What went wrong with the Maple Leafs' defense this season?

How did the Leafs go from a team preventing a whole lot of goals, to a complete mess?

Toronto Maple Leafs v Boston Bruins | Maddie Meyer/GettyImagesThe Toronto Maple Leafs entered the 2025-26 season with high expectations, boasting one of the most complete defensive cores in the Matthews era. Yet, after 19 games, the team finds itself struggling mightily in its own end. Injuries to key players, inconsistent goaltending, and a coaching transition behind the bench have combined to leave the Leafs near the bottom of the league defensively. What was once a strength for Toronto has become a glaring weakness, and the team must find a way to regain composure if it hopes to compete in tight games…