TORONTO — We learn from losing.
So even though the 2025-26 Toronto Maple Leafs have scattered for the summer — and some will not be back in the fall — the journey is always informative.
Before the realities of trade and free agency (and retirement?) kick in, we run down the current roster and offer a parting thought on all 33 members of the organization that skated in at least one game for the Maple Leafs this season and are still under contract with the club.
(Originally, we were going to call this column “33 Thoughts,” but that title has already been trademarked in anticipation of the next NHL expansion.)
Artur Akhtyamov: Appreciate the 24-year-old’s competitiveness and wish the skaters in front of him showed more in his hard-knock debut start. But there is concern that, in a program blessed with a trio of goaltending giants, the 176-pound guy faces an uphill climb.
Simon Benoit: If you weren’t satisfied with Benoit’s third season in Toronto, well, neither was he. Benoit’s play can be inconsistent, but his candour is steady: “Feels like s—, to be honest,” the defenceman said, as things unravelled. “There’s a lot of frustration in it. For myself, I’m really not satisfied about my year overall. (I’ve) got to be better, and it’s something I’m looking to improve this summer.”
Matt Benning: Solid stay-at-home veteran for the Marlies. Considering how poor the Leafs were defensively this season, it’s strange that the 465-game veteran got only a one-game peek at the NHL level over his two full years with the organization.
Brandon Carlo: Gets a bad rap for a trade he didn’t make. But Carlo is the same player he was in Boston: steady, safe, long and a positive guy. Talking to someone in Boston, Carlo got compared to fellow six-foot-five, 220-plus right shot Colton Parayko in St. Louis: “He’s never going to be as physical as you want him to be. That’s not who he is.”
Easton Cowan: Wants to model his game after Brandon Hagel, which should be music to Leafs Nation’s ears. If Cowan is out here scoring Gordie Howe hat tricks in the playoffs, Toronto will be a lucky city.
Max Domi: On one hand, Domi’s 12 goals marked a personal best over his three years a Leaf. On the other, his career-worst minus-29 and team-high 95 penalty minutes are a concern. (P.S. Good on Domi for taking on Radko Gudas, but why didn’t Gudas bother punching back?)
Oliver Ekman-Larsson: Toronto’s best and most consistent all-around defenceman this season, full stop. Could be a blessing in disguise that OEL wasn’t traded. You’d have to squint hard to find a $3.5-million blueliner on the market who brings the Swede’s blend of offence, grit, durability and leadership.
Bo Groulx: A treat to interview and a breath of fresh air during a month of misery. Groulx has every right to feel confident heading into his second Leafs camp, and the new GM will love his $813,000 salary.
Luke Haymes: Cool Game 82 story that the Ottawa native got to skate in front of a cluster of friends and family in his hometown. A fine under-the-radar college signing. If the undrafted Haymes can turn himself into the next Bobby McMann, consider it a win for team and player.
Dennis Hildeby: Back in October, who had the Beast a) appearing in 20 Leafs games and b) posting the best save percentage (.914) of all four goalies? Hands down, you liars. Toronto cannot place this guy on waivers. He’ll get scooped.
Calle Järnkrok: As 12th man, Järnkrok’s appearing in 56 games this season — more than he did in 2024-25 and 2023-24 — is an accomplishment on its own. Many believed he’d get waived coming into training camp. Järnkrok turns 35 in September and, as a free agent, could potentially return to the Swedish Elite League.
Dakota Joshua: Slow to get rolling, Joshua showed flashes in his intended bounce-back campaign but fell victim to another health scare with the lacerated kidney. That he scored a few late and fought Leafs villain Nikita Zadorov gives hope that the bottom-six winger can earn his keep next season.
Matthew Knies: That Knies’s name was floated in trade talks should be seen as a failure not of the emerging power forward but of an organization that passes out no-trade clauses like eavestrough-cleaning flyers.
Steven Lorentz: Honest, thoughtful, chatty and positive, it was tough to see Lorentz’s confidence take a hit and get the ol’ healthy-scratch treatment after such a successful 2024-25. The fourth-liner says vacation time will be limited and he’ll be working out again in no time. “I can’t sit still,” Lorentz said, smiling. He gets what it means to be a Leaf.
Matias Maccelli: The winger’s rough stretch in the middle of the season had me questioning if he’s still an NHLer. He is. But is he a $4.11-million NHLer? That’s the salary Toronto must offer to qualify the RFA. Otherwise, Maccelli could go to market.
Auston Matthews: Tired: Will the captain be back? Wired: Will his shot be back? Matthews’ shooting percentage hit a career low in Year 10 (11.9). His shot frequency (3.78 per game) was his lowest since 2018-19.
Jake McCabe: Led the NHL with 190 blocked shots. Brad Treliving’s lowlights are well documented, but the former GM deserves credit for the McCabe extension. Excellent value at $4.5 million.
Dakota Mermis: Best stretch of hockey was ended by a knee-on-knee hit from Gage Goncalves. Good teammate. Great character. Knows his role. A useful fourth-pair guy on half the league.
Philippe Myers: Coach Craig Berube gave Myers more than his fair share of opportunity: 39 games. On a contending team, Myers would’ve spent more time in the minors.
William Nylander: At times banged-up, at others disillusioned, Nylander still piled a team-best 79 points in 65 games. The Leafs already rewarded Nylander with the franchise’s richest contract. Naturally, they want him to be a leader. But he’s suggested that he’s not too interested in sticking around if the team keeps having losing seasons.
Michael Pezzetta: Pezzetta passed through waivers unclaimed a couple times but made the most of his Leafs debut, fighting off the opening draw in that infamous first game against the Ducks — with his parents in the barn. “I saw that clip of them watching the fight,” he said. “My mom, she’s not big into fighting, and she’s usually pretty visual when you see her watching my fight. It was just funny. You get a good laugh.”
Jacob Quillan: Did a double take upon realization that callup Quillan has already played 24(!) games for the Leafs. If re-signed for short money and short term, there’s no reason he can’t fight for a 4C role next season. Needs to work on his face-offs (42 per cent), though.
Morgan Rielly: Only one defenceman was on the ice for more goals against at even strength than Rielly (92) this season. That defenceman? Quinn Hughes (98).
Marshall Rifai: Here’s John Tavares’s take on the big left-shot defenceman, still flirting with the NHL at age 28: “There’s a real strong inner belief to him, and he understands the type of game that’s going to make him successful.”
Nicholas Robertson: After accepting back-to-back, one-year, take-it-or-leave-it contracts and giving his everything on the ice, we wouldn’t blame Robertson for taking the Maple Leafs to arbitration this summer. Robertson may not be a top-six forward yet, but his 16 goals are worth more than his $1.825-million qualifying offer.
Troy Stecher: Before he played what might be his final game for the Maple Leafs, Stecher told me he hoped it wasn’t. He wants to come back. But more than that, the Little Engine That Could wants to stick in the show. His wife, Emma, is a nurse, Stecher says, and she’ll keep holding the family down while he chases this NHL dream as long as possible. Playing 624 games as an undrafted five-foot-10 D-man is no joke. “I know I had my good days, my bad days,” Stecher said. “But one thing I can say is, I never took the city for granted.”
Anthony Stolarz: Imagine this rare scenario. One game, winner take all, and all of Toronto’s goalies are healthy. I’m starting Anthony “We have to play like bastards” Stolarz in that shiny-ass mask. The best ability is availability, though.
Chris Tanev: Love to hear Tanev say that he’ll return to form because “I work harder than anybody.” His off-season trainer, Gary Roberts, will back up that assertion. Still, Tanev turns 37 in December, and we watched him suffer back-to-back head/neck injuries in the fall. That’s more concerning than the groin surgery. We’re rooting for him. We’re concerned for him.
John Tavares: Incredible that the oldest Maple Leaf finished as the only one to play all 82 and led the team in goals (31). The 35-year-old Tavares sits 38th in all-time goals (525) and 56th all-time in points (1,185). Is Tavares at risk of becoming the most productive player to never see a conference final?
Henry Thrun: From a career-high 60 NHL games played in 2024-25 to a career-low four with the Maple Leafs this season, the whip-smart Thrun got buried in the minors largely because he shoots left, not right like Myers. Would like to see him get a longer look, but the 25-year-old needs a new contract and is armed with arbitration rights.
Ryan Tverberg: The seventh-rounder was rewarded for his 15-goal AHL breakout in mid-April with nearly 20 minutes in tank time. Happy the boyhood Leafs fan got to realize his dream. He has a long way to go to make the cut in September, though.
William Villeneuve: Villeneuve showed well during his garbage-time callup, averaging 17:19 and ending up on the plus side of the ledger as the Leafs got pummeled by a combined score of 15-8 over his three appearances. “When I got to pro, I was six-foot-two, 170 pounds. It’s hard to battle against guys that are 220 (pounds). Just physically and mentally, I’m more mature, and my defensive game and physical game has improved a lot,” he said. The late-blooming right shot has a chance to make it as a third-pair guy.
Joseph Woll: Starting his season a month late due to personal reasons he’s keeping private, Woll lost more games than he won for the first time (15-16-7) and saw his save percentage hit a career low (.899). “I don’t think I properly lived up to what I’m capable of,” he said, “and that part is very disappointing for myself.” To be fair, Woll operated in the NHL’s worst defensive environment. His goal is to start well over 40 games in 2026-27. Toronto needs him to.