September has arrived, and the Maple Leafs aren't finished yet

It's September 1 and the Maple Leafs still have work to do before they start the regular season and there are still three key issues to keep an eye on.

We are less than 30 days away from the start of the NHL regular season which means that we are not too far off from finally getting to see some Maple Leafs hockey. After a summer full of changes from top to bottom, the arrival of Gavin McKenna, and a serious desire to compete - the expectations are high.

However the team only has a limited amount of time to get their ducks in a row, and there are still questions about how they are going to become cap compliant, as well as how the newcomers will acclimate to their new environment.

So with that, let's take a look at three pressing issues the Maple Leafs still need to address before the season opens up.

Toronto's cap crunch still has to force one uncomfortable roster decision

It's the one issue that currently handicaps the most because they literally can't play without a solution. Sure, they can operate now over the cap but when the season opens they need to be at least breaking even.

That means at least one or several players may be shifted out of the lineup or even off the team entirely, and with questions about whether or not Max Domi will make a return this season - they can't always rely on his LTIR relief.

It becomes a matter of who best fits in with the new group, and that's why training camp is going to be such an interesting couple of weeks because it could be a dogfight for the last spot in the new-look Maple Leafs lineup.

Gavin McKenna can change the entire top-six picture before opening night

Speaking of adding a new look to the lineup, McKenna could completely transform the lineup before the season even starts. With a strong Prospect Showcase and preseason, he could play himself into a top-six spot - and keep hold of it for the entire season.

While you can't expect him to immediately put up triple digit points and become the saviour of the franchise, there is a lot of excitement and talent within the 2026 first overall pick and his skillset can seriously help elevate the rest of the lineup, especially Auston Matthews. If that's the case, then he's going to be a lock on the first line, and it becomes a fight for the last spot in that coveted top-six.

We could be looking at a lineup that is full of veteran talent supplemented by young players who are being groomed as the future of the team:

McKenna - Matthews - Knies
Cowan - Tavares - Nylander

That top-six gives the Maple Leafs both the talent necessary to compete while also giving their prized prospects enough opportunity to grow and become the stars they envision them being.

Auston Matthews has 28 days to show he is physically ready for a rebound

Finally we come to the man under the biggest spotlight in Toronto right now - the captain. Matthews has had two injury-disrupted seasons and needs to show that his shot, pace and confidence are back before the new season begins.

McKenna will help, and he is looking to be healthy but we need to see how he responds during the preseason before we know. If he gets his shot back, becomes more of a threat offensively, and is producing at the pace we expect - then things look positive.

But if it's another slow start, or if Matthews and McKenna can't find the chemistry then it's going to be up to Jim Hiller to figure out a solution quick because there really isn't much time. 28 days is a long time, but the first preseason game is less than three weeks away. If Matthews is ready to prove he's back then he's only got a bit more time to prepare.

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