After a disappointing end to the 2025-26 season, the Toronto Maple Leafs are expected to undergo a significant overhaul.

For the first time since 2016, the team missed out on the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This led to the Maple Leafs firing their GM, Brad Treliving, and appointing John Chayka. Following his arrival, the 36-year-old decided to sack Toronto’s head coach, Craig Berube.

Chayka is now expected to make significant calls regarding the Maple Leafs roster to re-establish them among the top teams.

With the offseason set to kick in, NHL insider Chris Johnston shared that no Toronto player is off limits, apart from captain Auston Matthews.

On The Chris Johnston Show with Julian McKenzie, he said, “One of the things I’ve been told by other teams with the Leafs is that the message that’s come out from their front office is that they’re willing to discuss any players on their roster, except Auston Matthews.”

Johnston also pointed out that while there have been questions regarding the future of Matthews at the Maple Leafs, he doesn’t have any updates yet.

He stated that even big players like Morgan Rielly and William Nylander, who have no-movement clauses in their long-term contracts, could be a part of offseason moves made by Chayka.

"The word around the league is they’re willing to listen to a lot of players, who, in the past, they haven’t been," he stated. "John Chayka is considering basically anything outside of his captain."

Chayka has already talked about scheduling a meeting with Matthews to learn about his thoughts on the future of the team and the Maple Leafs organization going ahead.

Maple Leafs Yet to Appoint New Head Coach After Firing Craig Berube

​Former Toronto Maple Leafs head coach Craig Berube got his marching orders after the team finished eighth in the Atlantic Division.

A 32-36-14 record meant that the Maple Leafs missed out on the playoffs for the first time in a decade. Finishing at 78 points, this represented a 30-point decline from last season, in which they reached the second round of the playoffs.

In his address to the media after firing Berube, Chayka had pointed words about hiring his replacement in the coming weeks.

“We’ll have a thorough process — it’ll be a wide search," he told reporters, as per Sportsnet. "We’ll take our time, try to get it right. It’s the most critical decision as a general manager.”

Berube had two seasons left on his deal with the Maple Leafs when he got fired from the job. If he doesn’t join a new team, the franchise will have to pay him $4.5 million a year.

As for the next hire, rumors suggest that Toronto could look in the direction of Bruce Cassidy and Manny Malhotra.

Will the Toronto Maple Leafs trade Morgan Rielly ahead of the 2026-27 season? Please share your thoughts.

Read more at NHL Fan Central!

Written by

Arjun Sharma

Edited by

Sijo Paul