Maple Leafs season preview: Bobrovsky, McKenna among new faces

The 2026-27 NHL regular season begins Sept. 29. Leading up to the season opener, NHL.com is identifying six things to watch for each team. Today, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Last season: 32-36-14, eighth in Atlantic Division; missed Stanley Cup Playoffs

Coach: Jim Hiller (first season)

Biggest challenge

How does a franchise that made so many changes during the offseason find a way to gel quickly without falling behind in the standings early in the season? Consider the new faces. General manager John Chayka and special advisor Mats Sundin were hired May 3. Coach Jim Hiller was brought in shortly afterward. In terms of players, newcomers include: goalie Sergei Bobrovsky; defensemen Darren Raddysh and Emil Andrae; and forwards Gavin McKenna, Nick Paul, Jack Roslovic, Teddy Blueger, Colton Sissons and Brandon Duhaime. With training camp shortened to less than two weeks, captain Auston Matthews hosted his teammates in a bonding exercise in Arizona just days before their season opener against the Montreal Canadiens at Scotiabank Arena on Sept. 29. If this team wants to get off to a hot start, developing chemistry quickly will be key.

How they make playoffs

Simple: they get the 2024 and 2025 Stanley Cup versions of Bobrovsky, not the goalie who struggled last season. The 38-year-old will be looking to rebound from 2025-26, when he went 27-23-1 with a 3.07 goals-against average, .877 save percentage and four shutouts in 52 games (51 starts) with the Florida Panthers. He claims he can regain lost form, which is something the Maple Leafs are banking on. Keep this in mind: he’s just 15 months removed from hoisting the Stanley Cup with the Florida Panthers, a playoff run in which he went 16-7 with a 2.20 GAA and .914 save percentage. The two-time Cup winner says he has plenty left in the tank. The Maple Leafs hope that he’s right.

Most intriguing addition

According to Matthews, McKenna has shown “flashes” of just how good he is now, and will be down the road, in his two preseason appearances despite the fact he’s only 18 years old. Even Chayka admits the Maple Leafs were “lucky” that the fortuitous bounce of a ping pong ball allowed Toronto to win the 2026 NHL Draft Lottery and the opportunity to select the Whitehorse, Yukon, native with the No. 1 overall pick. Sundin (1989, Quebec Nordiques), Matthews (2016) and forward John Tavares (2009, New York Islanders) are all former first overall selections themselves, so McKenna will have plenty of support and guidance in his rookie season. He’s even living with Tavares and his family. Another factor in Toronto’s favor: he’s joining a talented roster that features the likes of Matthews, Tavares and William Nylander. Here, he doesn’t have to be “the guy” like most No. 1 picks who, more times than not, go to teams bereft of talent.

Biggest potential surprise

There’s never been any doubt that forward Easton Cowan would make the team this time around. At the same time, he’s the first to admit that he went through some growing pains in 2025-26, his rookie NHL season. When all was said and done, he finished with 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists) in 66 games, all the while being bounced up and down the lineup. The 21-year-old is so determined to improve on those numbers that he often was at the Maple Leafs practice facility before 6 a.m. during the summer to work out. His diligence seems to have paid off, at least early on. Matthews called him one of the most underrated performers at training camp, along with defenseman Chris Tanev. Hiller has used Cowan on both the power play and penalty kill throughout the preseason, and has preached that he likes his versatility. Add it all up, and the signs are all there for a breakout season from the player his teammates call “Cowboy.”

Ready to contribute

It’s been a rocky ride for Tanev with the Maple Leafs since he returned to his hometown of Toronto to join the Maple Leafs in the summer of 2024. A variety of injuries have caused him to miss 78 of the Maple Leafs' 164 games in that span; in fact, he had just 11 appearances last season. “Watching is more nerve-racking for a player than playing,” Tanev said. The good news: The 36-year-old underwent successful core muscle surgery in New York City on March 4 and now appears to be fully healthy and ready to go, eliciting raves from a number of teammates at camp including Matthews.

Fantasy sleeper with EDGE stats

Jack Roslovic, F: The additions of McKenna, Raddysh and Roslovic could significantly improve the Maple Leafs’ scoring depth. Roslovic, who’s 29 years old, had 36 points (21 goals, 15 assists), including a career-high five game-winning goals, in 69 games for the Edmonton Oilers last season. After spending some time on Connor McDavid’s wing last season (Roslovic and McDavid factored in on same goal eight times last season), Roslovic could earn time on a line with Matthews or Tavares in Toronto. Per NHL EDGE stats, Roslovic ranked in the 97th percentile among forwards in 22-plus mph speed bursts (21) last season. Per NHL EDGE IQ, Roslovic led this year’s free agent class in goals off the rush (13; goals that come within five seconds of crossing the offensive blue line) last season. He’s a potential fantasy sleeper (average draft position: 130.5) who could set new career highs across the board in Toronto’s much improved offense. -- Pete Jensen

Projected lineup

Matthew Knies -- Auston Matthews -- Jack Roslovic

Gavin McKenna -- John Tavares -- William Nylander

Nick Paul -- Colton Sissons -- Easton Cowan

Dakota Joshua -- Teddy Blueger -- Brandon Duhaime

Morgan Rielly -- Darren Raddysh

Jake McCabe -- Chris Tanev

Oliver Ekman-Larsson -- Emil Andrae

Sergei Bobrovsky

Anthony Stolarz