The Toronto Maple Leafs went into the offseason with obvious problems, and they’ve clearly tried to patch a few of them. The back end looks deeper with Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae added to the blue line, while Sergei Bobrovsky joining Anthony Stolarz gives them a much stronger look in goal. But even after all that movement, one major issue still hangs over the roster: scoring.
That’s the part that could bite Toronto hardest in 2026-27.
Last season, after Mitch Marner’s departure the previous offseason, the Leafs’ offense slipped all the way to 16th in the NHL with 252 goals. That was a sharp drop for a team that had spent nine straight seasons in the league’s top 10 in goals, including three finishes ranked second overall.
The problem now is that the players brought in this offseason don’t exactly scream offensive replacement. Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic, Teddy Blueger, Brandon Duhaime, Colton Sissons and Zack McEwen combined for 47 goals and 98 points in 2025-26. That’s not nothing, but it’s a long way from the production Toronto has walked out the door.
And plenty of offense did leave. Matias Maccelli, Nick Robertson, Calle Jarnkrok and Max Domi, if he ends up on LTIR, accounted for 48 goals and 115 points last season.
Then there’s another layer to the loss: Bobby McMann, Nicolas Roy and Scott Laughton had already chipped in 32 goals and 64 points before the Leafs moved them at the 2026 deadline. Add it all up, and Toronto has 80 goals and 179 points of offensive production to replace.
That’s a lot to ask from a team that was already sitting in the middle of the pack offensively.
So where does the scoring come from? A rebound from Auston Matthews would help in a big way.
Darren Raddysh would also need to come close to matching the 22 goals and 70 points he posted last season, especially since his previous best was only six goals and 37 points. And then there’s rookie Gavin McKenna, who would have to deliver something close to a Matthews- or Marner-style first season to give the Leafs the kind of lift they need.
If those things don’t happen, Toronto’s offense could slide even further, potentially into the bottom third of the league.
That’s why the Leafs probably should have added at least one or two more proven scorers this summer. If they don’t make that kind of move in the coming weeks, the path forward looks pretty clear: a lot of tight games, a lot of nights where the top two lines get bottled up, and not many easy goals to lean on.
Jim Hiller will need a plan that actually works. Even then, Toronto may have to win with defense and goaltending carrying a much heavier load than anyone would prefer.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs May Have A Veteran Winger Gamble Worth Watching
The Maple Leafs have already spent the offseason reshaping their roster, bringing in names like Sergei Bobrovsky and Darren Raddysh as they look for a better blend of depth and experience. Even with those additions, there is still room for another veteran forward to fit into the mix, especially one whose track record suggests he can handle a useful role without needing a long-term commitment.
One option being floated is a short-term, low-risk look at a winger with plenty of NHL mileage and a championship rsum. Toronto does not need to make a splash here so much as find a player who can stabilize the forward group, and the appeal is obvious if the price and term stay modest. The real question is whether the Leafs decide the fit is worth bringing him into camp at all. [Read more 🡒]
Bruce Boudreau Just Raised A Familiar Maple Leafs Fear
The Maple Leafs spent the offseason trying to harden the roster, adding Brandon Duhaime on a three-year deal and bringing in players such as Darren Raddysh and Colton Sissons as part of a broader push for more physicality, depth and defensive reliability. It is the kind of makeover that suggests a team trying to answer some of the same questions that have followed it for years, especially once the games get tighter and the margin for error shrinks.
Bruce Boudreau still sees one of those old concerns hanging over Toronto, and he framed it in familiar terms for a club that has long been judged by how well its back end can support the rest of the lineup. He also pointed to Duhaime as the sort of player who can help in the right role, while noting there are still questions about consistency and decision-making around the roster overhaul, which leaves the Leafs with a familiar test as the season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Blue Line Plan Is Finally Taking Shape
The Maple Leafs blue line picture for 2026-27 is starting to look a lot clearer, and the most natural fit still appears to be the one built around Chris Tanev and Jake McCabe. Toronto has long valued that kind of steady, defensive-minded second pair, and the idea of keeping those two together gives the club a familiar shutdown option while leaving the rest of the defense to be sorted around them.
What makes the rest of the plan interesting is how much it leans on balance elsewhere. Oliver Ekman-Larsson is projected to bring veteran presence alongside Darren Raddysh, while Morgan Rielly could be matched with either Emil Andrae or Troy Stecher to create a more complementary look. It is the kind of setup that suggests Toronto is trying to blend experience, mobility and physicality across the board, even if the final alignment still leaves a few moving parts to settle. [Read more 🡒]