The time to see the on-ice impact of the Toronto Maple Leafs makeover has almost arrived. Less than two weeks remain until training camp starts and a first look at the organization's many changes.
The Maple Leafs' new front office, general manager John Chayka and senior advisor Mats Sundin, had a busy offseason reshaping the roster in hopes of returning to the playoffs. High-profile additions to Toronto's roster include No. 1 overall pick Gavin McKenna, award-winning and Stanley Cup champion goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky, and breakout defenseman Darren Raddysh. The transformation makes the Leafs one of the NHL's most intriguing stories to follow as 2026-27 begins.
Here are 10 burning Maple Leafs questions for the new season.
Key Storylines and Battles at 2026 Leafs Training Camp
1. How is Auston Matthews' Health?
The most important factor in the Leafs' success, more than roster remodeling, is the health and performance of captain Auston Matthews. How does his skating look after knee surgery? Are his back issues a thing of the past?
Having Matthews consistently available and returning to his dominant, goal-scoring ways would provide the biggest boost to the Maple Leafs' fortunes. After a few on-ice sessions, it will be easy to see if his body is ready for a bounce-back season. An interesting side note will be his views on the team's offseason and his future with the Leafs. Yet, don't expect him to reveal too much on that front.
2. How Healthy is Chris Tanev?
The Maple Leafs quietly hope they don't face another Jake Muzzin situation. Muzzin, a critical Leafs defenseman in the early Matthews years, had his career cut short by injuries.
Tanev played in just 11 games in 2025-26. A very scary concussion injury was part of that. He also had core muscle surgery. It's no coincidence that the Maple Leafs' team defense and goaltending ranks plummeted without him. Having the team's most reliable defender in the lineup is a must.
3. Does Bobrovsky Have Anything Left in the Tank?
As important as Matthews is to the Maple Leafs, Bobrovsky could be the biggest X-factor in determining the team's ceiling. The free-agent goaltender signed a three-year, $21 million deal with Toronto, leaving their Atlantic Division rival, the Florida Panthers. An extra spicy element to the signing was the Panthers' refusal to match what the Leafs offered.
Bobrovsky is the NHL's oldest goaltender. If the soon-to-be 38-year-old goaltender provides the Maple Leafs with average goaltending and starts 45-plus games, Toronto is likely to return to the playoffs. If he is rejuvenated after a long, restful offseason, he could help the Leafs achieve even greater success. He could also be a bust signing if he replicates his career-worst season in 2025-26 i.
4. What Will be Gavin McKenna's Impact?
Most feel McKenna is coming to an advantageous position with the Leafs. Unlike other former No. 1 overall picks, McKenna is surrounded by proven NHL stars. A stat line of 15 goals and 45 assists for 60 points would be a solid rookie season for McKenna. Due to his size and the adjustment to stronger, better NHL players, expecting more is likely wishful thinking.
The Maple Leafs' power play is where McKenna might have the biggest influence during his first year. The extra space and playing with Matthews, William Nylander, and others should help his production.
5. Will McKenna play with Matthews?
Most suspect McKenna will eventually find his way onto the Leafs' first line alongside Matthews, even if it doesn't happen immediately. It's a natural fit: McKenna's sublime playmaking and vision with the sharpshooting Matthews. Maple Leafs fans are crossing their fingers, hoping the two develop chemistry.
At minimum, the two are likely to be together on the team's first power play unit to start the season. McKenna's presence on the first unit likely bumps John Tavares or Matthew Knies to the second power-play unit. The Leafs' new coach Jim Hiller has some intriguing decisions to make about how he uses the team's best weapons.
6. How Will New Coach Jim Hiller Perform?
Chayka surprised many by hiring the unheralded Hiller as the Maple Leafs coach. The former Leafs' assistant and Los Angeles Kings head coach will be counted on to reignite the team's power play, improve the Leafs' defense, and manage the personalities of many long-time players who have had multiple head coaches.
Hiller's style and his usage of players like Matthews, McKenna, and Bobrovsky will be under the microscope. The Maple Leafs are hoping for the "second-job bump" from Hiller as he takes another crack at leading an NHL team.
7. How Will Morgan Rielly and Matthew Knies React to Trade Talk?
It's somewhat shocking that the Maple Leafs' longest-serving player, defenseman Morgan Rielly, has returned for his 14th season in Toronto. At the start of the offseason, a Rielly trade seemed like a formality, especially after he provided the Leafs with a list of four teams he would consider moving to.
As for Knies, his name continuously came up in trade rumors around the Maple Leafs. His ceiling and attractive contract make him an appealing commodity. It was perplexing that Chayka and the Leafs seemed determined to move him. Or, more likely, they were looking for a monster offer that never materialized. Either way, Chayka would be wise to smooth things over with Knies, ensuring the power forward knows it was just chatter and that he remains a big part of the Leafs' future.
8. Is Darren Raddysh a One-Year Wonder?
One of Chayka's first offseason moves with Toronto was a sign-and-trade for Raddysh before the hometown defenseman hit free agency. The Maple Leafs' GM then signed the hard-shooting blueliner to an 8-year, $68 million contract.
Last Year, the late bloomer scored 22 goals and 48 assists for 70 points as a more-than-capable replacement for Victor Hedman with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now, the 30-year-old must prove he was not a one-hit wonder.
9. Does Easton Cowan Play in the Top SIix?
The boyish-looking Cowan took time to find his way during his rookie season in 2025-2026. When it finished, however, he put up 11 goals and 18 assists for 29 points in 66 games.
By season's end, he was seeing some regular duty on the Maple Leafs' top two lines. Then, during the Toronto Marlies' run to the AHL title, Cowan had 8 goals and 10 assists for 18 points in 22 games. McKenna's presence complicates things for Cowan, but he has the skills to play on the top two lines.
10. What About the Overhauled Bottom-Six Forwards?
After their offseason transactions, the Maple Leafs have a completely different look on their third and fourth lines. Nic Paul, Brandon Duhaime, Teddy Blueger, and Colton Sissons were acquired through free agency or trade.
How they perform their defensive responsibilities, such as penalty killing and defensive-zone faceoffs, will free up players like Matthews and Tavares to play offense. Secondary scoring from the bottom six will be the key to alleviating pressure on the team's best offensive players.
Ultimately, training camp will be the start of the Maple Leafs establishing a new identity under the leadership of Chayka, Sundin, and Hiller. From managing the expectations surrounding first-overall pick McKenna to sorting out a radically transformed bottom-six forward group, head coach Hiller has his work cut out for him.
As usual, the Leafs' success will depend greatly on longtime members Matthews, Nylander, Knies, and Tavares. Yet, new additions McKenna, Bobrovsky, and Raddysh bring excitement and signal a fresh start. How they perform and how other important storylines resolve over the coming weeks will determine whether the Maple Leafs 2026-27 season is seen as a disorganized experiment or the revitalization of a playoff contender.
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