The Toronto Maple Leafs are off to a gradual begin. They’re 3-3-1 to start the yr after falling to the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday night time by a rating of 5-3. This can be a completely different Maple Leafs crew than in years previous, which shouldn’t come as a shock to anybody.
Toronto is lacking a extremely expert participant in Mitch Marner. It’s exhausting to interchange a 100-point participant like Marner, who performed all three phases of the sport for the Toronto Maple Leafs. To not point out the dynamic of the locker room is completely different. Auston Matthews not has certainly one of his good pals on the crew.
There was a large shakeup with the Maple Leafs that wanted to occur, and most figured the crew would wrestle offensively, however to not this extent. So, it begs the query: Are the Toronto Maple Leafs heading down a well-known path, just like the Florida Panthers, when attempting to determine a brand new id?
Drama Always Surrounds the Toronto Maple Leafs
?NHL Considered the Day ?
Time to Push The Panic Button ?️in Toronto or are the Maple Leafs Going Although Comparable Rising Pains the Florida Panthers Went By? #timetohunt #leafsforever @CraigJButton pic.twitter.com/OnRh2DUoq7
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) October 22, 2025
NHLRumors.com Transcriptions
Jim Biringer: “My NHL considered the day. Let’s have a look at the Toronto Maple Leafs for a minute. 3-3-1 by seven video games. All people’s asking, what’s incorrect with the Toronto Maple Leafs? Why can’t they discover their id? What are they searching for? Anthony Stolarz is looking out his teammates once more Tuesday night time after they lose to the Devils, saying we obtained to be higher. Craig Berube, now popping out, saying we obtained to be higher. We have to be higher. It’s not adequate. Stolarz threw himself in that class as properly.
However Toronto’s lacking one thing. Mitch Marner just isn’t there anymore. He’s a dynamic participant. Let’s be sincere. Craig Button of TSN stated you have been going to remorse shedding a participant like this. No matter what occurred within the playoffs, he’s the highest 5 scorer. It’s clear Auston Matthews isn’t the identical participant. That high line isn’t the identical with out him, the facility play, all the pieces, penalty kill.
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Doesn’t it remind you of a crew whenever you attempt to change your id, as a result of you recognize what’s not working within the playoffs, takes time and gradual time to seek out your self, discover your roles.
The Florida Panthers, 2022-23, that offseason, after they obtained smoked by the Tampa Bay Lightning, they moved out Jonathan Huberdeau MacKenzie Weegar, bringing in Matthew Tkachuk. Now once more, Nicolas Roy and Matias Maccelli aren’t Matthew Tkachuk, however you modified your id to be a harder crew. It took a while by seven video games, the Panthers have been 4-2-1. They hovered round NHL .500 just about the entire season.
It took a while to know what Paul Maurice wished to do. Sure, the Leafs look gradual. Sure, the Leafs are a bit older. They’re getting beat by quick groups, however it’s going to take a while. It’s nonetheless early. All people’s obtained to loosen up in Toronto. Yeah, they’ve obtained to be higher. However Marner just isn’t there. It’s a very completely different id from what this crew is.
They need to be a bodily crew. Once more, they’re not beating individuals up like they need to. It’s going to take a while. But it surely’s a stark reminder of whenever you change, and utterly change your id, it’s going to take some time to discover a new one.”
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Yearly, we focus on groups studying to navigate adversity. The Toronto Maple Leafs could also be a wildcard crew this yr in the event that they proceed enjoying the best way they’re. Which may not be a foul factor. The Florida Panthers fought all yr to make the playoffs, and it finally made them a stronger playoff crew.
Toronto has cruised by some bumps within the highway to succeed in the playoffs. So studying to battle all yr and battle for a playoff spot will solely harden them. Nevertheless, the gamers need to embrace it. It could’t be a 50 p.c buy-in. Everybody has to purchase in each night time.
Going from a fast-paced, high-flying offense to 1 that may be a little slower and extra methodical goes to take time. However as it’s in any main market, issues get blown out of proportion, and if it weren’t for the Toronto Blue Jays making the World Sequence, the struggles of the Maple Leafs is likely to be even greater information.
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