John Chayka’s summer overhaul in Toronto was supposed to bring balance, offense, and a little old-school feel back to the Maple Leafs. Instead, the move that’s now standing out most is the one that looked like the biggest swing of all: Sergei Bobrovsky.
Chayka arrived in the front office with a clear plan. He wanted more defensive support in the bottom six, a star offensive presence on the blue line, and a return to the feel of the old days, which is why Mats Sundin also came in. But the early return on those choices has left room for criticism, with Jim Hiller drawing plenty of heat in hindsight for his inability to manage Gavin McKenna and for what some see as Craig Berube in a different package.
Still, the harshest verdict so far belongs to Bobrovsky.
Over the last nine games, Bobrovsky has been second-last among qualified goalies in the league with a minus-7.4 GSAx, or Goals Saved Above Expected. In plain terms, he has allowed nearly 7.5 more goals than he should have. He’s also been worse than goalies in Vancouver and Pittsburgh.
The numbers this season are ugly: a 3-8-2 record, a 3.47 GAA, and a .881 SV%. Those are the worst marks of his career to this point.
He has had brief flashes of the old “Bob,” but not nearly enough to match what Toronto was expecting. Even routine stops have been a problem.
The contract only makes the situation heavier. Bobrovsky is signed at $7 million per year through 2029, when he’ll be 40. If this level of play holds, it could turn into a long, painful stretch for the Maple Leafs and their fans.
Anthony Stolarz has at least steadied things with solid play, even with a couple of rough outings, but the bigger issue right now is Toronto’s defense, which has been described as horrificly porous. At this point, the argument is that the team may need to hand Stolarz the crease while there’s still something left to salvage this season.
Bobrovsky still has the resume that made him appealing in the first place, and that may buy him some more time. But without better results, the Maple Leafs are going to keep paying for Chayka’s biggest gamble.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs May Have A Blue-Line Move Bigger Than A Rental
The Maple Leafs are looking beyond the usual deadline rental chatter and trying to land a defenseman who could matter well past this spring. Toronto has been linked to a handful of younger blue-liners who fit that idea, with Cam York, Alexander Nikishin, Rasmus Sandin and Simon Edvinsson all surfacing as possible targets because of their age, contract situations and potential to grow alongside the clubs core.
For a team that has spent plenty of time searching for answers on the back end, the appeal is obvious: this is about more than patching a hole for a playoff run. The challenge is finding a fit that makes sense now and later, and the names being discussed suggest Toronto is at least aiming high as the deadline approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Tanev Concern Is Starting To Feel Bigger For The Leafs
Chris Tanev has already been held out of two games by the Maple Leafs as part of load management, and the pause has only sharpened the sense that Toronto is trying to manage a defender whose workload matters as much as his presence. For a team that leans on structure and veteran stability, any sign that one of its most trusted blue-liners needs extra maintenance is worth watching closely, especially when the broader conversation around the roster is already drifting toward aging core pieces and whether they can still hold up over a full season.
The concern is not just about availability, either. There has been growing analysis suggesting Tanevs defensive impact has slipped in recent seasons, which puts added pressure on Toronto to get the most out of him without overextending him. And with other roster questions still hanging over the club, from John Tavaress performance to the way goaltending numbers are being read, the Leafs are left trying to sort through a few uneasy trends at once while Anthony Stolarzs play continues to trend in a more encouraging direction. [Read more 🡒]
Leafs Losing Streak Has Jim Hiller Searching For Signs Of Life
After a 5-2 loss to Minnesota, Jim Hiller spent much of his postgame session circling back to the same problem that has followed the Leafs through a five-game losing streak: the mistakes are piling up, and they are costing them at the worst possible moments. The coach pointed to the breakdown that led to Matt Boldys winning goal and said the group has to clean up its play if it wants to stop the slide.
Hiller also weighed in on several individual performances, including Gavin McKenna, John Tavares and William Nylander, as he tried to separate the rough results from what he still believes the team can become. There was frustration in the room, but also a measure of cautious optimism, with Hiller suggesting the Leafs still have enough talent to turn things around if the details start to improve. [Read more 🡒]