After a month of hockey, the Toronto Maple Leafs sit at a middling 8–8–1 (17 points) in the Atlantic Division — a .500 start that falls far below preseason expectations for a team coming off a 108-point campaign. What’s behind the rocky opening stretch? A deeper look at five telling stats – spanning scoring, defense, special teams, goaltending, and injuries – paints a clear picture of how the Leafs arrived here. Each statistic highlights a defining strength or flaw from October 8 through November 13, 2025.
1. League-Worst 3.82 Goals Against Per Game
This is the most obvious – and most damning – stat of the Leafs’ season. Defensively, this team looks as disconnected as they have in a decade. At times they’ve looked flat, careless, or simply uninterested in the details that win games. Combine that with goaltending that currently couldn’t stop a beach ball, and you get the NHL’s worst defensive record.
Toronto is giving up 3.82 goals per game, dead last in the league and more than a full goal worse than last season’s 2.79 (8th best). Head coach Craig Berube has repeatedly criticized the team’s defensive commitment, even calling their game “immature”. Whether it’s blown coverage, forwards cheating high, or a soft goal at the wrong time, this number is the clearest indicator of the Leafs’ biggest flaw.
2. Power Play Stuck at 17.4% (and a Mediocre PK to Match)
This isn’t the first time Toronto’s power play has started slow, and to be fair, it has shown signs of life lately. But paired with their defensive problems, it becomes a real issue.
Zone entries remain a nightmare — a long-standing problem that spans years and multiple coaching staffs. When they do set up, the Leafs too often overpass on the perimeter, waste valuable time, and settle for low-danger looks or outright turnovers. The result: a 17.4% conversion rate, ranking 23rd in the NHL.
Meanwhile, the penalty kill hasn’t bailed them out either. At 77.4% (21st), it’s just not good enough to compensate for a struggling power play. Special teams don’t need to be elite for Toronto to win — but they can’t be a combined liability, and right now they are.
3. Goaltending Woes: .896 Save Percentage
This deserves its own spotlight because it has been that big of a problem. Goaltending – once a surprising strength last season – has completely unraveled. The Leafs’ combined save percentage sits at .896, well below league average and firmly in the bottom tier. At 5-on-5, they rank third worst in the NHL.
Complicating things further, Toronto has already used three goaltenders — and none of them are Joseph Woll. With Woll unavailable early on, Anthony Stolarz was forced into the No. 1 job and has allowed 3.35 goals per game, the best mark on the team. Behind him, waiver claim Cayden Primeau (4.31 GAA) and call-up Dennis Hildeby (3.96 GAA) have also struggled.
Yes, the defense has hung them out to dry on some nights. But the inconsistency in net has magnified every other issue. The Leafs aren’t getting momentum saves, and they’re not getting timely ones either.
4. William Nylander: 24 Points (A Torrid Pace)
On the positive side of the ledger: William Nylander has been everything the Leafs could ask for and more. Despite missing a few games with a late-October injury, he still leads the team with 24 points (8G, 16A) and continues to drive the offense whenever he’s on the ice.
His early-season run included multiple multi-point nights and stretches where he was clearly Toronto’s most dangerous player. His value was never more obvious than during the Leafs’ 1-4-0 record when he was out of the lineup.
No matter who he plays with, Nylander has been a catalyst for Toronto’s 3.6 goals per game attack and has helped soften the blow of losing Mitch Marner. In a season full of problems, Nylander’s play has not been one of them.
5. Tanev’s Absence: +6 Shots Against Per Game Without Him
Some stats don’t appear on league leaderboards — they hide in the details. This one might be the clearest example of how fragile Toronto’s defensive structure is.
Shutdown defenseman Chris Tanev was injured on November 1 in Philadelphia. With him in the lineup, Toronto was allowing about 26.2 shots against per game. Since his injury, that number has shot up to roughly 32 shots per game — an increase of six additional shots every night.
Tanev’s calm, steady positioning was clearly stabilizing the blueline. Without him, the Leafs have looked scattered. Brandon Carlo’s 5-on-5 shot-attempt differential has cratered to a team-worst –52, highlighting how much more time Toronto is spending defending without Tanev.
He has returned to practice, which is encouraging, but until he’s back full-time, this +6 differential is a painful reminder of how thin Toronto’s defensive margin is.
Bottom Line: A Season Defined by Firepower and Flaws
These five stats capture the Leafs’ season as succinctly as anything. Offensively, the talent is undeniable — Nylander is scorching hot, and scoring hasn’t been the problem. But the defensive structure, goaltending inconsistency, and special teams struggles have dragged them into mediocrity.
The good news? It’s still early. A healthier blue line, steadier goaltending, and a more efficient power play could swing this season quickly. But if these underlying issues persist, the 2025–26 Leafs will continue to look like a team trying to outscore its way out of trouble. Right now, the numbers don’t lie — and they paint the picture of a group searching for consistency, identity, and a way to climb out of their early-season rut.
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