The Maple Leafs have played poorly so far, but so have the rest of the Atlantic Division

"It certainly could have been worse than a record of 5-5-1 to start the season, but when you consider how much both the defensive corps and the goaltenders have struggled, and pair it with some less-than-inspiring production from the team's newfound depth, it's understandable that a solid 90 per cent of the fan base (OK, I may have made that number up) are dialed into the Toronto Blue Jays until further notice."

"Thankfully, history shows that the Leafs love to start the season with their skates in the mud before finding their groove in November and reaffirming their status as one of the top teams in the Atlantic Division. That doesn't excuse the way they've played so far, and I'm sure they would have preferred to bank a bunch of points in what was a very home-heavy schedule in October, but if anything it should provide some reassurance that, no, the Leafs aren't about to fall off."

The Maple Leafs opened the season 5-5-1 amid clear struggles from the defensive corps and goaltenders, and inconsistent contributions from new depth players. Fan attention has largely shifted to the Toronto Blue Jays during the underwhelming October stretch. Historical patterns indicate the team often starts slowly before improving in November and reasserting competitiveness within the Atlantic Division, which offers cautious optimism. A home-heavy October schedule left missed opportunities to collect points. The broader Atlantic Division results are uneven, which helps contextualize early standings and emphasizes how early-season records can be misleading.

Read at TheLeafsNation