Comparing the Toronto Maple Leafs to their archrivals, the Boston Bruins? You could say it’s crazy, but it’s true. It feels, with the way the Leafs’ season is going, that it almost reminds fans of last year’s Bruins team.
Think about it: many injuries to key players like Charlie McAvoy on Boston last year, and seeing William Nylander miss significant time this season, at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. These two archrivals are much more similar than you think.
The slip and slop of the Toronto Maple Leafs this season has been stressful, painful, and at most points, unwatchable. Bruins fans faced similar feelings last year; a small, quick retool last offseason, and they look to be fighting for the playoffs this year. How did they do it, and how can the Leafs achieve that?Â
Sellers at the deadline
The Boston Bruins were clear sellers at last year’s trade deadline, as they were last in the Atlantic Division. They made some tough trades with key players, but after seeing them this season, it’s paying off. Last year, the Bruins traded Brandon Carlo to the Leafs in exchange for prospect Fraser Minten, a 2026 first-round pick, and a 2025 fourth-round pick.
As a team pushing for the playoffs in 2026, the Bruins have a first-round pick that could become a top-10 pick, depending on how the Leafs finish this season. Fraser Minten has been a standout for the Bruins, projected to hit 20 goals this year. They traded the likes of Trent Frederic and Brad Marchand, two Bruin-type players.
The Leafs should try to follow this kind of trade deadline approach and gain assets from expiring UFA players. Bobby McMann has value, Brandon Carlo still has value, and Scott Laughton has tremendous value based on his season. If they can get those kinds of returns, it would be a great start to a retool.
A coaching change
Boston fired Jim Montgomery in the 2024–25 season in November, and he was replaced by interim coach Joe Sacco in the meantime. Sacco was only temporary, as he was the man to try to lead the Bruins into the playoffs. When the season fell through, the Bruins didn’t re-sign Sacco. Instead, they hired long-time player from 2005–2010, Marco Sturm, as the new head coach on June 5, 2025.Â
Sturm was brought in to change things up behind the bench because the Bruins players needed a new voice, and Sturm was the guy General Manager Don Sweeney thought would be the right fit. Sturm played for the Bruins for many years and emulated the Bruins’ style of hockey: tough, mean, and hard to play against.
The Leafs may need a new voice behind the bench, as it feels the players have given up on Craig Berube. The team might need a coach who emulates the Leafs’ style of hockey, fast-paced and high-scoring.
Signing the right players
The Bruins had a solid offseason last year, trading for one of Edmonton’s middle-six forwards, Viktor Arvidsson, to add to the team’s depth, and he has looked good this season. The Bruins signed a Bruins-type player in Tanner Jeannot, who brings grit to the lineup, along with signing more depth players like Sean Kuraly, a former member of the team, and Michael Eyssimont, coming from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Leafs need to have a fantastic offseason and sign players that fit their needs. A top-six right winger who can consistently play with Auston Matthews, an elite defenseman who can bolster their blue line, and some depth to replace current players they might trade away.
Will it work for Toronto?
The Bruins, so far in this season, with all their roster moves from the offseason and trades made at the deadline, have put themselves in a far better position than last season. Currently holding the second wildcard spot in the East, only a couple of points behind second in the Atlantic Division, the Bruins’ retool has worked tremendously, as they are looking into the postseason this year.
The Leafs should follow suit, as taking a season to retool and come back stronger and better prepared would guarantee the same success, if not better than Boston. The Leafs have better talent and a brighter future than the Bruins. With Matthews, Nylander, Matthew Knies, and up-and-comer Easton Cowan, there is no doubt the Leafs can come back and dominate the league next season, with the right moves needing to be made.Â
The top players on a team need to be good leaders. Matthews and Nylander are NOT leaders. They need to be replaced with good leaders before the Leafs do better. Rielly must go. OEL is less than half at 3.5 mil/y than Rielly’s 7.5 and does everything better. Matthews, Nylander and Rielly are the one constant for the past 10 years and changing them is the only way to make this team better.