Maple Leafs Bet Big on Bobrovsky, Raddysh After Missing Playoffs

Toronto missed the playoffs for the first time in years, finishing dead last in the Atlantic at 32-36-14. Management responded with urgency, landing two-time Vezina winner Sergei Bobrovsky in free agency and acquiring puck-moving defenseman Darren Raddysh in a trade with Tampa Bay. New head coach Jim Hiller inherits a roster that scored plenty but couldn't keep the puck out of its net.

Last season in review

The Leafs averaged 3.08 goals per game but allowed 3.64, a gap that sank them. William Nylander led the team with 79 points on 30 goals and 49 assists. John Tavares posted 31 goals and 71 points. Raddysh, acquired late in the season, chipped in 22 goals and 70 points split between Tampa Bay and Toronto. The goaltending was the problem. Anthony Stolarz went 10-10-3 with an .893 save percentage, well below NHL starter standards. The Leafs allowed 299 goals, fourth-most in the league.

Ins and outs

• In: Sergei Bobrovsky (signed as a free agent, per nhl.com)
• In: Darren Raddysh (acquired in trade from Tampa Bay, signed 8-year extension, per nhl.com)
• In: Brandon Duhaime (signed 3-year contract, per nhl.com)
• In: Colton Sissons (signed as a free agent, per nhl.com)
• In: Emil Andrae (signed 2-year deal, per theathletic.com)
• In: Jim Hiller (named head coach, per nhl.com)
• In: Gavin McKenna (selected No. 1 overall in 2026 NHL Draft, per nhl.com)

The big question

Can Bobrovsky bounce back at 37? He won two Vezinas in his prime, but goaltending is unforgiving at that age. If he gives Toronto even league-average netminding, the Leafs should be back in the playoff picture. If he struggles, this expensive gamble could backfire quickly.

X-factor

Darren Raddysh. He put up 70 points last season and signed an eight-year extension before even playing a full year in Toronto. If he quarterbacks the power play and stabilizes the blue line, the Leafs have a legitimate top-pairing defenseman. If he can't handle the minutes or the pressure, the contract could become an anchor.

Bold prediction

Toronto finishes third in the Atlantic and returns to the playoffs. Bobrovsky posts a .915 save percentage, good enough to turn last year's porous defense into a middle-of-the-pack unit. The offense stays potent, and Hiller gets more out of the depth pieces than his predecessor did.

The outlook

The Leafs open at home against Montreal on September 29 with a retooled roster and higher expectations. They addressed their biggest weakness in net and added a cornerstone defenseman. If the goaltending holds, Toronto should be competitive again. If it doesn't, this could be another long winter.