The 2015–16 Toronto Maple Leafs season was the 99th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on November 22, 1917. The season officially began its regular games on October 7, 2015, with a 3–1 loss against the Montreal Canadiens.

Despite stretches of strong play, with the Maple Leafs at one point being within a few points of a playoff spot, they broke the franchise record for most losses in a season with 53 (the previous record was 52 in 1984–85). However, the previous record was set when there were only 80 games per season (two have since been added, bringing the total games played yearly to 82 per team). Due to the point awarded for overtime and shootout losses, the Leafs finished the season with 69 points, one more than the previous season. Despite the improved record, the Maple Leafs finished last overall in the NHL standings for the first time since the 1984–85 season and missed the playoffs for the third year in a row for the first time since the 2009–10 to 2011–12 seasons.

On July 1, 2015, the Maple Leafs were part of a blockbuster, multi-player deal that centred on Phil Kessel moving to the Pittsburgh Penguins, with one of the key pieces for Toronto being prospect Kasperi Kapanen. Kessel would be a central piece in the Penguins' Stanley Cup win later that season. Months later, another significant trade occurred when captain Dion Phaneuf plus four other players were traded to Ottawa Senators in exchange for four players plus a second round draft pick in 2017. A trade like this was seen as substantial due to the divisional Battle of Ontario rivalry and the NHL salary cap, which typically prevents more than a few players from moving at once.

On April 30, 2016, it was announced that the Leafs had won the draft lottery, and would receive the first overall pick in the 2016 NHL entry draft. Auston Matthews was subsequently selected first overall. This was the last season the Leafs missed the playoffs until 2026.

Off-season The Maple Leafs made numerous personnel changes prior to the start of the season. Mike Babcock and Lou Lamoriello were hired as head coach and general manager, respectively, replacing Dave Nonis and interim head coach Peter Horachek. Additionally, in an effort to bring in new personnel, coaches Steve Spott, Chris Dennis, Rick St. Croix; Director of Player Development Jim Hughes; and Director of Pro Scouting Steve Kasper, as well as Rob Cowie, strength and conditioning coach Anthony Belza, and 18 other scouts were fired. The team would find replacements for these members throughout the off season.

The 2015 NHL entry draft was held between July 26 and 27, and the Maple Leafs made a total of 9 selections, while also acquiring defenceman Martin Marincin.

Following the draft, the Leafs made a number of moves during the free agency period, signing players such as P. A. Parenteau, Mark Arcobello, and Shawn Matthias to short-term contracts. The most noteworthy move came in a blockbuster deal that sent winger Phil Kessel to the Pittsburgh Penguins, along with Tim Erixon, Tyler Biggs and a conditional second-round draft pick, in exchange for Kasperi Kapanen, Nick Spaling, Scott Harrington, and a conditional set of draft picks.

As the off-season went on, the team would sign Devin Setoguchi, Curtis Glencross, Brad Boyes, and Mark Fraser to professional try out contracts. Out of these four, Boyes was the only one to sign a contract, inking a one-year deal, while the others were released.

For a complete list of on-ice off-season moves, please see Transactions.

Standings

Record vs opponents

Eastern ConferenceWestern ConferenceAtlantic DivisionMetropolitan DivisionCentral DivisionPacific DivisionTeamHomeAwayTeamHomeAwayTeamHomeAwayTeamHomeAwayBoston 3–4* 1–3 0–2 2–3 4–3*Carolina 0–1* 3–1 2–1* Chicago 1–4 2–7Anaheim 6–5* 4–0Buffalo 3–4* 4–1 1–2* 1–4 Columbus 1–3 1–5 6–3 Colorado 5–1 7–4Arizona 3–4 2–3Detroit 1–2* 2–3 0–4 1–0 New Jersey 3–2* 3–2* 1–5 Dallas 4–1 3–2Calgary 5–2 3–4Florida 1–4 3–4 1–5 5–2 N.Y. Islanders 3–6 4–3* 3–1 Minnesota 1–2 0–1Edmonton 3–0 2–5Montreal 1–3 2–3* 3–5 1–4 N.Y. Rangers 2–4 1–3 3–4Nashville 2–3 2–1*Los Angeles 5–0 1–2Ottawa 4–5* 2–3 1–6 0–4 Philadelphia 4–5* 3–2 4–3*St. Louis 4–1 4–1San Jose 4–5* 0–7Tampa Bay 4–5* 1–2 4–1 0–1 0–3 Pittsburgh 0–4 1–2 3–2*Winnipeg 2–4 1–6Vancouver 4–2 5–2 Washington 2–4 2–3* 2–3Records2–7–63–11–14–6–26–5–13–4–04–3–05–1–12–5–0Division5–18–710–11–37–7–07–6–1Conference15–29–10 (Home: 6–13–8; Away: 9–16–2)14–13–1 (Home: 8–5–1; Away: 6–8–0)Overall29–42–11 (Home: 14–18–9; Away: 15–24–2) * game decided in overtime or shoot-out

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2015 preseason game log: 3–5–0 (Home: 1–3–0; Road: 2–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 21 Ottawa 1–4 Toronto Bernier 16,734 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 21 Toronto 4–3 Ottawa OT Sparks 15,542 2–0–0 Recap 3 September 22 Toronto 2–1 Montreal OT Sparks 21,287 3–0–0 Recap 4 September 25 Buffalo 6–4 Toronto Bernier 17,403 3–1–0 Recap 5 September 26 Montreal 1–0 Toronto Reimer 17,992 3–2–0 Recap 6 September 29 Toronto 0–4 Buffalo Bernier 17,357 3–3–0 Recap 7 October 2 Toronto 2–4 Detroit Reimer 19,149 3–4–0 Recap 8 October 3 Detroit 2–1 Toronto Bernier 17,879 3–5–0 Recap – indicates split-squad game.

Regular season