The Toronto Maple Leafs have received some dreadful non-roster news for 2026–27. Toronto has the hardest schedule in the NHL, according to Draft Kings Sports’ strength-of-schedule model, which was released on Wednesday night.
Last in line. Not in the top five, not in the top ten. The first thing that no one wants to be the best at.
Jim Hiller takes over a difficult schedule right away as the new coach.
On June 17, Toronto named Jim Hiller as their head coach. He is not allowed a soft landing.
Most new coaches are given a stretch of games that can be won in order for them to get their bearings. Hiller receives the complete reverse: a whole season of the most challenging hockey road even before a system is implemented.
For a coach entering his first season on this team, that is not a fair agreement.
That rating is located next to a different number that pains equally. Last season, Toronto came in 28th place overall in the league.
The Maple Leafs ended with a minus-46 goal differential, were outscored 299-253, and went 32-36-14 for 78 points.
Eighteen-fifteen-eight made the house habitable. 14-21-6 was a disaster for the road.
And Toronto’s finish was uglier than the record shows, as they limped to a 2-7-1 record in their last 10 games and lost the last one 1-3 in Ottawa on April 15.
It’s like offering someone the car’s wheel with no brakes and directing them into rush hour traffic.
For contrast, Colorado finished first in the league last season yet still managed to have the simplest schedule using the same methodology.
Toronto lacks both the easy schedule around which to restructure and the solace of last year’s performance. Simultaneously, they both took the incorrect path.
A more difficult schedule typically penalizes teams that are unable to win on the road, and Toronto’s away performance last season was already severe.
Is last year’s problems made better or worse by a more difficult slate? It’s not near.
This timetable does not necessitate a move to the roster right now. However, the questions regarding this coaching staff and this team won’t wait until March to come up if Toronto starts out slowly once again.
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