William Nylander’s season with the Maple Leafs never found its footing, and the fallout stretched beyond the ice.
What started as a messy year for Toronto turned into a difficult stretch for Nylander and the organization around him. There was Anthony Stolarz’s early-season callout, the recurring injury issues, and even the moment when Nylander gave the TSN camera the middle finger while sitting in the press box. Then came the biggest blow of all: the Maple Leafs missed the playoffs for the first time since his rookie season.
Sportsnet insider Elliotte Friedman said that made for a rough year behind the scenes.
“I think one of the more fascinating ones too is going to be Nylander. I think last year was a really tough year between Nylander and the organization.
But everybody gets a fresh start, everybody gets something new. I think Nylander is going to be pretty important too,”
Nylander, now 30, still has six years left on the eight-year, $92 million extension he signed with Toronto in 2024. Even in a season that felt off from the start, he still put up 79 points, scoring 30 goals and adding 49 assists in just 65 games.
He has always been a polarizing player, and when the team struggles, his flaws tend to stand out even more. That was the case in 2025-26, when questions about his future in Toronto surfaced at times. Still, Nylander has continued to make it clear he isn’t going anywhere.
The Maple Leafs doubled down on that belief this summer, keeping faith in Nylander and Auston Matthews while aggressively reworking the roster around them in hopes of a fast turnaround. Now the pressure is on both stars to set the tone and deliver the kind of production Toronto needs to get back on track.
In Other News...
Maple Leafs Face A Tough Reunion Question Fans Know Too Well
Michael Bunting is back on the market after finishing a three-year deal with the Carolina Hurricanes and spending last season with both the Nashville Predators and Dallas Stars, which naturally puts Toronto in the conversation. He already has a track record with the Maple Leafs, and his best stretch came when he was part of the mix with Auston Matthews, making him the kind of familiar name that always gets a second look around this time of year.
The catch, as always for Toronto, is roster math. The Maple Leafs do not have the cap room to add him right now, so any serious pursuit would have to wait until they clear salary, and that is where the real intrigue begins. For a team that knows how quickly a reunion can go from appealing to complicated, Bunting is exactly the sort of player who forces those uncomfortable summer calculations. [Read more 🡒]
Morgan Rielly Trade Saga Just Took A Turn Leafs Fans Needed
Morgan Riellys future has become one of the more intriguing subplots around the Maple Leafs, with the veteran defenseman now at the center of a trade conversation that has moved well beyond simple due diligence. Toronto is exploring options on a player who still has four years left on his contract, and the presence of a no-movement clause means any deal would have to clear a major personal hurdle before it ever reaches the finish line.
What makes this latest turn notable is how the market around him has shifted. Interest from the West has faded as other clubs have made roster moves and run into salary-cap limits, leaving the Leafs to navigate a narrower field as they weigh what kind of return could even be available. For a team trying to manage both its present blue line and its long-term cap picture, Riellys situation remains one of the most consequential files on the table. [Read more 🡒]
Maple Leafs Could Lose A Drafted Prospect For Nothing Soon
Joe Millers path from Harvard to the Maple Leafs organization has reached a tricky stage, and Toronto now has a decision to make on the 2020 draft pick. After four seasons at Harvard University, the unsigned center is still in the system, but his future with the club is far from settled as the team weighs its roster and contract limitations.
The Leafs have a crowded center pipeline and not much flexibility to work with, which makes Millers situation more complicated than a simple formality. If Toronto cannot fit him into its plans, the organization could be left trying to hold onto a drafted prospect it has followed for years, and the clock on that choice is already running. [Read more 🡒]