The National Hockey League recently released its schedule for the upcoming 2024-2025 season, posing some challenges for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Toronto Maple Leafs open the season against their long-time historic rival Montreal Canadiens, visiting the Bell Centre on October 9th. The night after, the Maple Leafs face their former coach Sheldon Keefe and the New Jersey Devils.
After that intriguing mini-two-game road trip, the team returns to Toronto for its home opener against another familiar face. Former Leafs general manager Kyle Dubas, future Hall-of-Famer Sidney Crosby, and the Pittsburgh Penguins visit Scotiabank Arena on October 12th.
The Maple Leafs play twenty-two of their first thirty-eight games at home during October, November, and December. By the end of January, they will have played 30 home games versus 21 away. That road-heavy back end of the schedule makes it crucial to start the season strong.
Toronto Maple Leafs Notable Games and Opponents
The Leafs travel to Pittsburgh on December 7th and March 2nd. Other dates against Keefe and the Devils include December 10th in New Jersey and January 16th in Toronto.
Free agent acquisitions Anthony Stolarz and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, former members of the Florida Panthers will face their ex-teammates for the first time on November 27th at Amerant Bank Arena.
The Maple Leafs will also go against the reigning Stanley Cup champions on March 13th and April 2nd in Toronto. Their final regular season game versus the Panthers is April 8th. It's the first leg of a back-to-back on the Leafs annual spring trip to the Sunshine State. The following night they face the Tampa Bay Lightning at Amalie Arena.
Conn Smythe winner Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers make their lone visit to Toronto on November 16th. The Stanley Cup Finalists host the Leafs on February 1st. That game is the start of Toronto's annual west coast trip. It continues with games in Calgary (Feb. 4th), Seattle (Feb. 6th), and Vancouver (Feb. 8th).
Leafs Have Brutal February/March Schedule
That early February western road swing is during the Maple Leafs toughest part of their schedule. The 4-Nations Face-Off, a new event featuring international play, will pause the NHL schedule from February 10th to 21st.
After the pause for the international tournament, the Leafs play a solitary home game against the Carolina Hurricanes on February 22nd.
Next, comes two more road trips. Starting February 23rd, the Maple Leafs play in Chicago, Boston (Feb. 25th), New York (versus the Rangers on Feb. 28th), and Pittsburgh (Mar. 2nd). A single home date against the San Jose Sharks (Mar. 3rd) is sandwiched between the next away trip.
Then, Toronto heads to Vegas (Mar. 5th), Colorado (Mar. 8th), and Utah (Mar. 10th). Those two trips highlight a brutal stretch of the Leafs schedule. February and March are already difficult to navigate as a long season wears on and the playoffs are still in the distance. During those months, the Maple Leafs will play 7 games at home and 16 on the road.
April also brings challenges. The Leafs will face strong competition as the regular season winds down. Of their eight games that month, two are against the Cup champion Panthers plus one each versus the Tampa Bay Lightning and Carolina Hurricanes.
A breakdown of the 2024-2025 schedule necessitates a strong start to the season if the Toronto Maple Leafs hope to put themselves in a strong position heading toward the Stanley Cup playoffs.
New coach Craig Berube and the latest additions to the team must get acclimated quickly. The Maple Leafs do not want to be chasing a playoff spot with that unfriendly schedule during the closing months of the season. A slow start to the year could make the playoffs a remote possibility thanks to a vicious closing stretch of games.