The Maple Leafs' biggest gamble isn't Gavin McKenna

Toronto's biggest gamble won't be whether or not Gavin McKenna can thrive right away, but if the newcomers can rally together in time to be competitive.

John Chayka did a lot of work this past offseason to change the Maple Leafs lineup for the better. They got bigger, tougher, more defensively sound in the bottom-six and added a brand new dynamic at the point in Darren Raddysh.

Add into the mix a generational talent like Gavin McKenna and suddenly the Maple Leafs have a real shot at being competitive once again, get themselves into the playoff race and put last year's dismal season behind them. There's a lot to be excited about if you're a fan, and there's still time for more to be done.

Gavin McKenna isn't a risk - the rest of the lineup is

But while the contracts may have been a bit of a risky proposition, especially with Sergei Bobrovsky and perhaps a slight overpayment for the bottom-six, it was worth the risk given what they could offer.

And Chayka is hoping that they are going to get acquainted much sooner than later because the season depends on it.

That isn't to say they can't get used to one another quickly but you have to acknowledge that the team brought in more than their fair share of players:

- Nick Paul (3 x $3.15-million)
- Sergei Bobrovsky (3 x $7-million)
- Colton Sissons (2 x $4.25-million)
- Teddy Blueger (2 x $2.5-million)
- Brandon Duhaime (3 x $2.6-million)
- Jack Roslovic (2 x $4-million)

All these guys have to get used to each other, and the ones who are already here need to find chemistry quickly. It's not easy going through such a turnover, and with Max Domi ($3.75-million AAV) out for the long haul - they lose another locker room leader they're familiar with.

You're hoping as the team that they do their job as role players and act as defensive specialists and penalty killers which is going to be paramount if Auston Matthews wants to succeed offensively again.

Banking on Bobrovsky is a high-risk, high-reward situation

Now comes the biggest splash of the offseason which is the signing of Bobrovsky for three years at $7-million per season. It's not as much as he could have gotten but it's still a heavy investment for sure.

It also eats into any money that Toronto would need to sign anyone in 2027. Or, in turn, have enough money to re-sign Auston Matthews in 2028 but it may be worth it.

Though he struggled last year, Bobrovsky is one of the best goalies in the world when on his game and the two-time Vezina winner and two-time Cup winner is motivated to prove he's still got it even when he's going to be 38.

Therein lies the risk though, as you're asking a pretty old goaltender to handle the lion's share of the starts and hoping that Anthony Stolarz doesn't get hurt in his limited starts this year. If Bobrovsky goes down for whatever reason that's even worse, and could derail the entire season before it gets off the ground if the season depends on Artur Akhtyamov for a long stretch.

Bobrovsky holds a 159-86-13 record over the last five seasons with a 2.71 GAA and .903 SV% while also adding a 44-21-0 record in the postseason over the past three playoffs with a 2.41 GAA and .912 SV%. If there is anyone you'd want in net for a playoff clincher - it's Bobrovsky.

But before Toronto gets to the postseason they have to make it there first, and a lot of that is going to be on Bobrovsky's wide shoulders in 2026-27.

Toronto's new coach isn't exactly new - and that's a blessing and a curse

There's a lot to love about Jim Hiller as opposed to Craig Berube. He's a lot more personable to the media for one, but beyond that he runs a style that actually makes fans excited to play. He's got experience running Toronto's power-play, and he knows their stars as well as anyone.

But he's also coming off a season where he was fired by the Kings after a losing streak pushed them out of contention in a very weak Pacific Division. Is that going to happen this year in the much more potent Atlantic? That might turn Auston Matthews from believing in the team now to someone just leaving in 2028.

If Hiller fails to rally the troops and get them going then the new regime needs to have a short leash. There's too many variables when it comes to Hiller and too much on the line. He has promise but has to prove himself.

It is great that Hiller has that familiarity with the stars and they've gotten a lot better and a lot wiser since he was here, but leading them is a whole other beast entirely.

There isn't a lot of leash for Hiller nor is there much for Chayka and the rest of the Maple Leafs. 2026-27 is going to be the litmus test for this new regime because if they fail in their first year...how much worse will it get before it gets better?

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The Maple Leafs finally have a plan after Mitch Marner's departure