Although the entire team has something to prove, Morgan Rielly, Auston Matthews, Anthony Stolarz and Chris Tanev all face much higher stakes this season.
This new iteration of the Toronto Maple Leafs is a mixed bag of players. There are some clear mainstays like Auston Matthews, John Tavares, William Nylander, and Matthew Knies, but also a fair bit of fresh talent acquired this summer including Nick Paul, Colton Sissons, Jack Roslovic, and Sergei Bobrovsky.
It's a team built to be competitive and bring the team back from the basement of the Atlantic Division while also giving Matthews a chance to win before his contract expires - and he potentially leaves for another destination.
In saying that though, 2026-27 has a lot higher stakes for some rather than others so let's take a look at who has the most to play for this year.
Auston Matthews has to become a definitive leader on and off the ice
There's a lot to discuss when it comes to Matthews, but we'll keep it short and sweet - he needs to be a bigger presence. Coming off two seasons marred with injuries, he's got something to prove to the entire world - that he's still the best pure goal scorer in the NHL.
But he also has to start leading by example. Though he dealt with injuries in 2024-25, he had the perfect chance to bounce back in 2025-26. He had a solid start with 17 points through his first 20 games, but missed two weeks in November that cut off his momentum.
He continued to play well, but was knocked out for the season after the Radko Gudas hit, leaving him to miss the final month of the year. While there's no guarantees he's 100% now, he's shown that he's working hard this offseason to find that scoring touch again - with no real hindrances holding him back.
If Matthews is healthy, Toronto has given him more offensive support and a system expected to free him from some of the heavier defensive usage he carried under Craig Berube. That raises the expectation for a rebound, but health will still be the biggest variable.
Morgan Rielly and Chris Tanev need strong seasons for completely different reasons
Both Maple Leafs defenders also need to have strong seasons but it's a different story as to why. Rielly needs to show both the organization and its fans that he can still be a reliable option despite having a lesser role. Meanwhile Tanev has to prove that he can still be an effective shutdown defender as age and injuries cause serious concerns.
Rielly's time with the team has been a hotly debated topic this entire summer, but with him firmly a part of the lineup going forward - he needs to show up.
That means maximizing his minutes, creating offensive opportunities, and becoming a better and more aware defender. He might not have his typical power-play role, or even a first-pairing placement - so he needs to do what he can, where he can.
Tanev's time with the club isn't necessarily in danger, but he is someone who costs a fair bit of money that has the potential to miss large chunks of the season. Only appearing in 11 games last year, a core injury took him out for the season and for a 37-year-old defender who sacrifices his body as much as he does - that's volatile.
Tanev needs to show he can still handle meaningful shutdown minutes without his body breaking down over the course of the season.
Anthony Stolarz has to prove Toronto can trust him with more than spot starts
Stolarz is coming into the season not only with expectations of being Sergei Bobrovsky's backup, but also with the expectation that he can handle more than 20 games in a season.
His entire Leafs tenure has been filled with injuries, and while 2024-25 was a genuine surprise - last year was a struggle. Unable to stay healthy or find his footing once he was on the ice, Stolarz put up some of the worst numbers of his career.
With Bobrovsky coming into Toronto also coming off some of the worst numbers of his career, Stolarz's ability to help him out when needed is crucial. If Bobrovsky struggles, and Stolarz can't weather things then it'll up to an unproven Artur Akhtyamov to command things in the crease.
He's a talented goalie but severely inexperienced, and with the team looking to be competitive in a strong Atlantic, the last thing they need is a rookie goalie trying to keep things stable. Stolarz has to prove he can stay available and give Toronto dependable starts when Bobrovsky rests or misses time.
Who do you think has most to prove this season for the Maple Leafs?
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