Playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs comes with an insane amount of pressure. For some players the pressure is even greater heading into 2025-26. The team must adapt offensively after the departure of Mitch Marner in free agency. A handful of players will be expected to combine forces to replicate Marner's offensive contributions. Auston Matthews faces heightened pressure to rebound after injury limited him to 33 goals, and his leadership and scoring will be central to any return to contender status. Max Domi represents a stand-or-fall case whose future hinges on more consistent, disciplined two-way play and improved offensive production.
Playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs comes with an insane amount of pressure in its own right. For some players, however, that pressure is even greater than usual heading into 2025-26. As the Maple Leafs continue their quest to exorcise their playoff demons this upcoming season, they'll have to do it without one of their best offensive players of the past few regular seasons.
Earning $13.25 million AAV through 2027-28, Auston Matthews is the face of the Maple Leafs franchise. Following injury issues that limited him to just 33 goals last season, he enters 2025-26 with heightened pressure to return to his elite, high-scoring norms. Marner's departure further increases Matthews' role both as a leader and as the Leafs' offensive engine. If Toronto's new-look offense is going to launch a return to contender status in 2025-26, it has to start with a rebound season from their captain.
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