Worry-O-Meter for the Toronto Maple Leafs

If you are a Toronto Maple Leafs fan, worry seems ingrained in your experience. This team, with its ups and downs, curses, and endless debates, has kept you on a roller coaster for years. Many hoped the Mitch Marner saga marked the end of that chapter. The idea was for the Leafs to move beyond the "Core Four" era and develop a new identity—less pressure, more drama.

However, the start of the 2025-26 season has been confusing, with a 5-5-1 record after 11 games. Although there have been bright spots, like Matthew Knies improving as the season progresses, the negatives outweigh the positives. The power play ranks among the league's bottom five, Auston Matthews has had a slower start than usual, and goaltending performance has been underwhelming.

Still, this is just the beginning of the season, and there are several plausible reasons for Toronto's shaky start. The question remains: should Leafs fans start worrying now, or turn their attention to the Toronto Blue Jays while the hockey team finds its footing?

Analyzing Early Struggles

The 5-5-1 start, including some troubling losses to underperforming teams, does little to quiet the ongoing debate surrounding the Leafs' direction.

"If the team wanted to put the discourse to rest, a 5-5-1 start with some concerning losses against questionable opponents wasn't the way to do it."

Key Issues

Power play is ranked in the bottom five across the league
Auston Matthews' performance has been slower than his usual standards
Goaltending has not lived up to expectations

Meanwhile, Matthew Knies has been a rare bright spot for the team, improving throughout the early part of the season.

What Lies Ahead?

Despite these early setbacks, only 11 games have passed. Reasonable explanations exist for the team's struggles, suggesting there is still time to stabilize and potentially turn the season around.

Toronto Maple Leafs fans are left to weigh whether it's time to worry or to enjoy other local sports while the team seeks solutions.

Author’s summary: The Maple Leafs’ rocky start to 2025-26, marked by inconsistencies and offensive struggles, continues to fuel debate but leaves room for cautious optimism as the season unfolds.

Bleacher Report — 2025-11-02