Maple Leafs Ranked 18th in NHL? Can Toronto Crack the Top 10 in 2026-27?

Are the Toronto Maple Leafs being underrated heading into the 2026-27 NHL season? Bleacher Report has the Leafs ranked 18th among all 32 NHL teams, putting them right around the middle of the pack. Mike DiStefano and Dave Morassutti debate whether that ranking is fair — and where Toronto could ultimately finish if Auston Matthews and the rest of the roster bounce back. Then, the guys build their own Atlantic Division power rankings and debate where the Leafs belong among Florida, Tampa Bay, Montreal, Buffalo and the rest of the division. In this episode: 🏒 Are the Leafs REALLY an 18th-ranked team? 📈 What needs to happen for Toronto to become a Top-10 NHL team? ⭐ Why an Auston Matthews bounce-back could change everything 🥅 Can the Leafs get better goaltending this season? 🔥 Is the Atlantic Division the toughest in the NHL? 🏆 Who wins the Atlantic Division in 2026-27? 🍁 Where do the Leafs rank in the Atlantic? 🐃 Are the Buffalo Sabres due for a step back? 🎖️ Which NHL teams still need to name a captain? 🇨🇦 Who should become the next captain of the Ottawa Senators? 😳 Should Connor Bedard become captain of the Blackhawks? Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. FanDuel College football Saturdays are already packed with reasons to get excited, and this season, FanDuel is giving fans even more ways to get in on every matchup. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.