Another season, another round of Stanley Cup aspirations in Leafs Nation. And, as is tradition, another offseason spent dissecting every move, every signing, and every trade with the precision of a surgeon. This year, the spotlight is firmly fixed on the blue line. After a humbling playoff exit at the hands of the relentless Florida Panthers, the question on every fan’s mind is: have the Leafs done enough to shore up their defence?
The short answer? It’s complicated. The long answer? Well, that’s what we’re here to break down.
The Six-Headed Monster: A Familiar Look on the Blue Line
If you’re looking for a complete defensive overhaul, you’ve come to the wrong place. The top six heading into the 2025-26 season is expected to be a carbon copy of the group that battled in the trenches during the 2025 Playoffs: Jake McCabe, Chris Tanev, Morgan Rielly, Brandon Carlo, Simon Benoit, and Oliver Ekman-Larsson.
On paper, it’s a group that boasts a wealth of experience. These are guys who have been around the block, who know what it takes to win in the NHL. But as we saw against the Panthers, experience doesn’t always translate to success, especially when you’re facing a team that plays with the speed and tenacity of a pack of rabid wolves.
The New Faces (and the Lack Thereof)
The Leafs’ front office did make a couple of moves to address the defensive depth. Carlo, acquired from the Bruins at the trade deadline, is the most notable addition. A big, physical defenceman, Carlo brings a much-needed snarl to the backend. The other new face is Henry Thrun, who was brought in this summer. However, after a tough stint in San Jose, it’s unlikely he’ll be anything more than a depth option.
And that’s where the concern starts to creep in. The reserve defenders, Philippe Myers and Dakota Mermis, are serviceable, but they’re not the kind of players who are going to move the needle. This lack of high-end depth is a major issue, especially when you consider the age of the top six.
The Achilles’ Heel: Mobility and Puck-Moving Woes
If there’s one glaring weakness in this defensive corps, it’s the lack of mobility and puck-moving ability. Against the Panthers, the Leafs’ inability to execute clean breakouts was painfully obvious. The forecheck of the Panthers was a nightmare, and the Leafs’ defencemen simply didn’t have the footspeed or the puck-handling skills to consistently evade the pressure.
This is a problem that has plagued the Leafs for years, and it’s one that they still haven’t adequately addressed. In today’s NHL, you need defencemen who can skate, who can make a good first pass, and who can join the rush. The Leafs have a few guys who can do some of those things, but as a unit, they’re just not dynamic enough.
Father Time Is Undefeated: An Aging Blue Line
Let’s be blunt: this is an old defensive corps. Morgan Rielly and Jake McCabe are 31, Oliver Ekman-Larsson is 34, and Chris Tanev is a grizzled 35. While Rielly and McCabe should still have a few good years left in the tank, it’s not unreasonable to expect a decline from Tanev and OEL, perhaps as early as this season.
Tanev, in particular, is a concern. He’s a warrior, a guy who blocks more shots and takes more hits than any other defenceman in the league. But that style of play takes a toll, and at 35, you have to wonder how much longer he can keep it up.
The age of the blue line is a real challenge, especially when you consider the cap space tied up in these players. The Leafs have a lot of money invested in a group of players who are on the wrong side of 30. That’s a risky proposition, and it’s one that could come back to bite them.
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The Curious Case of Morgan Rielly
No discussion of the Leafs’ defence would be complete without a deep dive into the enigmatic Morgan Rielly. After a down season that saw him post just 41 points and a minus-8 rating, Rielly is at a crossroads. He’s still one of the most productive defencemen in franchise history, and he’s closing in on Thomas Kaberle’s all-time scoring record. But his defensive struggles are well-documented, and his massive contract (five more years at $7.5 million AAV with a full no-movement clause) makes him a difficult player to move.
The Rielly-Carlo pairing had its share of defensive hiccups after Carlo’s arrival, and that’s a duo that needs to find some stability if the Leafs are going to have any success. The pressure is on Rielly to bounce back and prove that he can still be an elite, top-pairing defenceman.
Chemistry Experiment: Finding the Right Pairings
The McCabe-Tanev pairing was a dependable shutdown duo last season, and they’ll be counted on to log heavy minutes against the opposition’s top lines once again. The Rielly-Carlo pairing, as mentioned, is a work in progress. And the third pairing of Benoit and Ekman-Larsson provides solid depth, but lacks the high-end talent that you see on other contending teams.
The reality is that all three of these pairings struggled in the postseason. The chemistry just wasn’t there, and they were consistently outplayed by the Panthers’ relentless attack. Finding the right combinations and building some chemistry will be a top priority for the coaching staff in training camp.
A Look at the Prospect Pool
The good news is that the Leafs have been stockpiling big, physical defencemen in recent drafts. Ben Danford (31st overall in 2024) is a potential top-four, right-shot defenceman. Noah Chadwick (185th overall in 2023) is a towering left-shot defenceman who has developed a more well-rounded game. And Victor Johansson (drafted in 2020) is another big body who is starting to show some offensive upside.
The wild card in the prospect pool is Topi Niemelä. Once a top prospect, his development has stagnated, and he’s returned to Europe to play. The Leafs still hold his rights, and if he can get his career back on track, he could be an intriguing option down the road.
Conclusion: A Precarious Situation
So, where does that leave the Leafs’ defence heading into the 2025-26 season? The Athletic ranked them 18th in the league, and that feels about right. This is a group with a lot of experience, but also a lot of question marks. The age, the lack of mobility, and the questionable depth are all major concerns.
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Can this group get it done? It’s possible. But a lot of things will have to go right. The veterans will have to defy Father Time, the new additions will have to find their footing, and the young prospects will have to continue to develop. It’s a precarious situation, and one that will be fascinating to watch unfold. The Stanley Cup window is still open in Toronto, but it’s closing fast. And the performance of this defensive corps will go a long way in determining whether the Leafs can finally break through and bring a championship back to the city.
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