The Toronto Maple Leafs are preparing to evaluate young talent during the final stretch of the 2025-26 NHL season. With playoff hopes fading, the organization plans to give several prospects from the Toronto Marlies an opportunity in the final 17 games.
Head coach Craig Berube confirmed the plan while speaking to reporters. The decision follows an eight-game losing streak that began after the Olympic break and pushed Toronto to the bottom of the Atlantic Division standings.
“We’re gonna look at guys down there, and he’s [Michael Pezzetta] one of the guys that we wanted to see,” Berube said. “I’d say for a little while now.”
Several players have already joined the roster, including Alex Steeves Quillan, Adam Groulx, and Michael Pezzetta. The coaching staff plans to monitor how these players perform against NHL competition as the season winds down.
Toronto enters the stretch with a 27-27-11 record and 65 points. The team has struggled to maintain consistency throughout the season. Offensively, the Leafs average 3.11 goals per game. Auston Matthews leads the roster with 26 goals, while William Nylander tops the team with 60 points.
Defensive play remains the biggest challenge for Toronto. The club allows 3.48 goals per game, ranking among the weaker defensive teams in the league.
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The recent slump continued Tuesday when the Montreal Canadiens defeated Toronto 3-1. Nylander scored the Leafs’ only goal, while Matthews extended his goalless streak to 12 games.
With the postseason now unlikely, the final games offer Toronto a chance to test its depth. The organization hopes the call-ups from the Marlies can provide energy and help shape roster decisions for next season.
