Maple Leafs miss playoffs for 1st time since 2016 due to Marner departure, defensive woes

The Toronto Maple Leafs failed to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time since 2016.

The Maple Leafs (32-31-13) were eliminated from playoff contention when they lost 4-1 to the San Jose Sharks at SAP Center on Thursday. The loss came three days after general manager Brad Treliving was fired after almost three full seasons guiding the team.

Toronto's elimination ended a streak of nine consecutive playoff appearances dating to the 2016-17 season. The Maple Leafs qualified for the playoffs last season and made it to the second round, where they lost in seven games to the eventual Cup champion Florida Panthers. 

Here's a look at what happened in the 2025-26 season for the Maple Leafs and why things could be better next season.

The skinny

Potential unrestricted free agents: Calle Jarnkrok, F; Troy Stecher, D; Matt Benning, D

Potential restricted free agents: Matias Maccelli, F; Nicholas Robertson, F; Jacob Quillan, F; Henry Thrun, D.

Potential 2026 Draft picks: 6

What went wrong

Missing Mitch: When the Maple Leafs sent forward Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights in a sign-
and-trade on July 1, they could never recover. First off, they never replaced the 102 points (27 goals, 75 assists) he had in 2024-25. The $10.9 million in salary cap room they opened up by moving Marner was used to bring in forwards Matias Maccelli, Dakota Joshua and Nicolas Roy, but those three have combined for 74 points. Moreover, Marner's absence was noticeable when it came to his former linemate Auston Matthews, who seemed to miss the crafty winger's ability to set him up, resulting in a career-low 27 goals before he was injured in March. Marner was also missed on the power play, where the Maple Leafs rank tied for 18th (20.1 percent) after they were tied for eighth last season (24.8 percent).

System, culture questions: In his first season as coach in 2024-25, Craig Berube preached a north-south style which resulted in the Maple Leafs finishing first in the Atlantic Division and getting to within one victory of the Eastern Conference Final. Forechecking and cycling were the keys to success. Not so much this time around. In his second season, Berube has been frustrated with a team that too often reverts to a freelancing east-west game that is conducive to turnovers in the neutral zone. Injuries to Joshua and Roy also made the team less effective when it comes to the grinding game Berube covets. In the end, those difficulties led to Treliving losing his job and it makes you wonder if Berube could be next. There's also the issue of culture, which became a heated topic when the players did not immediately respond to the kneeing by Anaheim Ducks captain Radko Gudas of Matthews, who was lost for the season following the hit. Hardly the show of team unity management and the fans expected.

Defensive downer: Last season, the Maple Leafs allowed 229 goals, ranking tied for eighth in the NHL in terms of the fewest given up. This season, that number has ballooned to 264 in just 76 games. Only the Vancouver Canucks (286) have given up more. There are multiple reasons for that. Goalies Joseph Woll (3.22 goals-against average) and Anthony Stolarz (3.29) have been nowhere near as effective as they were a year ago. On the blue line, there is a lack of puck carriers who can clear the defensive zone quickly. Their best at it is Oliver Ekman-Larsson, and he's 34 years old. As a result, the Maple Leafs are pinned in the defensive zone far too often, a recipe for disaster when it comes to limiting scoring chances for the opposition.

Reason for optimism

Willy Styles: On a team where too many players were having less-than-career years, forward William Nylander has been the exception to the rule. The 29-year-old leads the team in scoring and is well over a point-a-game pace with 72 points (26 goals, 46 assists) in 59 games. Despite the uncertainty with the team's future, he's professed a willingness to stay in Toronto if the team does not embark on a complete rebuild. When he's motivated, Nylander is still one of the most creative players in the League.

Cowboy calling: Yes, 20-year-old Easton Cowan, the Maple Leafs top prospect, went through growing pains. Part of that has to be put on management and the coaching staff. Too many times, the young forward was either sitting in the press box as a healthy scratch or was playing down the lineup, often on the fourth line. Not until late in the season was he regularly slotted on a line with talented players like Nylander and Matthews, at which time you could see his confidence build and his stats improve. To that end: he has five points (one goal, four assists) in his past six games and is becoming more comfortable in high-leverage situations.

Maturing Matthews: By his own standards, Matthews did not have the statistical season even he expected with 53 points (27 goals, 26 assists) in 60 games prior to the injury. At the same time, he played well at the 2026 Winter Olympics, captaining Team USA to a gold medal with seven points (three goals, four assists) in six games. That performance proved he still has the ability to be one of the elite players in the sport. His leadership in the tournament also muzzled the naysayers who claimed he'd never won anything in his career. The dilemma facing the Maple Leafs now moving forward: with two seasons remaining on his contract, will the 28-year-old want to stick around if management decides a rebuild is in order?