Toronto Maple Leafs Enter High-Stakes Preseason After Losing Mitch Marner

August 28, 2025

The Toronto Maple Leafs are stepping into a fiery preseason, and the heat is on! After a tough offseason that saw their dazzling playmaker Mitch Marner fly off to Vegas and Brendan Shanahan leave the front office, the Leafs must now prove their new team is ready to win big. This team, famous for chasing playoff glory, is on the edge - will their new look spark hope or add to the doubts?

Maple Leafs Core Looks Different After Marner’s Exit

Saying goodbye to Mitch Marner is like losing your secret weapon. Known as one of the NHL's top playmakers and a strong two-way winger, Marner’s exit left a big hole that Toronto hasn't filled with a flashy new signing. Instead, they’re turning to their own young stars to step up. Players like Matthew Knies are now carrying heavier defensive duties, while the right side of the forwards still feels like a big question.

Easton Cowan is catching eyes, but it’s likely he’ll spend more time growing with the Marlies before joining the big league's top scorers. This adds pressure on veterans Auston Matthews and William Nylander to click like never before—a tough act given Matthews and Marner’s famous connection. Meanwhile, fresh faces Nic Roy and Dakota Joshua might bring new tricks, as coach Craig Berube fiddles with the lineup searching for the perfect mix.

How the Maple Leafs Adjust Could Define Their Season

The burning question: How will the Leafs live without Marner’s magic? Matthews, coming off a tough shoulder injury, must shine bright alone now, without his old buddy setting him up. If Nylander can’t fill that playmaker’s shoes, Matias Maccelli—brought in recently—may need to become the team's new passer, despite last season's dip in his stats.

What’s exciting is the chance Matthews might change his game style, taking on more playmaking duties like NHL star Steven Stamkos did after his injury in Tampa Bay. This could boost the firepower of young Knies and Nylander, making Toronto’s offense more unpredictable and dangerous than ever.

In the end, this season’s story will be about the Leafs’ bounce-back ability. If this new squad gels quickly and fights hard, the start of the season could light a fire under fans and players alike, proving Toronto is still a fierce team chasing that long-awaited championship dream.