4 Maple Leafs facing most pressure heading into 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are upon us, and the Battle of Ontario is back, which means the stakes are about to rise in a major way for the Toronto Maple Leafs. While there’s been plenty of regular season success to celebrate over the last decade in Toronto, there’s been nothing to show for it come playoff time, and the pressure is on for several Maple Leafs.

Here are the four Leafs facing the most pressure heading into the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs:

Morgan Rielly

The veteran defenceman has had an up-and-down season in 2024-25, entering the final game of the regular season with 41 points and a whole lot of uncertainty on his game. Rielly has managed to have a healthy year, appearing in all 81 games to this point, but even though he’s been available, put up over 40 points, the pressure is on for Rielly to move the needle for the Maple Leafs this spring.

Rielly has had troubles with turnovers this year, he’s had stretches of avoiding the scoresheet, and there have been times throughout the regular season where it’s looked like he’s lost his confidence on when to, and when not to, join the rush. Brandon Carlo has helped, there’s no doubt about that, as the two have created a solid tandem as the Maple Leafs’ second pair. While Carlo’s helped, he can’t be responsible for getting Rielly’s game back to where it should be. That’s on Rielly.

The Maple Leafs need Rielly to be a threat offensively, they need him to help quarterback the second power-play unit, and they need him to keep his game simple, as much as possible. Rielly’s at his best when he’s showing off that he’s one of the best skaters on the ice, and he’s effectively moving the puck, creating rush chances for the forwards.

If Rielly lays an egg this postseason, the Maple Leafs should be considering all options with their longtime defenceman this summer, but that’s a discussion to be had when the Leafs are no longer playing in the postseason. Until then, he has a clean slate to make the discussion around his regular-season performance irrelevant.

Mitch Marner

The time is now for Marner to use his 100-point season and find some success in the playoffs. While the early stages of the postseason don’t seem to bother Marner at all, and he’s able to perform, it’s the crucial Games 5, 6, and 7s over the past few years where Marner has struggled to make the big play.

Marner posted just one goal and three points in Toronto’s 2024 first-round series against Boston, and the Maple Leafs need more out of their most complete player. There’s a looming contract extension which should give Marner all the motivation he needs to inspire some results, and nobody wants to win in Toronto more than Marner. Perhaps a strong showing at the 4 Nations Face-Off, where he was able to show off that he can be a clutch player in big moments for his team, will give the Maple Leafs veteran all the confidence he needs in his abilities.

Marner will be called upon to impact the game in every element. From leading the charge facilitating offence, to killing penalties and shutting down opponents at 5-on-5, to being a leader in the dressing room when some playoff adversity creeps its ugly head into the picture.

If Toronto is able to do the unthinkable and win the Stanley Cup, Marner will need to take his game to another level, something he hasn’t done in previous years.

John Tavares

Like Marner, Tavares wants to win in Toronto, and he’s also looking for a new contract with the team this summer. Tavares has managed to sustain his success this season, even at 34 years old. 38 goals and 74 points in 74 games is a hell of a season for the Oakville, ON native, and the Maple Leafs are going to need every ounce of this type of performance if they want to get past Ottawa and make a deep run this year.

Tavares is coming off a horrible 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs, in which he scored just one goal and one assist in seven games against the Boston Bruins. The good news? The Bruins are making tee times, and the Leafs won’t have to exercise their demons to win a Stanley Cup this year.

Tavares has scored multiple series clinching goals in his career, and while it’s going to be important for him to contribute on the scoresheet, it’s going to be just as important for him to be a strong two-way centre, especially once the Leafs get a lead, and try to lock down wins like they did throughout the regular season. Closing games has become a strength of theirs under Craig Berube, and now it’s time to do so when the games matter the most.

It’s tough to say if Tavares’ future is hanging in the balance of playoff success this year, but having a strong postseason will make Treliving’s decision a lot easier to extend the veteran centre for a few more seasons, and give Tavares his wish to close out his career as a Maple Leaf.

Auston Matthews

Captain Matthews doesn’t get a pass here. It’s his first season as captain, and the pressure is on for him to be a force during the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Matthews has battled this season; he’s been playing with an upper-body ailment all year long, and he’s been scrutinized for not scoring as consistently as we’ve seen in the past. Playing hurt? Perhaps, but at this time of year, everyone is dealing with something, so it can’t be a distraction, nor an excuse at this point.

Matthews scored just one goal in five playoff games last season, and another first-round performance like that won’t be good enough for the Maple Leafs, or they will likely see the Senators moving on to the second round. Toronto needs every ounce of what Matthews has left in him this spring; they need him to be someone the team can lean on for timely goals, and he’ll be tasked with some of the toughest matchups at 5-on-5. Matthews has the ability to impact the game on both sides of the puck, and the time is now to elevate, execute, and eliminate his opponents.

The pressure is on in Toronto. The Maple Leafs are once again in a great position to go deep in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and considering how wide open the Eastern Conference is, making it to the Stanley Cup Final is well within reach. Goaltending depth, strong defence core, balanced offence, and a coach who can make adjustments, this team has it all. Now it’s time for the likes of