What Happened to Toronto Maple Leafs?
The Toronto Maple Leafs are a storied National Hockey League (NHL) franchise with a rich history, including 13 Stanley Cup championships, though they currently hold the league's longest active Stanley Cup drought, extending to 59 seasons as of 2026. Despite consistent playoff appearances in recent years, including an Atlantic Division title in 2025, the team has struggled to advance deep into the postseason, leading to significant coaching and management changes and a challenging 2025-26 season.
Quick Answer
The Toronto Maple Leafs, as of March 15, 2026, are navigating a challenging 2025-26 NHL season with a record of 28-27-11, having been sellers at the recent trade deadline. Following their 2025 playoff run where they won a series but lost in the second round, the organization saw the departure of President Brendan Shanahan and has faced scrutiny regarding the future of General Manager Brad Treliving and Head Coach Craig Berube. Star player Auston Matthews was announced out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season on March 14, 2026, further impacting their current campaign.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
Franchise Founding as Toronto Arenas
The Toronto Maple Leafs franchise was established as the Toronto Arenas, one of the founding teams of the National Hockey League (NHL).
Renamed Toronto Maple Leafs
The team was purchased by Conn Smythe and officially renamed the Toronto Maple Leafs, a name that has endured ever since.
Maple Leaf Gardens Opens
The iconic Maple Leaf Gardens, the team's home arena for decades and a monument to hockey, opened its doors.
Last Stanley Cup Victory
The Toronto Maple Leafs won their 13th Stanley Cup, defeating the Montreal Canadiens. This marks the beginning of their ongoing championship drought.
Infamous Game 7 Collapse
The Maple Leafs suffered a devastating Game 7 loss to the Boston Bruins in the first round of the playoffs, blowing a 4-1 lead in the third period.
Craig Berube Hired as Head Coach
Following another first-round playoff exit, Sheldon Keefe was fired, and Stanley Cup-winning coach Craig Berube was hired to lead the team.
Auston Matthews Named Captain
Star center Auston Matthews was named the 26th captain in Toronto Maple Leafs history, taking over from John Tavares.
Clinched Atlantic Division Title
The Maple Leafs clinched the Atlantic Division championship with a 4-0 win over the Buffalo Sabres, finishing the 2024-25 season with a 52-26-4 record.
Lost Second Round to Florida Panthers
After winning their first-round series against the Ottawa Senators, the Maple Leafs lost in seven games to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in the second round.
Brendan Shanahan Departs as President
MLSE announced that Brendan Shanahan's contract as team President and Alternate Governor would not be renewed, signaling a significant organizational change.
Assistant Coach Marc Savard Relieved of Duties
Amidst the team's struggles, particularly with the power play, assistant coach Marc Savard was relieved of his duties. Steve Sullivan was later added to the coaching staff.
Sellers at NHL Trade Deadline
The Maple Leafs were active sellers at the trade deadline, moving players like Nicolas Roy, Bobby McMann, and Scott Laughton for future draft picks, indicating a challenging 2025-26 season.
Auston Matthews Out for Season
It was announced that Auston Matthews would miss the remainder of the 2025-26 season due to injury, a major blow to the team's already struggling campaign.
GM Brad Treliving's Future Under Scrutiny
Reports emerged indicating uncertainty regarding General Manager Brad Treliving's long-term future with the team beyond the 2025-26 season amidst the team's poor performance.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The Toronto Maple Leafs, one of the NHL's 'Original Six' franchises, boast a proud history with 13 Stanley Cup victories, second only to the Montreal Canadiens. However, their last championship came in 1967, marking the longest active Stanley Cup drought in league history, now spanning 59 seasons as of 2026.
Despite this historical success, the modern era has been characterized by consistent regular-season performance often followed by playoff disappointment. The team, particularly during the 'Core Four' era featuring star players like Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares, has regularly qualified for the postseason. However, they have frequently struggled to advance past the first or second rounds, often succumbing to dramatic Game 7 losses, such as the infamous 2013 collapse against the Boston Bruins. This pattern of underperformance in critical moments has fueled immense fan frustration and placed significant pressure on the organization.
Key turning points in recent years include the hiring of General Manager Brad Treliving in 2023 and Head Coach Craig Berube in May 2024, replacing Sheldon Keefe after a first-round exit in the 2024 playoffs. The 2024-25 season showed promise, with the Maple Leafs finishing first in the Atlantic Division with a 52-26-4 record and 108 points. They advanced past the first round for the second consecutive year, defeating the Ottawa Senators in six games, but ultimately lost to the eventual Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers in a seven-game second-round series. Auston Matthews was named the 26th captain in franchise history on August 14, 2024.
The organizational landscape shifted significantly in May 2025 when Brendan Shanahan's contract as team President and Alternate Governor was not renewed, with MLSE CEO Keith Pelley stating a 'new voice was required' to achieve championship success. This change signaled a potential shift in the team's strategic direction. The 2025-26 season, however, has proven to be a significant setback. As of March 5, 2026, the Maple Leafs held a disappointing 28-27-11 record, placing them 8th in the Atlantic Division. The team's struggles led to the relief of assistant coach Marc Savard in December 2025 due to power play issues, with Steve Sullivan joining the staff.
In a clear indication of their struggles and a shift towards future asset acquisition, the Maple Leafs were sellers at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline on March 7, 2026, trading key players like Nicolas Roy, Bobby McMann, and Scott Laughton for draft picks. Further compounding their challenges, Auston Matthews was announced out for the remainder of the 2025-26 season on March 14, 2026. The current status of the Toronto Maple Leafs is one of uncertainty, with reports on March 14, 2026, indicating that General Manager Brad Treliving's future beyond the 2025-26 season is unclear, and coaching changes are also being discussed amidst the team's poor performance.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Toronto Maple Leafs made different choices?