NHL REPORT: Maple Leafs Should Wait for Playoff Success Before Committing to….see more 

NHL REPORT: Maple Leafs Should Wait for Playoff Success Before Committing to….see more

As the Toronto Maple Leafs continue to dominate the regular season, the question of Mitch Marner’s future with the team has become a focal point. With 28 points (8 goals, 20 assists) in just 21 games, Marner has been the driving force for the Leafs, especially during stretches without captain Auston Matthews. However, despite his impressive individual performance, it would be wise for the Leafs to wait for a meaningful playoff run before locking him into a long-term extension.

The Maple Leafs’ inability to secure postseason success has been a recurring theme. Over the past eight seasons, Toronto has repeatedly shown it can be a powerhouse in the regular season, but come up short when it matters most: in the playoffs. While Marner has been one of the team’s top players, he’s often been criticized for disappearing in the postseason, despite putting up 50 points in 57 career playoff games. For all his talent, the question remains: can he help lead the team to a deep playoff run?

Heading into this season, many believed it was time for the Maple Leafs to make significant changes. Marner, along with other core players, was frequently mentioned in trade rumors as the team considered a shake-up to break the playoff curse. But Toronto opted for continuity, keeping the same key pieces and hoping this season would be different. However, without playoff success, none of the regular-season brilliance matters. The Leafs’ failure to perform when it counts has been the franchise’s most significant hurdle.

The Leafs have been one of the NHL’s most consistent regular-season teams over the past decade, with high-scoring players like Matthews and Nylander regularly posting eye-popping numbers. But it’s always the same story come playoff time. Despite the individual accolades, the team fails to get past the first round and often falls in disappointing fashion. Marner himself has had flashes of brilliance, but his inconsistency in the postseason is a major concern.

The Maple Leafs cannot afford to extend Marner—or anyone else in this core—without seeing tangible playoff success. If 2025 marks another early playoff exit, management must make difficult decisions about the future. Is this group capable of reaching the ultimate goal? If not, sweeping changes will be inevitable.

In the end, the Leafs’ front office must prioritize results over potential. Signing Marner to an extension would be premature until he and the team can prove they are capable of achieving what has eluded them for so long: a deep playoff run and, ultimately, a Stanley Cup. Until then, patience is the right strategy.