As December rolls in, the Toronto Maple Leafs find themselves in a familiar spot - fighting off frustration and trying to shake off a sluggish start. Sitting at 12-11-3, the record doesn’t scream contender, but it doesn’t scream collapse either.
In a jam-packed Eastern Conference, the Leafs are just three points behind the Detroit Red Wings for third in the Atlantic Division - and they’ve got a game in hand. Translation: the runway is still there for a playoff push.
But it’s going to take more than hope. It’s going to take key players stepping up.
Tuesday night’s 4-1 win over the Florida Panthers was a step in the right direction. Now, with 13 more games on the December slate, the Leafs have a real shot to course-correct.
And if they’re going to do that, it starts with a few names who’ve yet to hit their stride. Let’s take a closer look at three Leafs who could flip the script this month.
Max Domi: Time to Get Dirty
Max Domi’s season so far? In a word: underwhelming.
Through 24 games, he’s sitting at just three goals and eight points - and a team-worst -12. That’s not what the Leafs were hoping for from the 30-year-old forward, who was expected to bring a mix of grit and offensive punch.
Instead, he’s been inconsistent, and it finally caught up to him last Friday when head coach Craig Berube made him a healthy scratch for the first time this season.
Berube didn’t mince words when asked what he needs to see from Domi.
“It’s just getting engaged more in the game,” Berube said. “He’s got to get dirty down low in the offensive zone, win battles and get more engaged that way.
When he’s skating and moving, he is an effective player. But it’s too inconsistent.”
Message received. The very next night, Domi responded with a two-point performance - just his second multi-point game of the season.
That’s the kind of bounce-back the Leafs need from him. On Tuesday, he found himself skating alongside Matthew Knies and Auston Matthews - a coveted spot that’s been something of a revolving door as Berube searches for chemistry on the top line.
If Domi can bring that same energy and edge consistently, he could be the spark this team needs. He’s got the skill.
He’s got the pedigree. Now it’s about stringing it together night after night.
Matias Maccelli: Time to Show Why Toronto Wanted Him
When the Leafs acquired Matias Maccelli from the Utah Mammoth back in June for a conditional third-round pick, they were betting on a bounce-back. The 25-year-old had shown real promise during his time in Arizona, putting up 106 points across two seasons while forming a strong duo with Clayton Keller. His playmaking instincts were undeniable, and the vision was clear - pair him with Auston Matthews and let him feed one of the league’s premier finishers.
But so far, that vision hasn’t materialized. Maccelli’s 2024-25 campaign in Utah was a letdown, and his current season in Toronto hasn’t been much better.
He’s been scratched three times already, including three of the past four games. The flashes are there - like the two-point game he posted after his first scratch - but the consistency isn’t.
Berube was candid in his assessment last month.
“This guy is capable of doing more than he is doing. That’s the goal we’re trying to get to.”
At his best, Maccelli is a slick passer with elite puck distribution, the kind of player who can unlock defenses and elevate a line. But right now, he’s on the outside looking in.
For both Maccelli and the Leafs, December is make-or-break. They need the version of him that once put up 57 points in a season - not the one struggling to stay in the lineup.
Nicolas Roy: Trending in the Right Direction
Nicolas Roy’s start in Toronto hasn’t been smooth, but there’s reason for optimism. Acquired in the Mitch Marner trade from Vegas, Roy was expected to bring size, two-way responsibility, and some secondary scoring.
Through 22 games, the numbers - two goals and five assists - haven’t quite lived up to expectations. But context matters.
Roy missed three games after suffering an upper-body injury on November 15. Since returning, he’s looked more like the player the Leafs hoped they were getting. He’s picked up three points in three games and was a force in Tuesday’s win over Florida - dominating in the faceoff circle, winning 12-of-15 draws, and anchoring a third line with Dakota Joshua and Bobby McMann that looked like it had real potential.
Berube praised Roy’s all-around game ahead of his return last week.
“He is good in the middle of the ice, taking pucks and getting through the neutral zone and brings defensive responsibility and penalty killing ability.”
That’s the kind of player who can make a difference down the stretch - especially in tight, grind-it-out games that define the playoff race. Roy doesn’t need to be flashy.
He just needs to keep doing the little things right - win faceoffs, kill penalties, drive play through the middle. If the offense follows, even better.
The Bottom Line
The Leafs aren’t in crisis mode - not yet. But they’re also not where they want to be.
December offers a chance to reset, regroup, and rediscover the identity that’s made them a perennial playoff team. For that to happen, they’ll need more from players like Domi, Maccelli, and Roy - guys who’ve shown they can contribute but haven’t done it consistently this season.
The talent is there. The opportunity is there.
Now it’s about execution. If these three can elevate their games, the Leafs might just find their rhythm - and their way back into the playoff picture.