The Toronto Maple Leafs are coming off a tough season after missing the playoffs for the first time in nearly a decade. Injuries, roster changes, and defensive issues, highlighted by the 299 goals they allowed, shaped that slide. The drop in results has forced the organization to reassess both structure and depth across the lineup.
Luck certainly wasn’t in Toronto’s favor. Perhaps they’ll do a better job of that next season, especially with an NHL super-agent naming the most superstitious player among Auston Matthews, John Tavares, and William Nylander.
Pat Brisson Names Sidney Crosby, John Tavares Among Most Superstitious NHL Players
While discussing player habits on a recent episode of the Never Offside with Julie & Cat podcast, super-agent Pat Brisson shared insight into routines followed by top players. Interestingly, among the top Maple Leafs players, it was not Matthews or Nylander but Tavares who is more superstitious. However, Brisson first pointed to Sidney Crosby as the most superstitious one of the lot.
Brisson said, “Oh, by far 87, Sidney. And I want to use somebody else, too. John [Tavares] is very runner-up.”
He expanded on Crosby’s habits, noting, “Well, Sidney, it’s a lot about the numbers. I don’t want to get into the contract yet, the numbers, but the routines. There are so many things, like what he wears, and you all know about his shoulder pads or his jockstrap. He’s such a creature of habit.”
Crosby’s year of birth is 1987, his jersey number is 87, and his yearly AAV has been $8.7 million for quite some time now, so that checks out.
Brisson then connected that mindset to Tavares, explaining how similar patterns appear in his approach. “John is also like that. He’ll come to LA before, let’s say the Leafs are in town, a week or 10 days before. He’ll text me, I’m coming in, what are we going to do? He loves to go to Erewhon. He doesn’t want to go to a steak dinner. He’s going to want to go to Erewhon and get healthy food and do the same thing again and again every time.”
These habits come into focus as Toronto evaluates its core after a difficult season. The team finished with 78 points and struggled defensively. The offseason trade of Mitch Marner also left a gap in production that was not replaced.
Matthews’ season-ending knee injury further disrupted the lineup, while Nylander led the team with 79 points despite the overall decline. Tavares remained productive with 31 goals (71 points) and, in 2025, signed a 4-year extension, keeping him in a key role during the transition.
With management searching for a new direction, the organization now faces decisions about how to reshape the roster while keeping its top talent.
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