The Toronto Maple Leafs didn't rest easy after missing the playoffs in 2026-27. MLSE president and CEO Keith Pelley hired a new front office: general manager John Chayka and senior advisor Mats Sundin.
Chayka and Sundin took it from there and completely reshaped the organization's on- and off-ice look. The new front office tandem rode the momentum of an unexpected NHL Draft Lottery win and kept the good vibes going by adding other high-profile players. Altogether, it makes the Maple Leafs the NHL's must-watch team of the coming season.
Why You Can't Look Away From Toronto This Season
Changes aside, the biggest reason to watch the Leafs this season starts with captain Auston Matthews. Two years ago, Matthews was frequently mentioned in the same breath as hockey's greatest star, Connor McDavid, as one of the NHL's most dominant forces.
Over the past two seasons, injuries and substandard play have seen Matthews score a combined 60 goals. That was a far cry from scoring 60 goals twice in a single season while accumulating multiple Rocket Richard trophies and a Hart Trophy for MVP. The 2025-26 season was so bad that Matthews was noncommittal about his future in Toronto.
The Leafs' captain has been his usual quiet, low-profile self during the offseason. His views on the Maple Leafs' changes are likely to be positive. Numerous stories will follow around the Leafs' all-time goal-scoring leader. Has he fully recovered from his injuries? Will Gavin McKenna help him rediscover his previous goal-scoring ways? Can he stay healthy? This season will largely determine his future with the team. If he and the Maple Leafs are both successful, their relationship is likely to continue with a contract extension. He has two years left on his current deal.
A third consecutive injury-riddled, subpar season could sever the ties and end Matthews' era. That alone makes Toronto a must-watch, but it's just the beginning of fascinating Leaf storylines.
The Chayka-Sundin era began with a bang when the Leafs won the NHL Draft lottery. With it, they happily selected McKenna with the top pick. Compared to other recent top picks, the phenom from Whitehorse has the advantage of joining a lineup of formidable stars like Matthews, William Nylander, Matthew Knies, and John Tavares.
In theory, it should lessen the pressure on him. Yet, being a No. 1 overall pick for the flagship Maple Leafs comes with expectations. How McKenna performs will be one of the most intriguing aspects of the Leafs' season.
High-Profile Newcomers Provide More Reasons to Watch New-Look Leafs
If the Matthews and McKenna storylines aren't enough reason to keep tabs on the Maple Leafs, then following the story arcs of new Toronto additions, goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky and defenseman Darren Raddysh, adds enough intrigue. Both came from bitter division rivals: Bobrovsky from the Florida Panthers, and Raddysh from the Tampa Bay Lightning.
The Panthers refused to break the bank for the decorated Bobrovsky. That, plus the fact that he is coming off a career-worst season, gives further rationale to watch Toronto. Raddysh's heavy shot gives the Leafs something they haven't had in a very long time: a threatening shot from the blue line.
Incumbent Leafs Bring Their Own Intriguing Stories
Beyond interest in the Matthews, McKenna, Bobrovsky, and Raddysh narratives, the Maple Leafs have three incumbent players with enthralling backstories. Chris Tanev, the team's most important defenseman, is coming back from serious injury issues at the age of 36.
Also, there's power forward Matthew Knies, who was confoundingly the subject of trade rumors for most of the offseason. How will he respond to being constantly mentioned and dangled in trade talks?
Speaking of trade talks, the team's longest-serving player seemed destined to begin the 2026-27 season elsewhere, but a move never happened. He's still with the Leafs. Can he rebound and resuscitate his career with a fresh start under new guidance?
That new guidance is not just from the Chayka-Sundin front office, but also from a new head coach. Jim Hiller is bringing in different philosophies behind the team's bench. He will have the respected Daniel Alfredsson as an assistant, after Chayka poached him from yet another division rival, the Ottawa Senators. Chayka also reconstructed many of the Leafs' other front-office positions.
While McDavid and teammate Leon Draisaitl's pursuit of a championship with controversial former Leafs coach Mike Babcock is a big story, and the up-and-coming San Jose Sharks are an interesting watch, don't dismiss the Maple Leafs' allure in 2026-27. Love them or hate them, they will be the NHL's "must-watch" team this season.
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