Honestly, trying to map out the Toronto Maple Leafs depth chart right now feels like trying to assemble a puzzle while someone keeps throwing new pieces onto the table. It's a moving target. If you’ve been following the team through this 2025-26 season, you know that the roster Brad Treliving has built is a far cry from the "Core Four" era that defined the Kyle Dubas years.
Mitch Marner is gone. That’s the reality everyone had to swallow after last summer's blockbuster that brought back Nicolas Roy and Matias Maccelli. It changed the entire geometry of the lineup.
The Top Six: A Different Kind of Firepower
We used to talk about the Leafs being top-heavy. Now? It’s more about specific roles. Auston Matthews remains the sun that the entire system orbits, but his wingers aren't the same flashy names you're used to. Lately, Craig Berube has been leaning on a top line of Bobby McMann, Matthews, and Max Domi.
It sounds weird, right? But McMann’s north-south game actually opens up massive pockets of ice for Matthews to do, well, Matthews things.
Then you look at the second line. William Nylander is finally back from his recent injury stint, and he’s been slotting in next to John Tavares and the newcomer Maccelli. This is where the depth chart gets interesting. Maccelli is basically a passing wizard. He’s the type of player who can find a seam in a brick wall, which is exactly what an aging but still lethal Tavares needs.
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The Nicolas Roy Factor and the Bottom Six
The biggest shift in the Toronto Maple Leafs depth chart this year is the third line. For years, the Leafs’ bottom six was a revolving door of "veterans on league-minimum deals." Not anymore.
Nicolas Roy has been a revelation. Treliving wanted more "snot" and defensive reliability, and Roy brings that in spades. He’s currently centering a high-energy unit with Matthew Knies and the rookie sensation Easton Cowan.
Speaking of Cowan, there were rumors Treliving might dangle him for a defenseman like Luke Schenn, but the kid has played himself into an everyday role. He’s got 13 points in 33 games. Not world-beating, but his motor is relentless.
The fourth line is basically a "penalty kill first" unit:
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- Scott Laughton (who has been a monster in the face-off circle, going 19-1 in a recent game)
- Steven Lorentz
- Calle Jarnkrok
Jarnkrok has been the odd man out lately, but with Nick Robertson currently day-to-day with a lower-body injury after blocking a shot against Colorado, Jarnkrok is right back in the mix.
The Blue Line: The Tanev Void
If there’s a hole in the Toronto Maple Leafs depth chart, it’s on the right side of the defense. Chris Tanev is out with a groin injury until at least late January. That hurts. A lot.
Morgan Rielly is still the workhorse on the top pair, skating alongside Brandon Carlo. Carlo was brought in to be that steady, stay-at-home presence, and honestly, the team looks lost without him. Behind them, you’ve got Jake McCabe and Oliver Ekman-Larsson. OEL has had a bit of a career resurgence in Toronto, proving he can still quarterback a second power-play unit without being a total liability at even strength.
The bottom pair is a bit of a scrapheap: Simon Benoit and Troy Stecher. Benoit is a fan favorite for his hitting, but his puck distribution can be... adventurous.
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Goaltending: The Woll and Hildeby Era
The crease situation is finally stabilizing. Joseph Woll is the undisputed starter, and when he’s healthy, he’s a top-10 goalie in the league. The problem is the "when he's healthy" part.
With Anthony Stolarz still working his way back from an upper-body injury (though he’s finally back at practice), the Leafs have had to rely on Dennis Hildeby. The "Hildebeast" is 6-foot-7 and covers most of the net just by existing. He’s posted a solid .916 save percentage in relief, which has probably saved the Leafs' season while Stolarz has been sidelined.
Future Outlook and Cap Reality
The salary cap is finally rising—it’s at $95.5 million this year—but the Leafs are still tight against the limit. They’re currently carrying about $10 million on the injured reserve, which gives them some temporary breathing room, but the trade deadline is going to be tricky.
If Treliving wants to add another puck-moving defenseman (names like Rasmus Andersson or even a reunion with Luke Schenn are constantly in the rumor mill), he’s going to have to get creative.
What you should do next:
If you're tracking the Leafs for fantasy or just want to be the smartest person at the sports bar, keep a close eye on the Easton Cowan and Matthew Knies minutes. Berube is starting to trust them in high-leverage defensive situations, not just offensive starts. Also, watch the waiver wire for the defensive depth moves; the team is one more injury away from having to call up Ben Danford or Noah Chadwick earlier than they’d like.