The Curious State of the Toronto Maple Leafs

(Picture of Centre Ice at Scotiabank Arena - Photo by Mark Blinch/NHLI via Getty Images)

Ever since I can remember, being a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs has meant living in one of two states: frustration or blind optimism. It’s always been one or the other. You're either sick of the front office, or you're daydreaming about a playoff run that never delivers. Sometimes, I wonder if this constant cycle of hope and disappointment is some kind of karma — maybe a lingering curse from the Harold Ballard era. The way he treated players and prioritized power over progress — did it leave a stain on the franchise that still lingers?

We’ve lived through several eras of dysfunction and identity crises. The Brian Burke years were all about grit and stacking the roster with American college guys who could hit. Then came Kyle Dubas, who was all about finesse and guys from the Soo. He made the team that was fun to watch at times but also soft — and arguably set them up for long-term cap hell. Key draft picks were shipped out for poor returns, Nick Foligno, and now the team is constantly playing salary cap gymnastics. 

But something feels different under Brad Treliving.

For the first time in years, I’m looking at the Leafs’ roster and thinking, "This could work." This team looks more like one built for playoff success. There’s a balance of skill and grit we haven’t seen in 20 years. Most importantly, there's a clear shift in how the front office is managing the roster long-term.

Take the recent signing of John Prokop. It’s not a headline-grabber, but it is the type of move the team must make. 

Prokop, who spent the last three seasons at Union College, put up 85 points in 107 games — an impressive stat line for a defenseman (Elite Prospects). Now, he’s signed an amateur tryout deal with the Marlies for the remainder of the season, with his NHL contract set to kick in for the 2025–26 campaign (Daily Faceoff). 

Moves like this have become increasingly common under Treliving. Just last year, the Leafs traded for Cade Webber, a stay-at-home defenseman who developed through the NCAA system and came with a clear identity: big, physical, and defensively sound (NHL). While Webber and Prokop are very different, both represent the same strategy: replacing the gap left by a lack of draft picks with college players who have real potential. It's not a game-changing strategy, but something that has to be done well, given the Leafs' current situation. 

Years of going all-in for playoff pushes have emptied the cupboard. And with limited cap space, they can't keep patching holes with expensive free agents. If Toronto wants to stay competitive while actually building something sustainable, they need to keep hitting on players like Prokop and Webber — young, cost-controlled prospects with NCAA polish and upside.

It’s funny. For all the chaos this franchise has endured — the eras of Burke, Nonis, and Dubas — the Leafs might finally be building something the right way under Brad Treliving. Quietly. Methodically. With moves that don’t always trend on Twitter but could make all the difference long-term. However, to quote Billy Bean in Moneyball, “If you lose the last game of the season, nobody gives a shit.”

Sources:

Elite Prospects: “John Prokop” https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/437599/john-prokop

Daily Faceoff: “What you need to know about Maple Leafs’ John Prokop, Islanders’ Gleb Veremyev” https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/what-you-need-to-know-about-toronto-maple-leafs-john-prokop-new-york-islanders-gleb-veremyev

NHL: “MAPLE LEAFS SIGN CADE WEBBER TO TWO-YEAR, ENTRY-LEVEL CONTRACT” https://www.nhl.com/mapleleafs/news/maple-leafs-sign-cade-webber-to-two-year-entry-level-contract