The intense original six rivalry between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Montreal Canadiens has been a cycle of eras of dominance on both sides. Still, for nearly a decade, Toronto has been the more consistent contender. Since the 2017–18 season, the Leafs have reached the playoffs every year for nine years, while the Habs have made the postseason only three times in that span. Toronto has consistently finished above Montreal in the standings, carrying more star power and higher expectations heading into each season.
As of right now, that narrative may finally be shifting.
So far in the 2025–26 season, the Habs have taken two out of three games against Toronto, with the last two being a dominating 5–2 win in November, which exposed Toronto’s lack of depth and showed Montreal’s skill, and last Saturday’s 2–1 shootout win over the Buds. The Habs currently sit higher in the standings, but not by much, looking more consistent than Toronto, and looking like a team that is arriving earlier than expected after the rebuild. For the first time in many seasons, it could be a legitimate question: have the Montreal Canadiens surpassed the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Let’s break it down.
Skill: Youthful depth vs. top-end stars
Montreal’s rebuild has finally reached the stage where talent is not just developing, it’s producing. Nick Suzuki and Cole Caulfield remain the established faces of the franchise, but the real difference-makers this season have been the young, emerging players who have elevated the team’s skill ceiling. Lane Hutson is already showing elite puck-moving ability on the blue line. Ivan Demidov’s creativity and scoring touch have added a new dimension to the forward group. Even recent additions like Zach Bolduc and Noah Dobson bring speed, energy, and an aggressive mindset that fits perfectly into the Canadiens’ up-tempo identity.
The November win over Toronto showcased exactly that: goals from Hutson and Dobson highlighted a young core playing with confidence and flair. This isn’t a team waiting for its rebuild to kick in; it’s happening in real time.
Toronto still has the higher-end individual stars. Auston Matthews remains one of the most dangerous goal scorers in the league. William Nylander continues to produce at an elite level, and Matthew Knies has become a reliable top-six winger with a two-way game. Even John Tavares, despite aging, provides valuable leadership and remains an offensive presence.
The issue isn’t Toronto’s top-six; it’s everything underneath it. Beyond the core four, the Leafs have struggled to find consistent secondary scoring, and their depth forwards have not matched the skill or energy that Montreal’s emerging youth provide. Toronto’s lineup feels top-heavy, while Montreal’s feels layered.
In pure star power, Toronto still holds the edge. But when measuring overall team skill, speed, execution, playmaking, and contributions from all four lines, the Canadiens may now have the advantage.
Defensively: Montreal’s structure vs. Toronto’s inconsistency
If there’s one area where Montreal has clearly pulled ahead this season, it’s defensive structure.
The Canadiens have tightened their neutral-zone play, reduced high-danger chances against, and shown far more discipline in front of their own net. Young defencemen like Hutson and Kaiden Guhle are improving quickly, while Dobson brings stability and poise. Montreal’s back end is not yet elite, but it is trending upward, and quickly.
In the November matchup, the Canadiens neutralized Toronto’s biggest weapons by closing gaps early and preventing the Leafs from generating sustained pressure. Toronto was limited to rush attempts, mostly from the perimeter, and struggled to get second-chance opportunities. It was the type of defensive performance many expected Montreal to be years away from.
Toronto, on the other hand, continues to battle long-standing defensive issues. Even with strong individual players, the team system remains inconsistent. Breakdowns in coverage, blown assignments, and poor defensive-zone clears have plagued them through stretches of the season. The Leafs generate offence easily, but they give up just as much, and that volatility has affected their ability to close out games.
Goaltending has also contributed to the disparity. Montreal’s goaltending, while still developing, has been steadier than expected. Toronto’s tandem has fluctuated, with strong games followed by sloppy ones, resulting in a lack of trust in key moments.
Right now, Montreal is simply the more organized and responsible defensive team.
Overall: Has the balance of power shifted?
So far in the 2025–26 season, the Canadiens have been the more consistent team. They play with more pace, better structure, and deeper contribution throughout the lineup. Montreal’s young core has accelerated ahead of schedule, giving the organization not only optimism for the future but results in the present.
Toronto, meanwhile, feels stuck between eras. The team’s stars are still elite, but the rest of the roster has not kept pace. Their defensive play remains a major concern, and their inconsistency, both game to game and within games, has cost them early-season points. The Leafs can still beat any team in the league when they are rolling, but they no longer appear to be a clearly superior team to Montreal.
Has Montreal fully surpassed Toronto? At this moment, yes, in several meaningful ways.
Montreal is faster, deeper, more structured, and hungrier. Toronto still has the stronger top-end talent, but hockey is a team sport built on layers, not individual brilliance alone. If the trajectory of both clubs continues as it has early this season, the Canadiens may not just have caught up to the Leafs, they may be passing them outright.
The season is long, and Toronto has the talent to rebound. But for now, the Canadiens have earned the right to claim the upper hand.
