The Toronto Maple Leafs are heading into the final stretch of what has been a very long and frustrating season. With the team now officially on the outside looking in, the final few weeks will come down to evaluating the roster for next season, as well as where they land in the 2026 NHL Draft lottery, which will be revealed on May 5.
This week, the Maple Leafs head out west for a three-game California road trip. Last week, they picked up back-to-back wins against the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers. However, on Saturday night, they were beaten fairly easily by the St. Louis Blues.
Here is what the week ahead looks like for the Maple Leafs.
The Dreaded California Swing
The Maple Leafs start the week in Anaheim tonight to take on the Anaheim Ducks. This is the second and final meeting between the two teams this season, with Toronto winning the first matchup 6-4 back in mid-March, which came with a lot of controversy. If you remember, this is the game where Radko Gudas threw a knee-on-knee hit on Auston Matthews that ended his season.
That wasn’t the only thing that stood out, though. This was also the game where the Maple Leafs became the laughing stock of the league for their lack of response after their captain was injured. Because of that, this should be a very physical game tonight.
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After tonight, the team travels to San Jose to face the San Jose Sharks on Thursday in another late game. The road trip wraps up on Saturday night against the Los Angeles Kings. These three games are going to go a long way in determining their spot in the standings and where they could land heading into the final few games.
Depth Players’ Time to Shine in Final Stretch
Joseph Woll has been the MVP of this team lately, and he will likely get the start in at least two of these three games. His ability to keep the Maple Leafs in games where they are being outshot could be the reason he is chosen as the organization’s starter going forward.
Sometimes, when the pressure is off, players tend to play better because they can breathe a little easier. We’ve seen that with players like Dakota Joshua and Matias Maccelli, who have both been on hot streaks. Joshua has been playing a heavy game and finding the back of the net, which is exactly what the coaching staff wants to see as they evaluate who should stay and who should go this summer.
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As for Maccelli, he is entering the offseason as a restricted free agent, so this final stretch of the season could play a big role in whether he gets qualified or not.
Maple Leafs’ Upcoming Schedule
Here is the Maple Leafs’ upcoming schedule for March 30 – April 5, 2026
- Monday, March 30: at Anaheim Ducks (10:00 p.m. ET)
- Thursday, April 2: at San Jose Sharks (10:00 p.m. ET)
- Saturday, April 4: at Los Angeles Kings (7:00 p.m. ET)
