Have we witnessed the 'last chance' for this group in Toronto?

The TSN Hockey panel discussed whether or not this year's playoff exit is the final straw for this Maple Leafs group, Toronto's scoring struggles throughout the postseason, what led to Nick Cousins' series-winning goal in overtime, and more after Florida eliminated Toronto in Game 5.

[@miyu545]

Three things killed the leaf's. Character, effort, and losing most battles for the puck. You watch that overtime and count the number of times Florida ended up with the puck in a one-on-one situation.

[@walkerpercy8702]

Same thing happened to the Bruins

[@thisspacenotforrent]

What character?!

[@grahamwride1240]

Simply outmuscled, outhustled and outworked ... consistently.

[@alpe6228]

They lost to the better team,Leafs arent good enough for playoffs.They are a good regular season team and thats it.

[@teemo3192]

True, and for players on the outside, TO would be the last place I'd wanna play. Fishbowl franchise, followed by Monrayall & Ottawa

[@mr8966]

Need a GM with a first loyalty to winning, not to his core fore. ⛳️

[@almVancouver]

Bingo!

[@johnnybegood3855]

Who's Running the Leafs the Core Four the problem not Barney Rubble Keefe .

[@dougb5202]

Ha ha, I see what you did there.

[@SavedByZero]

Or perhaps more appropriately, MLSE. Apart from gate revenue from additional games is the franchise hurting?

[@mr8966]

@@SavedByZero Larry just announced he’s trading the Leafs for the Senators.

[@dylanhope3252]

At the very least, it’s the end of the core four - it should be, anyway. Trying to go on another run with this core of forwards won’t yield different results. Matthews was a no-show this entire series. Only two of their four best forwards mustered at least one goal, and they didn’t come until game 4. I’m expecting massive changes in the off-season for the Leafs.

[@edwinrivera5695]

You got it right, dylan

[@turboplazz]

The core that needs to go are Shanahan and Dubys. New leaders can come in and decide on coach and player adjustments if any.

[@Moneyovertruth]

Player adjustments if any lol. The team a bunch of of cowards... got no heart. All talent up front and trash defense... this team can never ever win a cup. Blow it up already. Getting to the insanity point to keep doing the same and expecting different results😂

[@jleif7736]

@@turboplazz oy vey. No the core that needs to go is either Matthews, Marner, and or Tavares.. All 3 of those guys stink when it comes to playoff hockey. They show no heart, they show no grit, they show no drive, they show no leadership. And that last point specifically is highlighted for Tavares. He's a captain, when you aren't producing in the locker room, AND on the score sheet, you have to go 100%... Imagine replacing Tavares, with a center like Sebastion Aho. And or a Stamkos, Barkov, Draisaitl, if the Leafs want to get good, they have to replace some of their stars, if not, the same exact results will occur, and I'm telling you right now, if Dubas tries to give this core 1 more go, and it fails yet again, I think the entirety of them will either A. Want to leave and go to an actual contender, or B. get traded by new management.

[@turboplazz]

@J Leif simply put the captain and steward of the ship is Dubys. The teams failure is his and Shanahans as the architects. I am not saying the players you mentioned should not go. I am saying the time for Dubys and Shanahan to make those calls has expired.

[@NeedsMore360s]

Give more credit to a stellar team in the Panthers. Toronto analysts always focus on what Toronto did wrong or didn't do but never give more credit to what opponents did right. These Panthers beat the most wining team in NHL history. There's a lot more to what they did right than what Toronto did wrong.

[@andyd5038]

Yup. Sending two proud franchises into tailspins in back to back series.

[@OwenGoward]

💯

[@krisrolph1058]

This is exactly why Toronto doesn't win. They only look inwards. Fans, players, coaching staff, mgmt, media. Everything is always inward. I think Mitch Marner's interview really exemplifies the mentality in the Leafs locker room. And the "core four" never own up to playing like shit. Dubas doubles down on the core. It's obvious. If you want to win with most of this core, trade Marner. It's very akin to why teachers don't like you grouped with your friends. You underperform. Matthews and Marner don't work together for whatever reason. You gotta get rid of one to see the other truly become a good player. Which one do you keep? I say trade mitch the bitch cause his parents obviously do most of his decision making for him. He has zero grit, zero self awareness and zero ability to critique himself. Matthews I feel would be able to pull his own shit together. Tavares needs to go too but with that contract I'd just give him lifetime golf membership and tell him to retire. You replace Keefe, Marner and Tavares and the Leafs win the cup next year. 20m in cap to then upgrade every piece of the roster around Matthews and Nylander. Dubas has separation anxiety though so that won't happen.

[@Thisisbailie]

There are more clicks for Leafs haters coming here to drool over how bad the Leafs are

[@Matthew-cw3gn]

At the end of the day, Toronto finally won a playoff series only to lose in 5 (including 3 home losses) to yet another lower seed.

[@familyvideos5403]

For me, two things really highlighted the attitude surrounding the Leafs. One was that Gudas hit in game 4. It was a fair enough hit IMO, however, you don't get to lay a hit on a guy like that and not get pounced on by the other team. After the hit, Gudas turned around to fight whoever was coming... and there was no one. The second thing that amazed me was the tribute videos for the Leafs after round 1. I've never seen tribute videos for a team whose season was still alive!!!

[@scottcampbell5536]

Legal hit? He charged from the blueline and layed the hit a good 2 seconds after the whistle. Maybe even 3. The Leafs of course did nothing demonstrating the same gutless game that they played all year.

[@familyvideos5403]

I'd need to rewatch it. If you're right, the lack of response is even worse.

[@andrewbulley4745]

Came from the blue line at speed no intent to play the puck and 2 seconds at least after the whistle. Could have been called charging, boarding, roughing. Literally a handful of calls to be made and not 1. Directly in front of a ref and when you see goudas instantly turn to look for who's coming for him you know he knew it was dirty. It's not even debatable.

[@familyvideos5403]

My point was that he didn't get any pushback for the hit. No one on Toronto made an issue of it.

[@Matt_76]

Don't forget about knies. Your teammates gets taken down like that, which caused him to missed the rest of the series. I would be throwing bombs.

[@breakaway2x]

We never should have lost Hyman, Kadri and Kapanen. Anyways, I'd love to see a new rebuild begin. We could get great pieces back for Matthews, Marner, Nylander, and Tavares.

[@andrewbulley4745]

Tavares will be here until atleast '25 unless he waives his nmc which wont happen, likely he stays until he retires if he takes a team friendly renewal. Nylander likely is staying if the other 2 are gone, there's a month to move Matthew's and marner I don't see it happening

[@__________f9433]

You must be trolling. Leafs have no salary cap and these four can’t get it done so move on.

[@Kylepersonal]

Totally agree about Hyman.

[@theliftexpert]

The leafs gave up their blue line and continued to back into the hash marks 12 games in a row . Then when they got the puck offensively both Florida teams stood them at the blue line,so the Make Believes had to dump and chase . The leaf’s coaching staff is the problem here.

[@kelliemoon2796]

Keefe not good enough to coach NHL team for playoffs.

[@MissX905]

They made stupid passes all night. Why shoot the puck across the ice when there was a Panther player close enough to intercept the puck? Why shoot the puck into the center on your own side when one of your own player wasn't in that spot? I wish they had of won but not surprised they didn't neither. Typical of this team.

[@kevinmacisaac4856]

I really think Keefe lost the room ,wasn't in charge .

[@VangeliRock]

Man. Imagine, one home game win in 2 rounds. Not one goal from Matthews in round 2? Powerplay disappears again. The Leafs always seem to find new ways to lose. I hope Anderson wins the cup.

[@pomerlain8924]

They did win Game 2 at home against the Lightning.

[@VangeliRock]

@@pomerlain8924 Oh right, thanks. My bad. Correction made.

[@michael-hc6ep]

Let's go Carolina.

[@SuperStrik9]

Matthews, Marner, Tavares 1 goal in round 2. Pathetic.

[@jeffreym.8957]

The PP was 25.0%. The Panthers stayed out of the box for the most part.

[@1976boru]

If Matthews doesn’t agree to an extension this summer then they have to move him.

[@afzalhakeen4941]

i hope he leaves . hes a USELESS HOCKEY PLAYER -WASTE OF MONEY

[@yuliojones4633]

If matthews agrees to an extension I will become a habs fan. I would keep o Reilly before AM. Trade him for a goalie and some d. Keep woll, has huge potential he just needs d in front of him

[@alphadog1961]

EXACTLY,MOVE anybody that does not WANT to be here !

[@MichaelThomas-ll1hw]

@@yuliojones4633 dude I would personally drive Oreilly to practice every day if it meant keeping him… I don’t want to see matthews in blue and white ever again

[@misterritter9854]

They need to figure it out before July 1st(even if they can't sign it until then), otherwise they're over a barrel when it comes to trading him.

[@Matthew-cw3gn]

The Capitals are not a good comparison because Ovi and Backstrom were the only two players from the original playoff runs who were still on the team when they finally won. There had been a dozen different top 6ers and top pair d-men who were cycled through.

[@TheFrithMeister]

Don' forget John Carlsson he was a staple on that blue line for a few years. Yeah I wouldn't compare this core to the Caps, the Caps core players for the most part still showed up in the playoffs unlike Marner and Matthew.

[@pomerlain8924]

And those Capital teams at least won some playoff series. They just couldn't get past the second round in a lot of those years.

[@Matthew-cw3gn]

@@TheFrithMeister Carlson actually didn't become their 1D until like 2013. The first five years the Caps made the playoffs, their core was Ovechkin, Backstrom, Semin, and Green.

[@PhilTeoli]

Remember who the coach was. That helped as well.

[@geebster.]

Ovie also scored in the playoffs. At a high rate. They lost but it wasn't because Ovie didn't show up.

[@andrewsutton2266]

You know summer's coming when TSN is talking about who the leafs need to trade to win in the playoffs

[@bobabooey4537]

This is a coaching issue. I wonder why all the experts arent talking about it? Maybe they are blinded by great regular season records? I am convinced this is on Keefe. He came in with a skilled squad as a rookie coach. Its been a few seasons now... playoff choke.... a lack of team structure and very much a motivational issue. Its time to look at the coaching, or lack there of....., especially in the playoffs.

[@pomerlain8924]

This team was having these problems back during the days of Babcock. He publicly called out the stars, and they whined about not liking it, and he was fired. It's not just a coaching problem. For what this core is being paid, they can't be invisible. They should be the best players on the ice, and they aren't.

[@MissX905]

Hire Ted Nolan to be their coach, what harm could it do?

[@johnsummerhill8323]

Not enough 3rd and 4th line players. That put way too much pressure on the 1st two lines.

[@johnsummerhill8323]

​@@MissX905 Joel Quennville.

[@pomerlain8924]

@@johnsummerhill8323 And that's mostly because the Leafs don't have money to pay for decent bottom 6 players. 4 forwards take-up 40% of their cap space, with three of those guys, who've never won anything, making over $10M a year.

[@post1113]

Dubas AND SHANAHAN should both be gone!!!!! “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.” --Albert Einstein

[@arthurau9231]

Dubas to the Pens.

[@xtasydesigns6982]

I hope they run it back so I can witness this comedy show all over again.

[@BobsUruncle-dl7cs]

@@arthurau9231 Dubas out of the NHL for good and back to his parents basement.

[@arthurau9231]

@@BobsUruncle-dl7cs That is just your baseless opinion as you have no facts to support your claim.

[@arthurau9231]

@@BobsUruncle-dl7cs It's easy to talk trash when you're not the one making the decision or are an employee of the team. If you think winning is so easy, then I dare you to apply to become the next GM of the Leafs. But you won't because you're a coward who is all talk and no bite.

[@xtasydesigns6982]

The funniest thing ever was leaf fans saying Florida is not a real nhl team 😂

[@toasty862]

Projection lol

[@mandk6089]

Carolina will sweep Florida.

[@spittinvenom9843]

Uhhhh, no we didn’t

[@LightSpeedRecords]

They aren’t dumb clown

[@LightSpeedRecords]

They are dirty unsportsmanlike GOONS you do know there is rules in hockey right…. And when they don’t get enforced you know it’s FUCKING FIXED

[@charlieb308]

Marner played 24 minutes a game in playoffs, 3 goals…Matthew’s 23 minutes zero goals, that’s Gretzky icetime numbers

[@JohnSmith-eq5el]

I bet the first thing that went through Matthews' head was...Thank God that's over with....

[@craigharrison5406]

Well to be fair Matthews had 5 goals in the playoffs. But they were all in the first round.

[@charlieb308]

@@craigharrison5406 he will soon be the highest paid guy in league, around 15 mill per year, he cares more about money than winning

[@craigharrison5406]

@@charlieb308 no argument from me about that.

[@JD-cg2qb]

My opinion marner and Mathews were the worst players on the team

[@qlyde]

We need to put less blame on the players when we're literally pulling lines out of a hat in the second round and still running them through the blender every night. I love Keefe for who he is, but he failed. He failed to establish a lineup and a role for our guys when we've had the same core for years. The Leafs were improvising and it was clear to see with all the mistakes and disorganized play, they never really knew who was going to be on the ice with them and where their guys would be. On Great Teams, the players, coaches, and fans know exactly who their Top 6 and Top D Pair is from the halfway point of the season, maybe small changes during the deadline or late additions like Knies come into the mix, but they certainly aren't making major lineup changes in round 2 and still running a blender mid game with bottom 6 guys getting shot up to 1st line. The talent doesn't matter when it's on a disorganized team. We lost to a team that was worse on paper because they were established and prepared, knowing their roles, playing in sync as a unit for the back end of the season preparing for playoffs. *_We need a Coach who can establish a lineup and a role for our guys from top to bottom_* If you look back at cup winning teams, with less "talent", the list does not favor teams who do what Keefe has done.

[@RR-xu5xk]

Keefe also did this with more than 10 games left in the regular season until the end...not good. Not fair on the players at all.

[@charlieb308]

So the issue is coaching? For 7 years the guys making 11 million can’t score in the playoffs but they put up huge regular season number with same coach

[@bBrooksR]

@@charlieb308 yes the issue is coaching. Haven’t had a coach that knows what he’s doing with this team in 20 nearly 30 years

[@charlieb308]

@@bBrooksR the Leafs top 4 players have never been great in the playoffs, they can’t score when it counts, a coach could help in some ways but he can’t teach them how to score in the playoffs. Playoffs you need to drive to the net and get hit scoring

[@quonslecn7755]

Wow didn't notice this until the replay, but Gudas was literally holding onto Jarnkrok's stick!

[@michael-hc6ep]

No kidding

[@michaelkirkpatrick7483]

I thought interference right away, but refs saw it differently, and leafs didn't howl about it at all.

[@etiennelemieux9024]

And snowed the goalie

[@bspangenberg3002]

I’m not a Leaf’s fan but what else could Dubas of done? This is in their core imo

[@GoldCountryTrapping]

He shows more pushback form the press box then marner does on the ice.

[@ChefC03]

​@@GoldCountryTrappingmarner was your best player out of the four. I don't get the marner hate from a non Toronto fan.

[@charlieb308]

@@ChefC03Marner plays 24 minutes per game and had 3 goals, most he ever had in a playoff year. He is not a rough player who will take a hit to make a play. Soft as mink fur.

[@saskk2290]

​@@charlieb308 still more skilled than anyone else on the ice. They didn't lose because of Mitch

[@charlieb308]

@@saskk2290 for 10.9 million dollars you need to score more, Thachuk is better than all players on Leafs, he had 100 points and can play nasty, not scared to go to the net. Matthew’s, Nylander and Marner carry a purse

[@andrewmcleod1684]

Nobody uses this word anymore but I think it's relevant: Chemistry

[@MKGamingByMunish]

I’m glad Toronto is out but Gudas was CLEARLY holding the stick!!!

[@garynickels1359]

And no whistle to be heard............

[@jeffreym.8957]

@@garynickels1359 The whistles had been put away periods before. The third was a free-for-all except for the over-the-glass nonsense.

[@doug7170]

11mil for a 3rd line center in taveras. Thats a huge problem for next 2 yrs.

[@wihamaki]

@TogetherWeAreOne No movement clause. And because his actual contract is $910,000 plus signing bonuses, it would still be a $10,393,333 cap hit.

[@grahamwride1240]

Hope so; time for a new management team to sort this out with a new mind-set regarding players, compensation, etc.

[@leaf16nut]

I hope so, none of them have any heart or killer instinct

[@muchmuschik444]

Morgan absolutely does

[@LightSpeedRecords]

Fake fan go cheer for the Habs clown who won’t even make the play offs

[@leaf16nut]

@@muchmuschik444 I was more so talking about the big 4 forwards, Mo definitely does as a D, despite what people have been saying about him at times.

[@Matthew-cw3gn]

So glad that Cousins actually shot that. He's spent all series deferring since being bumped up to the second line. And props to Radko. That's a guy who deserves his UFA value, and I hope we're the ones who offer it.

[@newms69]

Panthers want him back.

[@shakrmakr]

Gudas held Jarnkrok’s stick to allow Cousins to score. Should have been no goal and PP for the Leafs.

[@ValhallaRaven]

Toronto Maple Leafs: all the talent in the world with zero heart. The most stacked roster in the league, but no idea how to play together. The only player that consistently showed up for Toronto is Morgan Rielly. He’s the leader of that team…not Matthews, not Tavares, not Marner, and definitely not Nylander.

[@davidfoster3427]

The leafs had trouble against panthers fore check. Stellar goaltending once again played a large part in the series loss. Not playing Woll from the start was a huge mistake. Samsonov was hurt against Tampa and his injury was telling by his play. The coach is toast cause some one has to tossed under the bus.

[@alphadog1961]

The GM made this team,he gets another pass?Great teams are built from the Goalie and Defense out to fearless forwards with as much Heart as Skill.

[@taz_trader]

@@alphadog1961 If you really think of it though is it Dubas' fault that matthews, marner and tavares arent producing points in playoffs? They're stars in the reg season but disapear in playoffs. I think it's more a coaching issue and a player issue. Tavares needs to go, give morgan rielly the C. Trade Holl, Brodie, Kerfoot, Tavares.

[@drew651]

@@taz_trader It is his fault that they didn't have the cap space to sign an elite goalie. Tavares has a no move and I doubt anyone else would want that contract anyways, Holl and Kerfoot are UFAs. So your big plan is... trade Brodie, get the MLSE board on the phone, we found the new GM!

[@taz_trader]

@@drew651 dont care pay them out and get rid of them.

[@drew651]

@@taz_trader Do you understand how a buyout works? You couldm't even replace Tavares with a league minimum player with the cap hit savings. Even if it was the league minimum, what player is putting up 80 points a season on a league minimum salary. You are hurt and upset. But you are just talking out the wrong hole at this point.

[@Rendell05]

Ditch Marner and Matthews Ive never seen a more spineless pair. Not sure Tavares is THE captain, but you can at least see with Tavares OT winner and Nylander's forecheck throughout the series they have the ability to step up. They all need to be questioned and evaluated accordingly though. Reilly too how tf did he dodge being called out all playoffs.

[@markco61]

The Panthers are very much in sync in terms of chemistry and well coordinated play efforts and obviously have good depth, they are not so dependent on one line (core 4) that folds under pressure when needed most as in the Leafs case.

[@jeffreym.8957]

Good balanced team. Tough defense. Good goaltending from Florida Bob (for a change).

[@TheFlightLevel]

The Leafs have changed everything from GMs, coaches, players over the past few decades! Doesn’t matter what is changed, it doesn’t work in Toronto! Money doesn’t get the cup! Heart gets the cup and Toronto never recruits heart when it counts!

[@italian1ist]

This is the most relevant and fitting comment here. It sums it all up.

[@s10096]

Fully agreed

[@benprins8240]

I think Matthews, Nylander, Keefe and Dubas may be gone. Though I wanna see some team and management changes We definitely need more effort, grit and heart.

[@michaelkirkpatrick7483]

I agree with Matthews and Keefe. Not so sure about Dubas and Nylander.

[@benprins8240]

@@michaelkirkpatrick7483 kk cool

[@LightSpeedRecords]

You don’t know anything

[@benprins8240]

@@LightSpeedRecordsI know that the Leafs need more heart, effort, grit, passion and consistency to be a very successful team.

[@jeffreym.8957]

@@LightSpeedRecords What you don't know could fill a library. Why all the insults? Why not a comment explaining why he is wrong?

[@almVancouver]

Issues: 1. Leafs play a regular season game that pads their core scorers stats. 2. Leafs lack a (or another 1st pairing D) 3. 1 series win in 8 years is inexcusable as a rebuild. 4. Drafting is horrendous. 5. Forced bargain bin shopping and lack of player graduating each season or two leaves the club with no affordable replacement players. Eight years ago Shanahan talked about building a continually competitive team. Like all other Leaf's management in the past, they completely ignored this part of the process. 6. I can't see the logic of bringing Dubas back. He's married the core, coach and style of play that rewards individual point getters. 7. Keefe has been out coached in several series...including Florida's. Keefe must be fired. 8. Can pretty much go on ad infinitum In a nutshell, here's what I think whoever is running the team in a few weeks should do: - Fire Keefe - Trade Matthews and Marner before July. In the process of trading off cap, ensure a first pairing D is brought back. - Plan to resign Nylander for a couple million more if possible. If not, and depending team chances come next trade deadline, let him play out his contract or trade him. - Give Schenn a big hug then get him signed to a value contract - Attempt to get ROR at a reasonable price. He's a Spezza type in the fact you want him in the organization after his career. - Really, most of the deadline deals worked out well. Probably good idea to get whoever needs a contract resigned. - With another first pairing D in hand besides Rielly, other D men can move 1 spot down the lineup. Good problem to have. - Give Rielly the C. - Identify what "will to win" 20+ goal scorers are available and acquire. - Sign Samsonov to reasonble contract. - Woll and Samsonov battle it out next season. - Buy out Murray. - New focus on sustainable model where drafting/developing is paramount.

[@OvieSnips8]

One of the reasons this franchise will not win a cup in a long time. The pressure from/around the media. If Florida lost no sports media there would care lol. If they win they wouldn't care. Toronto media will be talking about this playoffs for weeks.

[@michaelkirkpatrick7483]

The pressure cooker of Toronto is incredible. 1-5 at home. Then you have all those moronic fans "we want Florida". Media coverage will be daily for months, speculating the major changes ahead.

[@MarmiteMangoMachine]

Not a legitimate excuse at all. The pressure the Leafs are under pales in comparison to teams in other sports. I mean ffs, a Colombian footballer was murdered for scoring an own goal at the World Cup in '94. Hockey fans are always joking about how soft footballers are compared to tough hockey players, but somehow think it's reasonable for a team to collapse under pressure. There are plenty of teams in bigger sports with rabid fans and scrutinizing media that get the job done.

[@philippotter1610]

I cant believe that I have given up on Leaf's after 50 years!!!!!!!! Great Leaf management, great coach....the players blew the greatest opportunity of their careers!!!!!!!!!! The window has closed.

[@DrunkenGuitarGuy]

great coach?? then why were they so flat to start games and periods through the playoffs?? coach's job is to have the team prepared, he failed at that!

[@andrewwilkins3014]

Coach was actually the worst part of the organization… drop passes and stretch passes is not a system

[@TMLJunK]

I've been cheering for 40 years, as well. But I have to disagree about the coach. This is the coach that took away any form of physical play and rewarded his favourite players, even if they repeatedly made dumb mistakes. Just look at all the players who have been added over the past three years who have made their money playing physical-type of games, only to sit on the bench or the press box

[@salamicheeks7420]

They have a core not built for the playoffs. Amazing talent but the magic ends after game 82. The future looks rough. Not to mention teams in their division like Buffalo, Ottawa and Detroit are so young and talented. If leaf’s don’t do anything those three teams are the future of the division. Unfortunately for leaf fans they’re going to have to say goodbye to some favorites.

[@kelliemoon2796]

Great coach? He was outcoached in every playoff game except one.

[@mct4228]

I would follow this good team along, they are exciting. Another tweek, better injury luck. Just dont know if I can endure much more media.

[@fraz2983]

How do you not make mention Gudas grabbed Jarncroks stick and held it the whole time on that gwg?

[@wildmanofthewynooch7028]

The era ended in 1967!

[@seyedshir183]

Keefe should of been fired after the Montreal collapse nothings changed.

[@kelliemoon2796]

Never impressed with Keefe. He is just a standard, average coach and that doesn't get you far in playoffs. Hope Dubas does the right thing and remove him.

[@michaelkirkpatrick7483]

I agree. He was out coached by a rookie Habs coach. It was astounding that Keefe survived that debacle.

[@davesway1170]

I'd like to see Shanahan and Dubas gone. The amount of first round picks that have left for minimal success and advancement is enough for me to start fresh from the top, and turn this team into a different direction

[@dougb5202]

It's the day after, why am I not seeing headlines of Keefes firing? And yes, that was the last time you get to see Matthews in a Leafs jersey

[@fldumars3574]

Matthews needs to take a paycut for his next contract if this team wants to stay competitive

[@glasscockpits]

Seriously, we both know that won't happen. Maybe if he was in his final years in the NHL but he's not.

[@longriflem14]

Matthews is Going To AZ and will be the Next Coming of Shane Doan like Status and being home grown. Plus his skill set playing against the central will shred, and the Coyotes have some talent. Would be cool to see.

[@michaelkirkpatrick7483]

lol... when Pigs fly.... I think Matthews wants to leave, so he'll ask for a ridiculous salary (14M), which forces Leafs to trade him this summer. IF Arizona says yes to Keller, Moser, 1st rounder 2024, and 2nd rounder 2025, then just do it. Then he'll probably sign with Arizona for 12.5M. Coyotes did not get Bedard, so they will have interest. They can't risk rebuilding forever.

[@stellad9309]

It’s not always about the best players it’s the right players. To start Dubas and shanahan gone this is there team signing big shitty contracts. Look at teams that won the cup passion character players they should look at the scouts also

[@wihamaki]

Toronto signed a big UFA contract just like Tampa Bay did the previous year for almost the same net income. So with taxes added on top of that one player's net income, the contract and cap-hit is $2,500,000 more. The reality is, the salary cap is $82.5 million and an extra $10 million+ of that goes to Ontario taxes compared to the Leaf's competitors like Florida where that money goes into the player's bank accounts. Hence no matter how you stack the chairs on the Titanic, the ship will always sink.

[@savethisforlater]

More sponsorship and advertising income in Toronto though

[@Ghost-ir7yl]

Will has a solid contract compared to the JT, Matthews and marner

[@drew651]

@@wihamaki You are right but you are also wrong. Marner, Matthews and Tavares have huge signing bonus and their salaries are about league minimum. The first 2 years of all three of those players contracts they got 15 million dollars on july 1st. Something few other teams can do. So to have all that cash up front they can invest it and then the taxes don't really matter much.

[@lacorriveauband]

Add a REAL talented power forward in the mix and it can change a lot of things.

[@rbrucerye]

It should be the end of the core 4 if only because they have proven themselves to not be able to step it up when it matters most in the playoffs on a regular basis. Given the contract situation, I really hope they trade Marner in the offseason before his NMC kicks in.

[@jeffreym.8957]

Marner is their best player and makes the other guys better. Matthews and Tavares are the weak links.

[@unreadmessages-tl6sd]

Remember...Florida won the President's Trophy last season. Better team won here folks, it's that simple.

[@pomerlain8924]

But last year's team didn't have Tkachuk and they had a coach employed a run-and-gun style instead of being responsible in defense and heavy forechecking.

[@newms69]

@@pomerlain8924 point Being?

[@spittinvenom9843]

That and a ref assist on “neglecting” the interference on OT goal

[@pomerlain8924]

@@newms69 This Florida team is much better built for the playoffs than last year's team. They have a lot more grit and physicality, are a lot better in their own zone, and are willing to work. That was missing last year.

[@merc340sr]

The core four are usually great players, but...to me they don't seem to have the leadership and charisma to inspire and rally a team...

[@zalapski9399]

When do trade deadline deals ever work out well for teams?

[@ilkkak3065]

Last year when Colorado got Artturi Lehkonen.

[@Hagiazo]

If I was a Leaf’s fan I’d be really upset with the players. The stars rolled over. Should have been carrying the team on their backs and they didn’t. And Goaltending was not an issue.

[@alienspace3960]

noel acciari ryan o reilly were good additions but looking back i think they sure picked the wrong organization.

[@wihamaki]

@TogetherWeAreOne It's okay to sign UFA's, but it always has to be at a discount. Ontario taxes swallow up a majority of the salary cap, leaving less actual player earning to negotiate with. As a Leaf fan, don't just say this for Toronto, but teams like Ottawa and Montreal are also screwed by this as well and have to be very careful with their contracts.

[@michaelkirkpatrick7483]

They were traded from St Louis, they weren't UFA's. Leafs have serious cap issues, but if Matthews is traded, there should be some cap space to hopefully keep both of them if the prices are right.

[@MizMite2002]

They lacked the spirit of 93.

[@markthomas3730]

i agree that Matthews & Tavares were lackluster to say it politely...

[@fldumars3574]

It’s shame TSN doesn’t get any playoff games

[@xcalibur1986]

Holl, gio, brodie were the biggest problems. None can skate and constantly turned over the puck. Core 4 cant do much with zero support from half the d and being stuck in own zone. And why was Gustafson, i guy who can skate and move the puck not playing?

[@shakrmakr]

Amen.

[@michaelkirkpatrick7483]

Gust has great offensive skills, but his d play is worse than Holl's. Very puzzling he was part of the Sandin trade. Guess he was a throw in for Leafs to get Washington's 1st round pick.

[@xcalibur1986]

@Michael Kirkpatrick he played 1 playoff game, we won that game, and he looked fine. Regardless, the d i listed got progressively worse. Keefe and dubas loyalty to holl I'll never understand. As i said, to me, the biggest difference in the series was toronto d vs florida d.

[@deanclark3705]

Does the NHL and perhaps every major league sport need an independent body that controls the officiating. Something to think about.

[@johnsummerhill8323]

They will be back but hopefully the team can put together proper 3rd and 4th. Lines. That is what wins in the playoffs.

[@steverichard2786]

Hope the Laughs keep trying. It's so hilarious every May rinse n repeat 🤣

[@Thisisbailie]

I thought it was April. Keep changing the goal posts

[@Thisisbailie]

@@togetherweareone2235 if the Leafs folded the NHL would collapse whike the media would have nothing to talk about.

[@gregorybiestek3431]

If Leafs Nation will permit two comments from across the border in Detroit. (1) if you want to make me happy, keep everything and everybody together and keep banging your heads against the walls. HOWEVER (2) if you want better results lose two of your core four players and go get 2-3 guys who make $6 million a year, don't do much during the regular season, but come playoff time can give you a Gordie Howe hat trick most playoff nights.

[@wihamaki]

Out of the Leaf's salary cap, they have millions more that goes towards taxes compared to Detroit. If a player is making $6 million in Detroit, to sign in Toronto, he's not just going to accept the loss he'll experience in extra taxes. He'll want more.

[@zeeshawnali4078]

So glad they're done. Maybe now TSN and other supposedly national media will realize there are other teams in these playoffs.

[@gforce9342]

CBC is brutal too. Do they think everyone watching is a Leafs fan ? Craig Simpson is the worst.

[@kristinejackson8268]

They are pulling for any Canadian team too win its been 30 plus year a Canadian raised the cup. Its all up too the oilers now.

[@cahg3871]

As Poulin said-Mathews has the hammer.Wouldn’t want to be the Gm trying to figure out who stays and who goes to be cap compliment and competitive.

[@MrUndersolo]

You misspelled "Error" in your thumbnail.

[@oldrockgeeser9426]

Next year the core group will still be there, who in their right mind would trade high quality players or high draft picks for any of these losers. They will clean the management and coaches and the bottom 6 that will run away from Toronto but they will be stuck with the core until their contract ends and get nothing in return.

[@marcelleclair4452]

There is a lesson in that statement. If a player demands a huge salary that takes so much cap space that it becomes impossible to build a team then it’s a losing strategy. It’s even worse when there are three or four of these contracts. That’s a recipe for a losing team. Unless those core players are proven beasts in the playoffs which is not the case

[@michaelkirkpatrick7483]

Think the coach will go first. Then Matthews will ask for outrageous amount of money to extend, and Leafs will wind up trading him to Arizona or Los Angeles. Not sure what happens with Dubas. He might refuse to fire Keefe and/or not commit to trading out one of the core, so ownership might say go ahead and walk. Treliving is available as a replacement. Leafs will be the talk of the summer, no doubt about it

[@samgardner4667]

Something has to give. They have too much money tied up in too few players

[@moritzguderian8381]

If they still keep everything the same, there is no change this franchise needs change it hasn't worked for 7 years. It's pathetic

[@kylemacdonald2929]

The core four need start thinking like Crosby and stamkos and take a pay cut so they can build around them. Crosby and stamkos both have several cups and that’s exactly why they took huge pay cuts. What’s more important Stanley cup or getting even more rich they have a lot of money be smart and take a fucking pay cut.

[@johnschober1819]

4 over paid guys, not heart no fight

[@allentam5754]

We finally found out the core 4 is the problem not the bottom lines because the bottomline did well so the core 4 needs to be broken up. I think nylander is the one that is going to be traded because he makes the least at $6.9 million. I hope they consider buying out JT. Which means Marner and Matthews left.

[@kelliemoon2796]

Agree with that. Marner and Matthews are very talented players. Just getting rid of Tavares contract will be huge and Nylander is one of those players who scores a lot but doesn't fit with anybody well... For the right trade, he can be replaced.

[@locust4931]

"Some people might think that's interference" yet there is close up love play angles of Gudas deliberately grabbing a hold of Jarns stick eliminating him from defending Cousins shot and that isn't a penalty?

[@professorfoxtrot]

If there was a symbol of the Leafs playoff effort, it would be Auston Matthews pawing at his opponent as gets pummeled.

[@Landis_Grant]

A ERA in the title

[@vangoghsear8657]

Get rid of the core. Useless in the playoffs when they can't play 100% while other teams don't suffer this problem near as much.This has been ongoing forever.

[@johnsummerhill8323]

There goes the playoffs . The first two lines get you to the playoffs but it takes good 3rd and 4th lines to win the playoffs. Something the Leafs don't have. Same issue with the Oilers. Without the top players, no playoffs at all

[@LightSpeedRecords]

That’s why they got out the first round for the 1st time in 19 years… how slow are you… you do know Michael Jordan played for the bulls ten years before he got his first chip.. YALL brains rotted on bud light or what

[@noahmatthew6658]

Florida is a great team don’t forget that

[@GoldCountryTrapping]

And Tampa was severely banged up with a goalie not playing near his best.

[@jays2035]

lol

[@mckessa17]

Florida traded there atar player Huberdeau for Calgary's best player Tkachuk and it worked. The Leafs should do a trade like that, no big changes needed.

[@michaelkirkpatrick7483]

Coyote's best forward is Clayton Keller. Their best d-man is JD Moser. Throw in couple of high draft picks, and get the deal done.

[@jeffreym.8957]

@@michaelkirkpatrick7483 Keller, Cooley and their first rounder in 2023.

[@patrickrimbao4233]

REBUILDING phase, hope TML can even qualify is a big achievement..

[@donovanjd3]

Tampa outplayed them

[@davemunt573]

They showed no fight.Soft doesn't begin to describe them

[@michaelkirkpatrick7483]

Only showed spunk when their backs were against the wall, and even then, couldn't do much, because it was way too late. Game 3 was the Killer. Knew they were toast after that disgraceful display. I give credit to Panthers, who played excellent playoff hockey, but Leafs made it easier for them. Enough... time for some heavy changes...

[@brucegillies2429]

Yes...time to change things up.

[@MickShaftItsAPun]

Hey, I've seen this one! It's a classic!

[@ekim4363]

A wise man once said the Maple Leafs suck

[@RSTL1234]

Having the best players on a team doesn't work you need to develop roles on the team ! Like The HABS did in the 7O's

[@kennethsutton8815]

Replace Taveras with Ryan O'Riley as Captain and that will solve your problem. Taveras is too soft.

[@michaelkirkpatrick7483]

I think Reilly should have been the captain way back when. JT has zero leadership qualities. Didn't have any in Long Island either. He was average player there in playoffs as well. He's basically untradeable, we're stuck with him.

[@dasqueege7903]

Leafs Are done for another 20 years

[@johndelben53]

I JUST LOVE THIS

[@dawnwilson1529]

I really like Tavares, but I'm not sure he's strong enough to be the captain of this team...they need to change management Shanahan & Dubas have had their chance..

[@matthewclark2341]

I wish commenters would have some balls. “Some people might call that interference” what the hell are you watching he held onto the stick and pushed him to make a lane. Brodie holds a stick it’s 2 mins gudas holds a stick it’s a season ender. The officials in the series were terrible on both ends but calls on important things like clear penalties that would stop the play can’t be missed.

[@Bink1221]

How is that not interference? He held Jarnkroks stick took him right out of his ability to defend. Fuckin joke.

[@pajamatime5750]

Yeah bud ya can’t say that or you’re a whiny leaf’s fan…. It’s a missed call on a series ending goal. Not to mention the non goal was A GOAL!!!!!

[@opticalecho119]

@@pajamatime5750 if your team is good enough to win the cup they make up for those missed calls and they don’t break their back. When you’re a bad team you put yourself in bad situations where if something goes wrong the whole season is over.

[@independentmind7782]

@@pajamatime5750 thanks for your unbiased analysis

[@itzMoJo67]

@@pajamatime5750 i don't think it was a goal, whistle went before it visibly crossed the line. If it would have been called a goal on the ice, it would have stood. But there were a lot of other bad calls in that game that were just as horrible. like that last play for sure, and that icing. a lot of missed calls for sure.

[@timdowney6721]

@@pajamatime5750 You lost the first three games of the series. You went down 2 goals at home in an elimination game. You never scored more than 2 goals in any game in the series. You deserved to lose. Now go back to sleep.

[@jberczi6]

i) Taveres: this guy is worth half his contract. Blackmail him to remove that no-trade and dish him ii) Matthews: Was a no-show in rd. 2 and seriously lacks effort at times, he's still one of the top 5 players in the league though. Try to re-sign him in the offseason or move him iii) Marner: Sometimes great, sometimes a liability. Ultimately not worth his contract and not what the team needs. Should be moved. iv) Nylander: try to re-sign this off-season, if not you still keep him v) Reilly: Bad regular season but showed up in the playoffs. Contract is not great, but we have worse, he's a keep.

[@brianbenson3669]

Matthews to the Blackhawks for the #1 pick (Bedard)! Old(ish) star for a rising new star .... solves the Leafs cap issues.

[@tjp1451]

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. - Einstein

[@Irish_all_day]

The end of an era in Toronto and the birth of a new one in Florida! Go panthers!!!

[@goldenfuture6167]

A sports organization is a centralized, command and control hierarchy. The Leafs were arguable in disarray and Shanahan appears to have imprinted a strong culture and has enabled moves like bringing in talent at the management, coaching and playing level. He, along with Dubas, have structured a professional minor league feeder system and the loyalty and opportunity extended to their minor league and now NHL coach is honorable. The most successful coaches in the NHL tend to have been around for a while and have brought along a successful ethos that they gained either as a player, previous coach and sometimes both. In the playoffs coaching will naturally go with the guys that got you there. The run and gun regular season offensive show sells tickets and jerseys and from that perspective the Leafs are thriving. The playoffs are a different beast. The defense appeared to be flat footed and gave up repeated turnovers resulting in Goals. Goaltending wins Cups and virtually everyone with their name engraved on Lord Stanley's hardware benefited from a Goalie who was able to stand on his head for 10-12 weeks in the spring and early summer. So it appears the culture has been established and the organization from a business standpoint is humming. Professional sports is also about winning. A great culture can be diminished by a group that accepts non performance and losing year after year. For all players, the NHL is big business and big contracts that are paid in full from day 1 to the last day of the regular season ensure that their financial incentives are not aligned with a long and punishing post season. Mathews, Marner and the Connor McDavid's all have their financial security guaranteed regardless of whether they win a playoff round. Perhaps instead of a relatively nominal playoff bounty offered, The NHL could prorate contracts over 10 months from the opening game to the Cup final. Instead of paying tv money etc directly to teams, they could beef up the playoff pool. For example a player that signs a USD$8m contract becomes eligible for a 25% top up contribution from the NHL. The now USD$10m contract is prorated over 10 months (Sept-June) but the player only earns the back end of the contract if he is still alive in the playoffs and payments stop when teams are eliminated. This financially aligns players with a winning playoff outcome. The big contract owners proportionally earn more but even the grinders who have smaller contracts have a chance to massively improve their earnings. So changes to the Leafs are required. #1 priority IMHO is goaltending. The young guy Woll looked good when called upon and might have the secret sauce but Samsonov was often caught out of position and gave up too many weak goals. Move Samsonov Defense was outmatched with both Florida opponents and the Leafs need their Coffey, Leetch, Lidstrom anchors to transition up ice without turnovers. Emphasis on a combination of speed and nastiness. In terms of trade bait up front I think you need to shake things up. Not necessarily wholesale changes but certainly a blockbuster with at least one of Tavares, Marner or Mathews needing to go. A Losing attitude is a virus that needs to be cut out. Edmonton went all in this year and are also out in the 2nd round to Vegas so perhaps there is a blockbuster McDavid and or Draissaitl for Mathews and or Marner. An explosive move that could shake up both rosters. Another move is Mathews and Samsonov for the #1 pick with Chicago. Grab a potential generational talent and clear cap space. Is a coaching change warranted? Perhaps. Keep in mind NHL coaches earn their chops through experience and just blowing the coach out does not change a losing culture. And it could be positive but only if a world class guy is ready to step in. Joel Quenneville comes to mind. He took a bullet for what happened in Chicago but is a proven winner. Also add a McSorley, Semenko type that offers the snipers a little more room to operate. Thoughts? 1

[@raygaub9861]

Nuts how many people are ok with the idea of keeping Dubas.

[@jeffmerklinger9067]

It’s easier just to move out of Toronto and find somewhere else to live with a better hockey team.

[@andrewmachado6988]

You’re right. The houses in Toronto are all over priced shit holes that cost $1 million+ and you still have to spend money renovating them.

[@michaelkirkpatrick7483]

Everyone thinks Nylander is the chosen one, but Matthews wants to leave anyway, so very possible he's the one that goes.

[@independentmind7782]

Last chance of what? They never really had a chance. Leafs were never built for the playoffs, it’s no surprise the team never has success in the post season 🤷

[@leaf16nut]

Last chance together, surely you’re not that dense as to what the title meant...

[@independentmind7782]

@@leaf16nut last chance together for what

[@leaf16nut]

@@independentmind7782 Last chance together, period. Meaning somebody is getting traded and they no longer have a chance to play together.

[@independentmind7782]

@@leaf16nut lol

[@nikiarnold5991]

I love how we just avoid the holding the stick that allowed a lane for them to score in ot. That's fine.

[@jeffreym.8957]

That's playoff hockey. It was a smart veteran move. Bending the rules? Absolutely.

[@jeffsframe9927]

Yup. In fact that was maybe last year !

[@rozzie101]

Way to go Panthers ❤

[@maxxpower5465]

End of “an” era… Not “a” era… Learn to spell

[@WYBsilon]

At first I thought it had be some kind of pun including the Alternate Captain‘s "A", but I came to the conclusion that it‘s just quality journalism‘s sloppy grammar.

[@w.everett8860]

2:27 It's not interference but he's clearly holding the stick.

[@hockeyfan7100]

That is interference.

[@murrayknight4998]

Hope so!!!!!!!

[@rodweinmeyer1435]

One of the best regular season teams money can buy

[@andrewmachado6988]

Yes it is. Something needs to change there. Not sure what it is, but you put the same team out there again next season, it will be the same thing all over again.