The Toronto Maple Leafs returned to practice on Monday with a familiar face in a familiar spot, but the team's mounting problems show no signs of a familiar solution. Captain Auston Matthews found himself flanked by winger William Nylander during drills at the Ford Performance Centre, a pairing head coach Craig Berube hopes will spark an offence that has largely fizzled this season.
A Season of Frustration and Stagnation
With 31 games played in the 2025-26 NHL season, the Maple Leafs are treading water in a conference that is leaving them behind. The team's record of 5-3-2 in its last ten games, earning 12 points, might seem passable, but it has yielded zero progress in the Eastern Conference standings. In fact, their position has worsened.
As of Monday, the Leafs found themselves five points behind the Montreal Canadiens for third place in the Atlantic Division and an equal five points back of the Boston Bruins for the second wild-card spot. Just ten games prior, on November 21, those deficits were only three points. The stagnation is palpable, and the team's highest-paid star is at the centre of the concern.
Leadership and Performance Under the Microscope
The simmering frustration boiled over publicly on Saturday night following a 6-3 loss to the Edmonton Oilers. After watching Oilers stars Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid take over the game, Berube did not mince words, calling out his leadership group for their lack of impact in crucial moments.
Matthews, who carries a salary-cap hit of $13.25 million US, has not lived up to his contract or his 'C'. Through 26 games, he has recorded 21 points (13 goals, 8 assists), placing him 113th in league scoring. When asked about his own game, Matthews described it as "fine," a characterization that seems at odds with both his pedigree and the team's dire circumstances.
"We can all be better," Matthews conceded. "The last two games, it's frustrating. The third periods, we came out and were really flat... Rightfully so, it's going to fall on the leaders, and that's fine. We have to be better in that area."
Searching for Answers as the Clock Ticks
Berube's line juggling, which included placing Nylander with Matthews and Matthew Knies while demoting Max Domi, is a clear attempt to find a combination that works. "I'm not seeing enough from that line in general, offensively or defensively," Berube stated. "It could be a real good line. They have to work together and do things right."
The coach spread the blame beyond his captain, noting the team's inconsistent play. "It's not at the level that he wants it at, or us," Berube said of Matthews. "It's not just about scoring goals, it's the whole game in general... I think our consistency has been up and down a lot this year and it bleeds through everybody on the team."
However, the core issue remains: the Maple Leafs are not getting the game-breaking, difference-making performances from their highest-paid player when they need them most. As the calendar approaches Christmas, the grace period for a "slow start" has long expired. For Toronto to mount any realistic playoff push, it will require a sustained winning streak and a dramatic return to form from Auston Matthews. The responsibility, as the captain and the cornerstone, rests squarely on his shoulders.
