With McKenna, Paul, Raddysh, Andrae, and Roslovic joining the team, Toronto welcomes a plethora of new players.
In preparation for the 2026–27 regular season, which begins on Sept. 29, NHL.com is assessing where each team stands after the NHL Draft, free agency, and other offseason activities. Today, the Maple Leafs of Toronto:
2025–26 season: did not make the Stanley Cup Playoffs, finished eighth in the Atlantic Division with a record of 32–36–14.
Important newcomers
G Sergei Bobrovsky: After signing a three-year deal on July 1, the future Hall of Famer instantly takes over as the Maple Leafs’ top goalie. Having played 52 games with the Florida Panthers last season and recording 27-23-1 with a 3.07 goals-against average, an .877 save percentage, and four shutouts, the 37-year-old will be hoping to turn things around. He will meet again in Toronto with Anthony Stolarz, who served as Bobrovsky’s backup during Florida’s Stanley Cup run in 2023–24. … Daren Raddysh, D: After a sign-and-trade with the Tampa Bay Lightning on June 19, the Toronto native inked an eight-year deal. In 73 games for Tampa Bay last season, the 30-year-old had career highs in goals (22), assists (48), points (70), and plus-minus rating (plus-21), and he will immediately take over as Toronto’s quarterback on the power play, where he scored 10 goals in 2025–26. Gavin McKenna, F: On June 26, the Maple Leafs selected the Whitehorse, Yukon, native with the first pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. He will have every chance to earn a place among the top six forwards during training camp. Last season, the 18-year-old scored 51 points (15 goals, 36 assists) in 31 games for Penn State. The native of Mississauga, Ontario, Nick Paul, F, is expected to play in Toronto’s middle six and is able to play either left wing or center. On July 1, the Lightning acquired the 31-year-old, who had seven goals and eight assists in 51 games last season, in exchange for goalie Dennis Hildeby, a fourth-round pick in the 2027 NHL Draft, and a third-round pick in the 2028 NHL Draft. Jack Roslovic, F: The 29-year-old can play anywhere on the line, from a top-line wing to a third-line center who offers strength up the middle. He played in 69 games with the Edmonton Oilers last year and recorded 36 points (21 goals, 15 assists). Emil Andrae, D: After being obtained in a transaction with the Philadelphia Flyers on June 16, along with goaltender Samuel Ersson and a third-round selection in the 2026 draft, in exchange for goaltender Joseph Woll and defenseman Simon Benoit, the slick-skating 24-year-old defenseman will be relied upon for puck movement from the back end. In 61 games with the Flyers last season, Andrae accumulated 13 points (two goals, 11 assists)… Teddy Blueger, C: The 31-year-old was signed to provide depth and previously played on a line with Maple Leafs fourth-liner Dakota Joshua when they were both members of the Vancouver Canucks. He signed a two-year contract with the Maple Leafs on July 1 after scoring nine goals and eight assists in 35 games with the Canucks last season. The acquisition of the former Vegas Golden Knight bolsters the Maple Leafs in the middle, much like Paul, Roslovic, and Blueger, according to Colton Sissons, C. The 32-year-old had 11 points (six goals, five assists) in 66 games for the Golden Knights last season. … Brandon Duhaime, RW: The 29-year-old, who signed a three-year contract with Toronto on July 1, has at least 140 hits in each of his five NHL seasons and brings sandpaper to the bottom six. He had nine points (four goals, five assists) in 82 games with the Washington Capitals last season. … John Chayka, general manager: The 37-year-old became the 19th GM in franchise history on May 3, replacing Brad Treliving, who was fired on March 30. Chayka previously had that same role with the Arizona Coyotes from 2016-20. … Jim Hiller, coach: The 57-year-old became the 41st coach of the Maple Leafs on June 17, replacing Craig Berube, who was fired May 13. He was an assistant with Toronto for four seasons (2015-19) and most recently coach of the Los Angeles Kings from 2023-26.
Crucial Departures
Joseph Woll, G: After being transferred to the Flyers on June 16, the 28-year-old is looking for a new environment, allowing the Maple Leafs to sign Bobrovsky, a two-time Stanley Cup winner, in free agency. Woll played in 39 games last season, going 15-16-7 with a 3.34 GAA, .899 save percentage, and two shutouts. On June 27, the 29-year-old was dealt to the St. Louis Blues for two third-round choices in the 2026 draft. The stay-at-home defender had seven assists in 55 games. … Simon Benoit, D: The 27-year-old, who was acquired in the Woll deal, had six assists in 73 games. … F: Nicholas Robertson, 24 years old, signed a two-year deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins on July 14 and recorded 32 points (16 goals, 16 assists) in 78 games. … F: Matias Maccelli, a 25-year-old player who signed a two-year contract with the New York Islanders on July 1 after the Maple Leafs declined to give the soon-to-be restricted free agent a qualifying offer. He had 39 points in 71 games, with 14 goals and 25 assists. …. G, Dennis Hildeby: In 20 games, the 24-year-old, who was acquired by Toronto in the deal that brought Paul to Toronto, went 5-7-4 with a 2.86 GAA, a .914 save percentage, and one shutout. … C: Calle Jarnkrok The 34-year-old unrestricted free agent scored eight points in 56 games (six goals, two assists). … Coach Craig Berube: After two seasons with Toronto, the 60-year-old was let go by the Maple Leafs on May 13 after recording an 84-62-18 regular-season record.
at the brink
G: Artur Akhtyamov The 24-year-old is expected to start the season with Toronto of the American Hockey League, but he will be knocking on the door if Bobrovsky and/or Stolarz suffer an injury. He won the Calder Cup as the Maple Leafs’ affiliate with the Jack A. Butterfield Trophy as AHL playoff MVP, going 15-7 with a 2.22 GAA, .923 save percentage, and two shutouts in the postseason. He is now less than two months from doing so. … Ben Danford, D: The 20-year-old, who hopes to be on the Maple Leafs’ roster for opening night, was promoted for the AHL playoffs after playing with Oshawa and Brantford of the Ontario Hockey League. In 16 AHL postseason games, he had three points (one goal, two assists).
What they still require
Chayka said at his introductory news conference that the first goal was to reconstruct the squad’s defense. Although Raddysh and Andrae are important additions, there is still more work to be done. Management is not hesitant to make a major move in what is still a work in progress, as evidenced by the Maple Leafs’ interest in Zach Werenski of the Columbus Blue Jackets, who received the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defense player. The fate of seasoned player Morgan Rielly, who has been mentioned in trade speculations throughout the summer, is still up in the air. Depending on McKenna’s initial performance, Toronto would like to recruit a top-six player up front.
They claimed it.
“I believe that adding a player of Sergei Bobrovsky’s caliber conveys the idea that we are committed to moving this team forward, getting back on track, and attempting to elevate it to a new level. I think we are a far more dynamic club today if you look at the complete picture.” Chayka on the acquisition of Bobrovsky
The EDGE stat is one to keep an eye on.
Raddysh’s outstanding shooting statistics allowed him to have a breakout season (70 points in 73 games) with Tampa Bay. He led the NHL in long-range shots on goal (130), long-range goals (nine), and shot attempts of more than 90 mph (97), which was almost double that of the player who was closest to him (Evan Bouchard had 51). Raddysh had the hardest shot resulting in a goal in the playoffs across the League (92.81 mph on April 19) and the second-hardest shot resulting in a goal in the regular season (100.13 mph on Nov. 28). The cornerstone defenseman placed in the 95th percentile for offensive zone time % at his position (45.5%), which would be quite beneficial for Toronto given their struggles in that area last season (38.9%; last in the NHL). — Troy Perlowitz
Play the video.
In a sign-and-trade agreement, the Maple Leafs sign Darren Raddysh.
Fantasy spin
McKenna can top 60 points in his first season in an offense with John Tavares, William Nylander, Auston Matthews, and Raddysh, who are among the top fantasy players. Along with Flyers forward Porter Martone, McKenna is one of the Calder Trophy front-runners in NHL.com’s fantasy rankings, where he is a fringe top 75 overall player after being selected by the Maple Leafs. McKenna’s playmaking skills have the potential to completely change Toronto’s offensive prospects, which were 45.5% last in the NHL in 5-on-5 shot attempt percentage. — Pete Jensen
Expected roster
Jack Roslovic, Matthew Knies, and Auston Matthews.
William Nylander, John Tavares, and Gavin McKenna
Easton Cowan, Colton Sissons, and Nick Paul
Brandon Duhaime – Dakota Joshua – Teddy Blueger
Darren Raddysh vs. Jake McCabe
Chris Tanev and Morgan Rielly
Emil Andrae and Oliver Ekman-Larsson
Sergei Bobrovsky
Stolarz, Anthony
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