New Comments From Tavares, Matthews, Nylander Reveal Real Problem for Maple Leafs

After 3 straight victories, the Toronto Maple Leafs have now lost 2 games in as many days, after what could be categorized as two of their worst showings to date during the 2025-26 season.

Compared to last year, the Maple Leafs are far and away a worse team defensively, and it's a concerning trend considering it's a near identical back-end. Their goaltending hasn't been as sharp, but the Leafs are committing far too many mistakes, and it's starting to show on the scoreboard.

Last night's effort against Carolina was a microcosm of their season. The offense was firing on all cylinders, then they rested on their laurels, committed turnovers and mistakes aplenty, and blew a lead before losing a close game.

The team's leadership group, which includes the likes of Auston Matthews, William Nylander, and John Tavares are searching for answers and are kind of at a loss for words about their performances of late.

Matthews was forthright and acknowledges that they're playing lazy, aren't winning puck battles, and are committing the same repetitive and nonsensical errors over a full 60-minute effort.

Although the errors are mounting, Nylander remains positive in his team's overall effort and ability to bounce back from their current slide, especially since the goals are piling up.

The Leafs are coughing up late leads, which makes this all that much more frustrating. Last year they had the innate ability to close games out with relative ease, however all of that is out the window and it goes back to the basics, according to Tavares.

Unfortunately talk is cheap and the Leafs are going to have to put their money where their mouth is. That next opportunity will come in the form of a rematch against Boston on Tuesday, and you'd have to believe they're going to be chomping at the bits for that one.