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Reporter Throws Heavy Shade at Maple Leafs with Harsh Forecast for the Team
While the Toronto Maple Leafs prepare for life without , analyst Sara Civian's forecast for the 2025-26 season paints too grim a picture
While there may be valid questions about whether the Toronto Maple Leafs have taken a step forward for 2025-26, BleacherReport.com analyst Sara Civian's take on the situation is perhaps too harsh.
Civian has been around hockey and the NHL for quite some time, though her normal beat was covering the Carolina Hurricanes. Recently, Civian composed a ranking of the top 10 contenders for the 2026 Stanley Cup , with the Maple Leafs a respectable ninth place.
However, in explaining why the Leafs were ranked where they were, Civian said Toronto is not in the same spot it was last season without Mitch Marner or a suitable replacement on offense.
"We'll see how they're doing at the trade deadline, and it should be a big year for Matthew Knies, but this year could be a step back before a step forward type scenario."
Loss of Mitch Marner Blamed for Toronto Taking a 'Step Back'
Replacing Marner with Nicolas Roy in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights over a month ago clearly isn't the answer. However, as analyst Damien Cox said in a very convincing argument, moves made since the offseason started have been more lateral than anything else.
"They will be in that 100-point range again next year.
I just don't see how they're going to be better."
I just don't see how they're going to be better."
In short, the Leafs shouldn't struggle to make the playoffs, and have lost little when it comes to success in the postseason. Marner's absence doesn't make them a worse team, but it doesn't make them better.
If Anthony Stolarz, whose view on life as a member of the Maple Leafs is vastly different from Marner's, can stay healthy there's no reason Toronto can't be an even better team in 2025-26 than in the previous.
The post season offense question lingers, and unrest amongst the fan base is likely if it's not addressed sometime between now and next season's trade deadline.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 16 | 1874 ANSWERS Reporter Throws Heavy Shade at Maple Leafs with Harsh Forecast for the Team Are the Toronto Maple Leafs in a worse position right now than in the previous season? | ||
| Yes | 655 | 35 % |
| No | 947 | 50.5 % |
| Not sure | 272 | 14.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
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