The Toronto Maple Leafs‘ ongoing difficulties this season have attracted teasing from across the hockey world, and recently, one NHL player joined in with a playful jab. On Sunday, after an afternoon game between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Vegas Golden Knights, Penguins’ defenseman Erik Karlsson poked fun at the Leafs’ recent struggles while urging Paul Bissonnette, a well-known Maple Leafs supporter, to switch allegiances.
Karlsson, speaking after Pittsburgh’s dominant 5-0 victory over Vegas, referred directly to Bissonnette’s earlier comments doubting the Penguins. He then invited Bissonnette to hop on the Penguins’ bandwagon, hinting that the Leafs might soon hit a wall in the standings.
“I heard what he said before this game I heard about that I don’t like that… I was going to ask Biz what I have to do to recruit him to get on our train because I think his is about to hit a brick wall soon. We need you to come over to this side a little bit… Penguins train, Biz — the Penguins train. You’ve got to hop off the other one,”
This banter provided some levity amidst the tense NHL season, underscoring the Maple Leafs’ ongoing challenges.
Karlsson’s Strong Performance Amidst Pittsburgh’s Mixed Results
The 35-year-old defenseman is currently enjoying arguably his best season with the Penguins, contributing 38 points through 54 games with four goals and 34 assists. Karlsson’s impressive form comes in the seventh year of an eight-year, $92 million deal originally signed with the San Jose Sharks in 2019, with Pittsburgh responsible for $10 million of his salary due to a retention agreement with San Jose.
Although Pittsburgh sits comfortably 12 points ahead of Toronto in the overall standings, their head-to-head record tells a different story. The Penguins lost all three regular-season matchups against the Maple Leafs in regulation time, being outscored 17-8 in those contests. This disparity shows how results against certain teams may vary widely within the same season.
Challenges Ahead for the Penguins Despite the Lead
While the Penguins hold a solid position in the standings, Karlsson and his team still face a tough path to the playoffs, especially with captain Sidney Crosby sidelined for a month due to injury. Despite this setback, Pittsburgh boasts one of their deepest rosters in recent years. Their performance in the first three games without Crosby suggests the team could successfully make a postseason return for the first time since the 2021-22 season.
For Toronto, the gap between their potential and results continues to be a source of frustration, with their recent defeats and inconsistency keeping their fans uneasy.
Looking Forward to the Remainder of the Season
Karlsson’s remarks highlight the growing rivalry and contrasting fortunes between the Penguins and Maple Leafs as the 2025-26 campaign progresses. As the regular season winds down, Toronto’s struggles will likely continue to be a topic of discussion, especially as playoff positioning becomes clearer.
Pittsburgh fans will be hopeful that the team’s recent form and depth can push them deep into the postseason, while Leafs supporters await a turn in their team’s fortunes after a difficult stretch of games.
Erik Karlsson joined the boys after the win and is now actively recruiting Biz to the Pens bandwagon 😂🐧 pic.twitter.com/kBhemHG2Pr
— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) March 1, 2026
