Jim Hiller says the Leafs were still figuring out their 11 and 7 setup before tonight's Sabres Vs Maple Leafs game, with recent form and defensive structure both still under review.
After a long trip and a day spent on the plane yesterday, Hiller said the immediate priority this morning was simple: get the feet going, get some blood pumping, and make sure the group was ready to go again. But the bigger issue was not just energy. It was whether the Leafs had a clear enough handle on their lineup and their game.
Hiller said the team had been going 11 and 7 and was “still not exactly sure what it’ll look like tonight.” That is a notable detail heading into a game where the Leafs are still trying to settle on combinations while keeping the overall shape of the team intact.
Why the Utah performance still mattered
Hiller was also honest about the previous outing versus Utah. Even though the result went their way, he said the Leafs did not like the quality of the game.
“We didn’t like our game versus Utah, despite the outcome,” he said. “I guess you could say we were close, but didn’t like the quality of the game.”
That is the sort of comment that tells you the win did not fully satisfy the coaching staff. In broadcast terms, it was a reminder that results and performances are not always the same thing, and that the Leafs were still searching for a cleaner level of play before facing another test.
Matthews and Nylander remain the known chemistry point
The source also points to Matthews and Nylander as a pairing with chemistry, and that matters when the lineup is still being adjusted. If a coach is not fully settled on the structure, having a combination that already understands each other can make a real difference.
That does not solve every problem, but it gives the Leafs a reference point. In a game where the lineup is still uncertain, the value of a trusted connection rises quickly.
The concern is how the puck moves through the middle
Hiller also made clear where his comfort level sits when it comes to east-west passing. He said he is comfortable when the team is “going tape to tape,” but not when the play becomes a hope pass through the middle of the ice.
That is where the defensive discussion becomes important. The coach stressed that the team has to execute that play properly, rather than just try it and hope it works. It is a practical warning: when the structure is not clean, one sloppy pass can invite pressure the other way.
And with one full game already played without Chris Tanev, there is still a sense that the defensive picture is being managed carefully. Hiller’s message was not panic, but it was caution. There is no right answer to every lineup question, as he put it, and the coach also warned that you cannot overwhelm the player.
That leaves the Leafs entering tonight with a familiar pregame theme: some chemistry to trust, some structure still to sort out, and enough uncertainty in the lineup that the next few decisions could matter almost as much as the result itself.
