There were few certainties for Philippe Myers entering training camp, as the Toronto Maple Leafs looked to change their tactics under new head coach Craig Berube. Berube emphasized physicality and a direct, north-south approach for exiting the zone and attacking the offensive third. Myers evidently took Berube’s instruction to heart and won a roster spot after a standout camp, where he outplayed Timothy Liljegren. Liljegren was eventually traded to the San Jose Sharks, with Myers provided some more room to showcase his NHL bonafides.
It was a non-linear year for Myers to be sure, but he earned a two-year extension worth $850,000 annually on January 3 and there’s certainly room for him to grow within the organization. Now it’s incumbent on Myers to be more consistent as he looks to carve out further playing time on a Leafs team that will return seven defencemen under contract for the 2025-26 campaign, as currently constructed.
How the year went
Myers may have excelled during training camp, but he operated as the Maple Leafs’ No. 7 defencemen for the majority of the year and it took a while for him to find some playing time. He made his season debut against the October 26 against the Boston Bruins and while there were other players to single out as well, Myers submitted a dreadful showing, and was a healthy scratch for over a month.
It took until December for Myers to find some regular playing time, and this is where his season took off, submitting a handful of reliable performances through the Christmas break, which helped him earn Berube’s trust. Following a series of stellar performances against the New York Islanders, Myers signed a two-year extension, an indication of the team’s internal belief in him to be a key contributor.
“I’m very happy for him. I thought in camp he earned a job, which is important for a guy like that coming in,” Berube said of Myers. “He played extremely well in training camp and here he’s got a two-year deal and he’s playing for us, and he’s playing well. He’s physical, he’s simple, on the penalty kill and he’s got great size and reach.”
Myers remained in his role as the Maple Leafs’ No. 7 down the stretch, where he reverted back to some of the same risky habits that Berube tried to coach out of his game. The 28-year possesses a booming but inaccurate shot and has a tendency to cheat up the ice, but he proved to be an NHL-caliber player throughout the year.
Perhaps it was too little, too late, as Myers submitted his best three-game stretch of the year in April to close out the regular season. Myers scored one of the goals of the season in the Maple Leafs’ final regular season game against the Detroit Red Wings, where he waltzed through the defence, beating two Red Wings defenders to the net, before pulling off a slick finish. Myers did not factor into a playoff game, so perhaps he was saving his best for last!
Statistical profile
| Category | Production | NHL rank |
| Expected goals percentage | 45.37% | T-585th |
| Goal differential | 0 | T-323rd |
| Corsi | 48.55% | T-435th |
| Expected goals for per 60 | 2.11 | T-587th |
| Expected goals against per 60 | 2.54 | T-405th |
| Individual expected goals | 1.5 | T-644th |
| Shooting percentage | 4.35 | T-556th |
All stats 5-on-5 via Natural Stat Trick
Myers carries a booming shot, but he’s asked to play risk-averse hockey in Berube’s system and still needs to improve as a defender. It’s not all on Myers, but like many of the Maple Leafs’ defenders, he often struggles off the rush, or defending the zone when plays descend into chaos. It’s on Myers to continue to refine and simplify his game within his own zone, while using his imposing size and physicality to greater effect throughout the 2025-26 campaign.
Select highlights
Myers’ golaso vs. Red Wings, April 17, 2025
