would look sensible as the salary cap and comparable contracts kept moving. At the time, it was a notable investment in a player still building his full resume.
Now the market around other young forwards is starting to make that number look even more reasonable. Cutter Gauthier, a restricted free agent with the Anaheim Ducks, is reportedly in negotiations that could land in the $15-17 million AAV range, with Leo Carlssons recent $18 million AAV extension hanging over those talks as a reference point. Knies and Gauthier are different players in different situations, but the broader takeaway for Toronto is hard to miss: a contract that once looked ambitious can start to feel sharp if the next wave of comparables keeps climbing. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Projected Lineup Puts Familiar Faces In A Tough Spot
The Maple Leafs projected 2026-27 lineup offers a snapshot of how much the roster could change after a round of organizational adjustments, with new acquisitions and coaching tweaks reshaping the teams balance up front and on the back end. The exercise is less about where Toronto is today and more about how the club might try to blend scoring punch with more reliable two-way play if the right pieces settle into place.
What makes the projection interesting for Leafs followers is the way it creates pressure points for familiar faces while opening the door for newcomers to carve out meaningful roles. Health and consistency remain part of the conversation, especially in goal, where the team is still trying to sort out how much trust to place in Sergei Bobrovsky and Anthony Stolarz as the position gets redefined around them. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Camp Could Get Complicated Thanks To Two Overlooked Names
Training camp usually starts with the obvious names, the players everyone assumes are already locked in or fighting for the last few spots, but Bo Groulx and Marshall Rifai are the kinds of depth pieces who can quietly make things interesting for the Maple Leafs. Groulx brought good energy and solid play with the Marlies, and he even got a brief look with Toronto last season, which at least puts him on the radar when camp opens.
Rifai is the other name worth tracking because his game is built around physicality and defense, the sort of profile that can stand out if the new coaching staff wants a different look from its bottom-end options. Neither player is a favorite to break through, and neither comes with any guarantee, but both have enough going for them to keep this camp from being as straightforward as it first appears. [Read more 🡒]