The Toronto Maple Leafs have to address many things to be a playoff team once again next season, but the most glaring issue is the defensive corps.
When Mitch Marner was traded to the Vegas Golden Knights last summer, in exchange for Nicolas Roy, many bemoaned the impact the deal would have on the Leafs’ offence in the 2025–26 season.
Fast forward a year, and the offence is quite clearly not the biggest issue the Leafs need to deal with this offseason.
The Toronto Maple Leafs have a defensive problem
In fact, the Leafs only scored 15 fewer goals (from 267 to 252) this year compared to the team that won the Atlantic Division in 2025. Marner scored 27 goals in his last year with the Leafs, meaning that the team has managed to make up 12 of what was lost, and could realistically make up the rest with better on-ice play.
It has been at the other end of the ice that has been the biggest concern for the team, however. Last year, the Leafs had a strong defensive output, with just 229 goals against (league average was 247). This season, however, the Leafs have hemorrhaged goals, allowing 295, compared to a league average of 253.
Forty-two goals allowed above league average is inexcusable, and it’s clear that the current defensive corps needs a change. There may not be wholesale changes, but everything needs to be on the table in order to fix what is clearly the biggest issue on the team and could go a long way to turning things around quickly.
Get younger, more mobile
Firstly, the defence is far too old now. Simon Benoit is currently the youngest player of the group at 27, with Brandon Carlo and Philippe Myers both 29, and the rest of the group sitting between 32 and 36.
With age comes the natural decrease in mobility and speed, and that appeared quite apparent with the Leafs this season. There is plenty of talk over the future of some players on the roster, with Morgan Rielly a potential trade candidate, and some moves need to be done to bring the average age of the group down.
Targeting a top player in this year’s draft could immediately pay dividends, with the likes of Keaton Verhoeff and Chase Reid having enough potential to maybe impress enough right out of camp and earn a look with the NHL roster next season.
Making trades may help the unit as a whole, too. There has been talk of the Leafs maybe targeting a player like Darren Raddysh, but given that he is already 30, it may not be the best move to make if looking to go for a more youthful approach.
Trying to work with the New Jersey Devils to see if there’s a way to pry Simon Nemec away from them could be a more beneficial move for the Leafs, who could land a right-handed blueliner who has plenty of room to grow at just 22 years old.
This may be more feasible if Rielly is moved, particularly if a team like the San Jose Sharks are interested, but looking at as many young, high-potential players who could be available in trades may be the direction that best helps the Leafs.
Find another Chris Tanev
Losing Chris Tanev ruined the Toronto Maple Leafs’ defensive capabilities this season. Once he was out, the defence struggled immensely, and his presence was sorely missed throughout the year.
The Leafs need to do whatever they can to find a guy who can be effectively another Chris Tanev, a player who can lead the unit, play smart defence, and give confidence and organization to the rest of the guys.
Whether that comes through the team’s efforts to bring in younger guys, both via the draft and in trades, or if it comes from a specific player being targeted, perhaps in free agency, but another Chris Tanev-like player is needed for this roster.
If Tanev, who is already 36, goes down once again next season, the Leafs need to have another guy who can step up and similarly fill his skates. The current veterans on the team are not the same as Tanev, and a more pure defensive defenceman is needed to bring the unit back up to the level it performed at in 2024-25.
In terms of blocked shots, Jake McCabe stepped up in Tanev’s absence. In 2024–25, Tanev blocked 189 shots, while McCabe blocked 190 this year. The issue is that the players behind him dropped off in blocked shots compared to the previous season, leaving a significant deficit that undoubtedly contributed to the team’s poor goals-against output.
Bringing in another player who can work with McCabe and Tanev to block more shots and play a purely defensive game could be the other move that can help the Toronto Maple Leafs get back to being a playoff contender once again in 2026–27.
