The Toronto Maple Leafs are entering the 2026-27 season with the NHL's most hyped rookie: Gavin McKenna.
McKenna, of course, was selected by the Maple Leafs with this year's first-overall pick. The expectation is that he will blossom into a star at the NHL level due to his high offensive upside and skill. Because of this, he is one of the NHL's most obvious breakout candidates for the 2026-27 campaign.
While McKenna is the Maple Leafs' top breakout candidate for next season, they have some other players who could very well hit new levels for them in 2026-27. Due to this, let's take a look at three under-the-radar Maple Leafs breakout candidates for next season
Easton Cowan
In what was a nightmare 2025-26 season for the Maple Leafs, Easton Cowan was one of their bright spots. The 21-year-old forward proved he belonged at the NHL level, as he posted 11 goals, 29 points, and 72 hits in 66 games. With numbers like these, he gave the Maple Leafs a nice mixture of secondary offensive production and grit during his rookie season.
However, with Cowan being so young and now having a season of NHL experience, he undoubtedly has the potential to take his game to new heights next season. The possibility of him taking that next step and blossoming into a high-impact top-six forward for the Maple Leafs next season should not be ruled out. If he does hit a new level offensively, it would be huge for a Maple Leafs club that is looking to get back into the playoffs.
Bo Groulx
Bo Groulx is an intriguing breakout candidate to watch next season on the Maple Leafs. The 26-year-old forward had a very strong season in the AHL with the Toronto Marlies, posting 28 goals and 52 points in 59 games. This helped him get into NHL action last season for the first time since 2023-24. He did well with the Maple Leafs last season, too, recording three goals, five points, and 34 hits in 13 games.
Overall, Groulx left a solid first impression last season with Toronto and could be a candidate to play on their NHL roster next season because of it. If he can build on his strong year, he could very well cement himself as a solid part of the Maple Leafs' bottom six next season.
Emil Andrae
Maple Leafs newcomer Emil Andrae is another breakout candidate to watch next season. The 24-year-old blueliner showed promise last season with the Philadelphia Flyers, setting new career highs with two goals, 11 assists, and 13 points in 61 games. Now, he will be looking to take another step forward next season with Toronto.
Sometimes, a change of scenery can benefit a player, and it is fair to wonder if this will be the case with Andrae. When looking at Toronto's current roster, he should receive more consistent playing time from the Original Six club than he did on the Flyers. With that, keep an eye on the young defenseman next season.
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