Why the Maple Leafs can’t leave points on the Atlantic Division table

Already in an intense divisional dogfight, Toronto's trend of nothing to show for close games is becoming an early season concern.

Published Nov 04, 2026  •  2 minute read

Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Jim Hiller gives instructions on the team bench during a timeout against the Utah Mammoth. Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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Maybe this spell of mild weather has fooled the Maple Leafs into thinking it’s still summer. 

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Their sense of urgency just hasn’t been there for a full game of late and enough of them should realize being anonymous in autumn in the Atlantic Division can be costly.  

Only one of the eight teams is below .500 its past 10 games and every Atlantic team had games in hand on Toronto following Tuesday’s 3-2 loss to Utah, where it sleepwalked through the early stages and didn’t dial it up enough until trailing in the third and coming close with an extra attacker in a fifth one-goal loss. 

“We’re leaving too many points out there for sure,” defenceman Jake McCabe groused after Wednesday’s practice. “Looking at these games, (Utah) scored late, in Seattle we grind back, tie it up and they score late. Lose both points there and when those add up, it’s not good. 

“End of the year, come crunch time, you look at the standings. I’ve been around long enough to know when you’re chasing a wildcard spot or a divisional lead you think ‘s***, we left some out there.’

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“We have to tighten it up and collect points best we can.” 

Four of the division’s teams earned 100 or more points last season in an 82-game schedule. The Detroit Red Wings with 92 did not qualify and the Leafs made little headway in finishing last with 78. 

“It’s a good division, everyone wins,” said forward Nick Paul, a career Atlantean with Ottawa, Tampa Bay and now Toronto. 

What does coach Jim Hiller think?

With the Montreal Canadiens next in town on the Leafs’ six-game homestand, it has now been 10 calendar months since they won a divisional match at Scotiabank Arena. 

We asked coach Jim Hilller if players don’t always grasp the big picture when points are frittered away. 

“I think they do and we’ll be talking about this in December and January,” he said. “We know how it goes, it’s a long season. It sounds like a cliche but it’s ‘win the day,’ We didn’t yesterday, we had a chance today with a good practice, get some energy back in us and then you take the next one.

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“As much as the standings are important, we just don’t focus on that short-term. Focus on what you have to do today.” 

What Leafs lineup changes might be coming?

That was made a little harder on Wednesday when first-line right-winger Jack Roslovic did not skate, still bothered by whatever medical issue kept him from discussing his two-goal game with the media the night before.

Vinni Lettieri was the placeholder with Auston Matthews and Easton Cowan. 

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With Thursday a scheduled day off, Friday’s workout will be vital to John Tavares’ timetable to return from a lower-body injury. He spent Wednesday in a no-contact red sweater, though on the left side of Paul and William Nylander. 

Hiller hinted that’s where Tavares will return to play to take some wear and tear off his 36-year-old body and where Tavares was positioned just before being hurt Oct. 15. However, he’ll likely take faceoffs in certain situations.

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