8 Maple Leafs Chasing Major Career Milestones in 2026-27 – The Hockey Writers – Editor’s Choice

After a disappointing 2025-26 season, the Toronto Maple Leafs are chomping at the bit to get the 2026-27 campaign underway. This team made some changes in the offseason in order to get back to being a playoff contender, though the main reason for optimism is the arrival of Gavin McKenna, who they were able to select first overall in this year’s draft.

While McKenna will bring plenty of excitement himself, there are also plenty of veterans on the Maple Leafs roster who are nearing some major career milestones. Here’s a look at eight players in particular who are nearing some impressive feats.

John Tavares Closing in on 1,200 Points

Though signing John Tavares to his massive seven-year, $77 million deal didn’t result in a Stanley Cup for the Maple Leafs, he certainly lived up to his end of the bargain. Even now, on a much lower deal that carries an average annual value (AAV) of $4.38 million, he is continuing to produce at a great clip.

The 35-year-old, who put up 71 points last season, is closing in on 1,200 points and should get there pretty early in the season assuming he’s healthy. He currently sits at 1,185, and, on top of that, he’s also just 34 games away from 1,300 in his career. There are currently just 76 players in NHL history who have logged 1,300 or more regular season games, showing just how impressive of a milestone that is.

While not as impressive as Tavares’, Maple Leafs defenceman Oliver Ekman-Larsson is nearing an incredible accomplishment himself. The Swedish blueliner, who is set to enter his third season with the Maple Leafs, is just 63 games away from the 1,200th regular season game of his career.

Things will need to go right from a health perspective for Ekman-Larsson to hit that goal in 2026-27, though his recent durability suggests he will be able to do so. He’s missed just seven combined games over the past three seasons.

Morgan Rielly Likely to Receive Silver Stick

Though his play has dropped off in recent years, there’s no denying how great of a career Morgan Rielly has had for the Maple Leafs. The 32-year-old, who was selected fifth overall in 2012, has played his entire 951-game career in Toronto.

Rielly, who put up 36 points in 78 games this past season, is just 49 games away from 1,000 in his NHL career. Hitting that milestone will result in a big celebration for Rielly, as he will receive a silver stick as all players do when they hit the 1,000-game mark in their careers.

Chris Tanev In Line for Big Milestone if Healthy

The 2025-26 season was a frustrating one for Chris Tanev, who was limited to just 11 games due to a variety of injuries. That was always the concern when the Maple Leafs chose to sign the hard-nosed defenceman to a six-year deal ahead of the 2024-25 campaign.

Should Tanev have health on his side this coming season, he will hit and surpass 900 games in his career. The 36-year-old, who has also played for the Vancouver Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Dallas Stars, is just 22 games away from doing so.

Auston Matthews Continuing to Impress

As Maple Leafs fans know, the 2025-26 season was a frustrating one for Auston Matthews. The 28-year-old was far from his usual elite self, putting up a disappointing 27 goals and 53 points in 60 games. Now back to full health and with a new head coach in Jim Hiller, he seems primed for a bounce-back.

Matthews is set to hit a few major milestones this season. He’s just 11 games away from 700 in his career, and is just 20 points away from 800. While he’s unlikely to hit that point total before reaching 700 games, both should come in quick fashion this coming season.

William Nylander Climbing All-Time Games Played List

While Matthews is searching for his 700th game and 800th point, William Nylander is looking to do the exact same, albeit in opposite order. The 30-year-old is just nine points away from 700 with 691, while he’s also just 50 games away from 800 in his career.

Assuming Nylander plays 50 games this season, he will become just one of 12 players ever to have logged 800 games in a Maple Leafs sweater. He currently sits 13th all time in Maple Leafs history for games played, trailing Tie Domi’s 777.

Max Domi Nearly Half Way to 1,000 Points

Speaking of his dad, Max Domi is in line for a pretty big accomplishment this coming season. Though his time with the Maple Leafs hasn’t always been great, his career as a whole is one to be proud of. The 31-year-old is just 14 points shy of 500 in his career.

While expectations seem to be rather low for Domi going into the 2026-27 season, hitting the 500-point marker should come relatively early into the season. It’s a good reminder of how solid of a career he’s had despite some struggles in both 2024-25 and 2025-26.

Newcomer Jack Roslovic Set for Two Achievements

The final player on this list is a new member of the Maple Leafs in Jack Roslovic. The 29-year-old joined the organization as a free agent on a two-year, $8 million deal. That means that in very short time, he will hit a couple of impressive marks in his career.

Roslovic, who has previously spent time with the Winnipeg Jets, Columbus Blue Jackets, New York Rangers, Carolina Hurricanes, and Edmonton Oilers, is just four games away from 600 games in his career. He’s also just four points away from 300, which he should hit quickly after scoring 22 goals and 36 points in 2025-26.

Plenty of Reachable Goals

What makes all these milestones exciting for both the team and fan base is that the vast majority of them are going to be hit. Sure, injuries can change things, but assuming health is on this team’s side in 2026-27, there are going to be plenty of team celebrations throughout the regular season.