The Maple Leafs Might Not Be Better, But They’re More Fun

Whether the Toronto Maple Leafs are a better hockey team than they were last season remains to be seen. Through five games, their 2-2-1 record couldn't be much more mediocre. They've scored 14 goals and allowed 15. At this point, there isn't nearly enough evidence to know how competitive this team will ultimately be.

But we're also only two weeks into a very long season. However, I'm becoming increasingly comfortable with one conclusion.

These Maple Leafs should be a lot more entertaining to watch.

The last two games have been perfect examples. On Tuesday night, Toronto fell behind the Nashville Predators 3-0. Instead of quietly going away, the Maple Leafs stormed back and eventually won 5-4 in overtime.

Less than 48 hours later in Las Vegas, Toronto did almost exactly the opposite. This time, the Maple Leafs exploded to a 3-0 lead in the opening nine minutes. And this time, they were the team that couldn't hold it. Vegas scored three unanswered goals before eventually winning 4-3 in a shootout.

Two games. Two three-goal leads erased. Toronto was responsible for one comeback and fell victim to the other. That certainly isn't a recipe for calm evenings in front of the television.

Last season, the Maple Leafs played a much more direct, north-south style under Craig Berube. Get the puck deep, establish the forecheck and make opponents work their way through you. It wasn't always particularly exciting hockey.

Under Jim Hiller, the early emphasis appears much different. Toronto is trying to play with more speed and possession while giving its skilled players greater freedom to create.

We've already seen glimpses of what the new Maple Leafs might produce.

Over one stretch spanning the Nashville and Vegas games, Toronto scored eight goals while allowing eight. The Maple Leafs erased a three-goal deficit in one game and needed less than nine minutes to build a three-goal lead in the next.

Of course, we've also seen the potential downside. That 3-0 lead against Vegas disappeared almost as quickly as Toronto had built it. Maybe that's going to be part of the trade-off.

The Maple Leafs may create more offensively, but a faster, more aggressive style could also create mistakes and opportunities the other way. Five games are nowhere near enough to know whether the benefits will ultimately outweigh the risks. And that's really the point.

We don't know yet whether John Chayka and Hiller have built a better Maple Leafs team. Their 2-2-1 record certainly doesn't answer that.

But if the Nashville and Vegas games are any indication, we might already know something else. The 2026-27 Maple Leafs may or may not be better. But boring doesn't appear to be one of their problems.