After trading Mitch Marner to the Vegas Golden Knights, the Toronto Maple Leafs entered a new phase of roster rebuilding ahead of the 2025–26 NHL season. Auston Matthews remains the cornerstone of the offense and could find a new difference-maker playing alongside him.
The additions of Matias Maccelli, Dakota Joshua, and Nicolas Roy aim to strengthen a powerful top six, with hopes of finally translating regular season dominance into playoff success. However, concerns about the team’s overall depth still linger.
Toronto’s current situation has caught the attention of former players like Jay Rosehill, who recently shared a “spicy take” on the Leafs Nation podcast. His opinion centers around who will step into Marner’s role with the Maple Leafs.
Rosehill’s take on Nylander
“I kind of had a little spicy one with [William] Nylander cresting the 100-point threshold and overshadowing Mitch. It was a very polarizing debate on whether you extend this guy or continue with the core four. Are you banging your head against the wall or doing the same thing over and over again? It was a major polarizing decision,” Rosehill said.
“It’s going to be interesting. But Matthews, Nylander, Marner, they’re all capable of getting that 100-point threshold. I think even though Willy hasn’t done it, this could easily be his year. That’s an odd take saying Willy was going to get more points than Mitch Marner this year,” Rosehill added.
Jay Rosehill played for the Maple Leafs from 2009 to 2011, standing out as a physical and energetic forward, best known for his role as an enforcer rather than for offensive production. Although his tenure with the team was short, he earned fans’ respect for his grit and tenacity on the ice.
Can Nylander surpass Marner?
If Nylander reaches the 100-point mark, he would join a historic elite and represent a clear changing of the guard after Marner’s 102-point campaign last season. It could also settle the long-standing debate over who should lead the Leafs’ offense, while giving the team more flexibility to retain key pieces like John Tavares or Matthew Knies in the long term.