For years, Toronto’s power play has leaned on the same familiar formula: feed Auston Matthews, get William Nylander involved, and let the stars sort it out. That approach carried the Maple Leafs for a long stretch, enough to keep their man advantage among the NHL’s best.
But once opponents started reading the script, the problem became obvious. If the first look disappeared, Toronto often had nowhere else to turn.
That may finally be changing.
The biggest swing this summer appears to be Darren Raddysh, who enters the 2026-27 season as a player worth watching closely. He’s not just another body on the roster. After scoring 10 power-play goals for Tampa Bay last season, Raddysh gives Toronto something it has been missing: a real shot threat from the point.
That matters because it changes how penalty kills have to play the Leafs. With Matthews and Nylander still front and center, Toronto now has a weapon that forces defenders to make a choice.
Collapse too hard toward the stars, and Raddysh can punish them from distance. That kind of pressure wasn’t there with Morgan Rielly in the same role.
And Raddysh isn’t the only new wrinkle.
Toronto’s No. 1 overall prospect, Gavin McKenna, adds a different dimension to the mix. As Professors Press Box points out, “He is a creative playmaker who can see passing lanes that other players don’t always see.” John Tavares and Matthew Knies remain part of the net-front equation, giving the Leafs another layer around the crease.
There’s depth beyond the top unit, too. Toronto’s second power-play group includes Rielly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson, Jack Roslovic and Easton Cowan, giving new coach Jim Hiller the option to spread the workload and keep the top group fresher.
The result, at least on paper, is a power play with actual variety. Toronto has spent too long living off Plan A. This time, Plan B might be the part that changes everything.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Camp Suddenly Has A Bottom-Six Fight Fans Will Feel
Torontos training camp is shaping up as a real battleground for the bottom of the lineup, with multiple players vying for the same depth and energy roles. The Maple Leafs have clearly stockpiled options, adding names like Nick Paul, Colton Sissons, Teddy Blueger, and Brandon Duhaime to make that part of the roster tougher and more competitive.
John Gruden, Brad Werenka and Daniel Alfredsson are also part of a new coaching mix that could change how those decisions are made. With fresh eyes evaluating the same crowded group, the Leafs are headed into camp with more than just spots up for grabs, and the pressure in those lower-six minutes figures to be every bit as intense as anything higher in the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Fans Have Two New Reasons To Watch This Era Closely
One of the quieter reasons to keep an eye on the Maple Leafs next few years is in goal, where Patriks Plmin is starting to draw attention as a fourth-round prospect worth monitoring. The Latvian goalie has built a reputation around his ability to read the game well, and his numbers in Latvias professional league and at the U18 World Championship have added some credibility to the buzz around him.
There is also a notable change coming on the airwaves, with Todd Crocker expected to become the new radio voice of the Maple Leafs after years as the play-by-play announcer for the Marlies. If the move goes through, he would follow Joe Bowen into one of the most recognizable jobs in the sport, giving Leafs fans a new soundtrack for an era that already feels like it is starting to shift in more than one way. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Still Have One Affordable Scoring Gamble Worth Watching
Alexander Holtz remains the kind of low-cost scoring swing that can at least make sense for a Maple Leafs team looking to add some punch to its bottom six without spending much to do it. The former New Jersey Devils first-round pick has had limited offensive opportunity in the Vegas Golden Knights system, with modest goal production and limited ice time, but his shot and age still give him a profile that could appeal to a club hunting for depth scoring.
For Toronto, the attraction is straightforward: a forward with some finishing ability and a manageable contract who might benefit from a bigger role than he has found in Vegas. Whether the Golden Knights would even consider moving him is the real question, especially if they still believe there is more to unlock in his game. For the Leafs, though, he looks like one of the few affordable gambles worth keeping on the radar. [Read more 🡒]