We’ve hit the finger-pointing stage of grief as Leafs Nation tries to cope with this unsettling 2025-26 season.
We covered a variety of different angles to kick off the Thursday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Firstly, we discussed optics. They’re celebrating in Ottawa after their big win over Colorado. Not only have the Senators and Leafs played the same number of games, but they have the same amount of points. Optics. Both teams are finished. At any rate, the latest excuse making the rounds in this market is that MLSE President Keith Pelley fired a bunch of sports science / injury prevention people last summer. Yeah, like, they could have found a way to prevent Dakota Joshua’s lacerated kidney. Every team in the NHL is banged up. Hockey’s a physical sport. Jokes aside, everyone’s looking for someone to blame. It will be interesting to see what happens over the next few weeks leading into the Olympic break. They will be a lot of time to congregate, that’s for sure.
At any rate, the Leafs are in Seattle to kick off a four game road trip ahead of the Olympic break. Of course, they’re coming off a disaster 0-4-1 homestand, which effectively killed their chances of making the Stanley Cup Playoffs this season. With 29 games left, the Leafs are eight points out of a playoff spot. Anthony Stolarz is expected to get the call in goal. This would be his second start since returning from that weird nerve issue. Last Friday, he surrendered five goals on 30 shots against Vegas. Toronto’s 7-1-1 all-time versus the Kraken. Good for them!
After that, 2009 Stanley Cup champion head coach Dan Bylsma dropped by to dish on the Maple Leafs. He was blunt and fair with his analysis. While he doesn’t think it’s impossible, the 55-year-old was honest in saying it would be a grind for the Leafs to get back into the playoff picture. There’s a lot of teams to climb over and there’s a lot of three point games. Yeah, good luck with that. Having said all that, Bylsma painted a really good picture of Craig Berube’s mindset right now. Every coach is hired to be fired. Rest assured, Bylsma’s been in similar scenarios in his coaching career. He talked about approach, drowning out the outside noise, and the delicacy of calling out players in 2026. He offered up a very solid perspective on where the Leafs are at as a franchise.
A full recap of Leafs/Kraken is coming your way on the Friday edition of Leafs Morning Take. Also, we’ll preview Saturday night’s game in Vancouver. Additionally, former Leafs GM and long-time NHL broadcaster Gord Stellick will stop by to give his thoughts on this unmitigated disaster.
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