3 Takeaways From Maple Leafs’ 5-2 Loss to Kraken – The Hockey Writers – Toronto Maple Leafs

The Toronto Maple Leafs lost 5-2 to the Seattle Kraken on Thursday (Jan. 29). Following a disastrous five-game homestand in which the Maple Leafs lost four games in regulation and one in overtime, the team kicked off a four-game road trip with a vastly improved performance. However, shoddy defensive play and questionable goaltending resulted in another loss. Toronto’s six-game winless skid matches the team’s longest run of futility since November of 2019. 

The Maple Leafs outshot the Kraken 31-22. It’s been a rarity for Toronto to have more shots on goal than its opponent this season. The Maple Leafs also dictated the pace at 5-on-5 with 62.34% of the Corsi For (shots on goal, missed shots, and blocked shots), 53.85% of the shots, 61.76% of the scoring chances, and 71.43% of the high-danger chances. It’s been a common theme for the team in the 2025-26 campaign to be soundly outplayed in those areas, but that wasn’t the case in Thursday’s defeat. 

Stolarz’s Struggles Continue 

The emergence of Anthony Stolarz from a backup turned No. 1 netminder last season was a driving force behind the Maple Leafs’ success. He signed a four-year, $15 million contract extension before the start of the season. At the time, it seemed like a tremendous value, but he has struggled mightily to repeat his success and has missed 33 games due to an upper-body injury. 

He hasn’t had much help from his teammates on the defensive end and hasn’t stopped the shots that made him valuable last campaign. The Maple Leafs got off to another sluggish start and were down 1-0 only 1:21 into the opening period. Stolarz also surrendered a goal on the first shot he faced in his return against the Vegas Golden Knights on Jan. 23 in a 6-3 loss. It marked the fourth time in just 15 starts that the first shot of the game crossed the goal line behind him.

It was a rush chance after Toronto’s forwards got caught deep in the offensive zone, while the pairing of Morgan Rielly and Brandon Carlo got burned by speed and quick puck movement. To his credit, Stolarz made a superb stop on a heavy shot by Eeli Tolvanen off another dangerous rush chance for the Kraken. The Maple Leafs goalie also stopped a deflected shot off the rebound and made a couple of other saves in quick succession, including one off a faceoff late in the first period. 

However, his rebound control has been an ongoing problem this season, and it’s been prevalent in both of his starts since his return from injury. Seattle took a 2-1 lead on a second-chance shot and scored again 31 seconds later on another rush chance that beat him through the five-hole. Additionally, the Kraken capitalized on a turnover in the third period to take a 4-2 lead, when Shane Wright got his second of the night with a quick shot over the glove of the Toronto keeper. The 32-year-old Stolarz has a 3.67 goals-against average and an .876 save percentage this season. 

Related: Maple Leafs Would Be Smart to Sell at 2026 NHL Trade Deadline

The Maple Leafs have allowed four or more goals 26 times this campaign; only the Vancouver Canucks have achieved that dubious distinction in more games (28). Toronto’s inability to defend was masked by elite-level goaltending last season. The Maple Leafs also had an unsustainable success rate, a league-leading .733 win percentage, in one-goal games. The only team close to Toronto in that category was the Winnipeg Jets (.704), and they have also plummeted down the standings this campaign.  

Not Many Bright Spots

Nicholas Robertson was the team’s most noticeable forward. He was relentless at both ends of the ice and potted his 12th goal of the season. He teed up a one-timer from the top of the circle to even the score at 1-1. A great forecheck in the second period created a turnover and a penalty drawn after he drove the puck to the net. He continued that trend in the third period before being rewarded with a chance to play on a 6-on-5 with the goaltender pulled for an extra attacker. The Maple Leafs had an empty net with just under four minutes remaining in regulation, and he had a scoring chance that didn’t find its mark.

Rielly’s defensive woes have been concerning, but he scored a power-play goal on a wrist shot through a screen in the third period. It was his first tally with the man advantage this season, and he finally got the Maple Leafs defence corps on the board. Toronto was the last team in the league to get a power-play goal from the back end this campaign, and it came in the 54th game. The club desperately needs puck movers who can contribute offensively, a trait shared by all the top clubs in the league. 

Losses Cementing Path

While some fans may have already checked out for the season, and others can’t seem to look away, it’s probably better if the team doesn’t pick up some victories before the Olympic break. If the Maple Leafs succeed on their road trip, it could create false hope and provide management with an excuse to delay action even further. The organization needs to sell, recoup some draft picks, or land some young talent. This iteration of the Maple Leafs needs changes. Injuries haven’t done the team any favours, but they can’t be the excuse to keep this failed experiment going. The roster is poorly coached and carelessly constructed.

It’s disappointing that the Maple Leafs’ first-round pick in the 2026 NHL Entry Draft, which tentatively belongs to the Boston Bruins, is top-five protected instead of top-10, but finishing in that range isn’t as far-fetched as it once seemed. The Maple Leafs currently have the eighth-best odds of winning the Draft Lottery (6.2%), which could improve if players start getting moved or shut down for the remainder of the season. The New York Islanders won the right to select Matthew Schaefer at No. 1 overall during the 2025 Draft Lottery despite having only a 3.5% chance of the balls bouncing their way. 

What Comes Next for the Maple Leafs? 

The Maple Leafs visit the struggling Vancouver Canucks on Saturday (Jan. 31). The Canucks have been outscored 59-31 in January en route to posting a 2-11-2 record, but earned a 2-0 victory over the Anaheim Ducks on Thursday. The Maple Leafs could get a significant boost if William Nylander can return from a groin injury that has kept him out for the past seven games. 

Gaining any ground for a Wild Card spot will be challenging, especially with Eastern Conference rivals continuing to earn wins. The Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and Bruins sit third, fourth, and fifth in the Atlantic Division, respectively, and all three clubs have a 10-point cushion on the Maple Leafs. Still, whether Toronto looks great or terrible during the Western Canada portion of the road trip, the direction the team needs to take is clear.

Hockey Analytics courtesy of Natural Stat Trick.