Toronto Maple Leafs Stats: Why the Record Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

Toronto Maple Leafs Stats: Why the Record Doesn't Tell the Whole Story

Looking at the NHL standings right now is a weird experience if you’re a fan in Ontario. Or a hater. Honestly, both sides probably have some serious whiplash. As of mid-January 2026, the Toronto Maple Leafs stats show a team that is basically the hockey equivalent of a rollercoaster with a few loose bolts.

They’re sitting there with a 23-16-7 record.

Wait.

Let’s actually look at those numbers. That’s 53 points through 46 games. In a vacuum? It’s fine. It’s "playoff bubble" territory. But if you’ve been watching the games instead of just refreshing a spreadsheet, you know this season has been anything but "fine." We’re talking about a team that recently rode a 10-game point streak straight into a 6-1 buzzsaw against the Utah Mammoth.

It’s messy.

The Big Three (Minus One?) and the Scoring Burden

You can't talk about Toronto without looking at the top of the roster. It's the same old song, but the lyrics have changed a bit this year. Auston Matthews is still doing Auston Matthews things, leading the charge with 22 goals in 39 games. He’s the captain now. You can see the weight of it sometimes in how he plays—he’s skating more miles (over 135 so far) than almost anyone else in the league.

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But then there's William Nylander.

While everyone was arguing about contracts and leadership over the summer, Willy just went out and became the team's most consistent offensive threat. He’s got 46 points in 36 games. His shooting percentage? A ridiculous 21.6%. That’s probably going to drop—it has to, right?—but for now, he’s the guy keeping them afloat when the power play decides to take a week off.

Speaking of missing pieces, seeing Mitch Marner's name in a Vegas Golden Knights jersey still feels wrong. The Toronto Maple Leafs stats without him are... interesting. The playmaking load has shifted heavily onto Nylander and young Matthew Knies, who has really stepped up with 38 points. Knies is a monster at even strength, but you can tell they miss Marner’s "quarterback" energy on the man advantage.

A Breakdown of the Core Producers

  • Auston Matthews: 22 Goals, 15 Assists, 37 Points (39 GP). The shooting is there, but the playmaking has dipped slightly as he takes on more defensive responsibility under Craig Berube.
  • William Nylander: 16 Goals, 30 Assists, 46 Points (36 GP). He’s the engine. Period.
  • Matthew Knies: 12 Goals, 26 Assists, 38 Points. The breakout is real. He’s using that 6'3" frame to actually win puck battles that the Leafs used to lose.
  • Max Domi: 5 Goals, 15 Assists. He’s the grit, but the finishing touch has been a bit cold lately.

The Berube Effect on Special Teams

Craig Berube was brought in to fix the "softness," and you can see it in the penalty kill. This is where the Toronto Maple Leafs stats actually get impressive. Since late December, the PK has been operating at over 90%. They are currently 3rd in the league overall in that category.

They aren't just killing penalties; they're suffocating teams.

The power play, though? That’s a different story. It was dead last for a chunk of the early season. It’s climbed back to 24th (about 17.3%), but for a team with this much high-end talent, that’s almost embarrassing. It’s been "dead cat bounce" territory—a slight improvement from "horrendous" to "just okay."

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Goaltending in Toronto is always a drama, and 2026 is no exception. Joseph Woll has been the clear #1 when healthy. He’s 11-4-2 with a 2.54 GAA and a .918 save percentage. Those are "playoff starter" numbers.

But then there's Anthony Stolarz.

He was supposed to be the steady veteran hand, but an injury in November against Boston threw everything off. Before he went down, he was struggling with an .884 save percentage—a massive crash from his league-leading numbers the year before.

Enter Dennis Hildeby. The 6'7" Swede has been forced into more action than the Leafs probably wanted, and honestly, he’s held his own. A 2.97 GAA isn't elite, but for a rookie tossed into the Toronto pressure cooker? It’ll do.

Why the Atlantic Division is a Nightmare

The Leafs are currently 6th in the Atlantic. That sounds bad, and it sort of is. But the gap between them and the top is surprisingly thin because everyone in the division keeps beating each other up. Tampa and Detroit are leading the pack, but the Leafs have games in hand on almost everyone above them.

The problem is the road record.

They are 16-5-5 at Scotiabank Arena. They’re a powerhouse at home. But on the road? A dismal 7-11-3. You can't be a serious contender if you can't win outside of your own time zone. They look like two completely different teams depending on which jersey they’re wearing.

What the Stats are Screaming

If you look at the underlying analytics, the Leafs are a bit of a statistical anomaly right now. Their PDO (a stat that combines shooting percentage and save percentage to measure "luck") is 101.0. Anything over 100 usually suggests a team is getting lucky, but for Toronto, it's weirdly lopsided. Their shooting percentage is high, but their team save percentage is actually below league average.

Basically, they are outscoring their problems, but only just barely.

They aren't controlling play as much as they used to, either. Their Corsi For % (CF%) is 46.0, which means they are actually being out-shot and out-possessed most nights. That is a massive red flag. In the "Core Four" era, they always dominated possession. Now, they are playing a "bend but don't break" style that relies on elite finishing and Joseph Woll making 35 saves a night.

Moving Forward: The Reality Check

So, what do you do with these Toronto Maple Leafs stats? If you're Brad Treliving, you're probably looking for defensive help. Jake McCabe is a +21, which is insane given the team's overall goal differential, but the rest of the blue line is a bit of a question mark. Oliver Ekman-Larsson has 28 points, but he’s not the shutdown guy they need for a deep run.

The next few weeks are pivotal. They have a heavy road schedule, and if that 7-11-3 road record doesn't improve, they might find themselves on the outside looking in by March.

Actionable Insights for the Second Half

  1. Watch the Road Split: If the Leafs don't start winning away from Toronto, they are a lock for a first-round exit (or missing entirely).
  2. Monitor the Power Play: If the PP% doesn't crack the top 15 soon, expect a coaching change on the assistant level.
  3. Woll's Workload: Joseph Woll is the key. If he plays more than 55 games, his injury history suggests a high risk of a late-season breakdown.
  4. Knies' Growth: Keep an eye on Matthew Knies' even-strength production; he's becoming the team's most important "glue" player.

The numbers suggest a team that is talented enough to beat anyone but flawed enough to lose to everyone. It's a stressful time to be a fan, but when isn't it? One thing is for sure: the stats say this team isn't done evolving yet.