Another Leafs Autopsy with Kris Versteeg | JD Bunkis Podcast

Kris Versteeg, two-time Stanley Cup champion and creator of the Klevr app, joins JD Bunkis to share what locker-room cleanout day is like, before getting into the Maple Leafs’ Game 7 shortcomings, Mitch Marner’s criticism and what’s to come this summer.
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#NHL #Hockey #MapleLeafs #Bruins

[@themorningstar8774]

Keefe lost the room the second he was forced to walk back his criticism of the core four last year. It was at that moment they players realised they had zero accountability

[@KyleMacSkill]

Dubas screwed this team over. He paid them what they wanted before really accomplishing anything and coddled them at every turn.

[@kermitfrog593]

Imagine having to play for a ballless head coach you don't respect. Imagine coaching a ballless team that never shows up.

[@SlurpEee25]

Leafs are paying 40+ million dollars between 4 players who achieved 1 goal in 20+ power plays.....

[@ssarmazi]

This is the entirety of the problem with this team. Case closed.

[@mysticone1798]

Coaching problem.

[@jefftaylor844]

Sounds like a Stanley Cup winning formula 😂😂😂

[@titanmma101]

Don't forget to put Reilly in there. The underperforming core 5

[@kermitfrog593]

Trust the process.

[@zachhaist6426]

Only Samsonov has come out and said i need to be better. Everyone else, its the same old thing- were right there, its super close, blah, blah, blah. The truth is, being close is good enough for this team......

[@ilfautdanser9121]

Rielly was honest as well

[@jamesdecember7323]

What Marner lacks in toughness he makes up for it in smugness.

[@thobur2661]

He needs an attitude adjustment big time !

[@mysticone1798]

Has there EVER been a team that won the Stanley Cup that went 1 for 21 on the power play??? I seriously doubt it.

[@ProudBostonian]

9:13 Gotta love a guy saying this even AFTER THEY JUST BEAT YOU!!! LMFAO!!

[@leitchman86able]

Can we bring Kris Versteeg on for our next years coaching staff. His break downs are always so in depth and on the point

[@DharmYogi]

I wonder if he considers it. He said samaonov sleeping in net and called it exactly as what happened

[@Mark-pz9xw]

At this point, I'd take the other Keefe brother. He wins trophies.

[@Mark-pz9xw]

No idea if anyone will agree but, for me, my off-season starters would be: - Let Samsanov go - Fire Keefe and Shanahan - Look at Marner waiving NMC in order to trade - Chuck a list of clubs Tavares would move to and look at moving him Netminder, couple of two-way defencemen and a goal scoring winger, for me.

[@gdavho8778]

I'd start with refunding all the money the real fans paid for tickets. A letter of apology should be attached.

[@DharmYogi]

This was not a good Boston team. We should have won this series. No excuses

[@BratatoChip]

This poor Boston team just beat Florida 5-1 and finished above you in the Atlantic . You’ll always be a poverty organization with a losing culture.

[@wizzerwiser2056]

So far they're up 1-0 on the Panthers in the series after pouncing them 5-1

[@asharpbflat7179]

JD can you please apply for Leafs presidency? Your Leafs coverage is in another league, fully committed to the discussion, to the emotion, yet always careful/responsible/respectful and reasonable. You're the absolute best!

[@MILSPECMOM]

People need to stop all this talk about Keefe being a good coach. He put the 4th line out in a game 7 with 11 mikes left after his team just scored. Pure hubris. o7

[@Mark-pz9xw]

Been saying it for months and getting stick for it. Decisions like, in Game 4, dropping Dewar - only for Reaves to cough the puck up for the opener - are the key details coaches live and die by.

[@Slapmachine]

11 Mikes? Mom you're in Division mode again! So funny to see you in here!

[@wizzerwiser2056]

@@Mark-pz9xw Signing Reeves made zero sense from the beginning. Not hard to find a player like him for a lot less.

[@domenicgrande7292]

The Leafs Coach could have called a time out on that first goal they scored

[@krob5375]

When only your coach and goalie express any type of accountability for losing, it says a lot about the mentality of the team. Reilly almost did, but then reverted to "almost". And honestly, he may be the guy I'm most suprised with. He and Willy have been the only ones to really show up semi consistently in the playoffs lately, but Mo was a complete no show this year. And with the D so weak on offence drivers, he was needed more than ever.

[@Coatay]

It's a great point: Marner and Tavares contracts both coming up at the same time. When signed, John had accomplished so much, and Mitch was a young guy up and coming, though no real achievements at the pro, or even junior level. Now look at where we are.

[@Zeneroth]

I am not a leafs fan, but I watched most of these games. I also watched that replay over quite a few times, I 100% agree with Versteegs break down of the blame on that last goal @7:15. I actually agree with what Versteeg said in general over those 15-20 mins, and feel it's more insightful analysis than all of the ad nauseum leaf dissections of the past (9 years running), but the likes analysts Kipper, Bourne, Friedman, etc etc

[@jimlangdon1947]

Why not coach Leafs to back check all the way to their own net during the rush? Mitch looked bad stopping his back checking role at the Leaf Blue Line giving the Bruins the OT game winning goal. 😀

[@joydjinn8692]

Some players are paid to score goals. Others are paid to win. There's a big different there.

[@RAKEyon]

Another rough playoffs. As an organization that wants to win Stanley's. Why do they aquire players and give them no trade clauses. Then when thing don't work out, now their in a pinch

[@rickyrichards1294]

I mean I agree but look at every team. They all 5+ no move clauses

[@Chimeratech8]

Marner just doens't have that extra gear to his game. Maybe in a different, more accountable situation he can find it, but I don't think he'll ever be a playoff performer with this team.

[@doinitforfun888]

The top 5 paid guys didn't take a home town discount to sign more skilled D. Don't feel sorry for them they are multimillionaires. Guys on other top teams took a little less money to have a chance to win.

[@Mark-pz9xw]

I live in the UK and hadn't seen the team in-person until Game 4 of the Series. Being at the games, the first thing I commented on was how bad the transition - from defence - us. Desperately need a couple of skilled, two-way D-men.

[@democraticdialogue7271]

@doitforfun888 If the top players had agreed to take a discount we could have kept Zach Hyman. These guys are greedy...my poor dad has been watching and waiting for 50 years for them to win the cup. This will never happen...maybe, the Leafs win in 20 years

[@brianmiddleton1845]

The Leafs have never had more than two Stanley cup playoff series wins in their history.

[@jc385]

The DNA of the core does Does Not Advance past the first round.

[@negtype13]

Outside of icing what penalty wouldn’t be bad enough for 2 min?

[@olivegrovebear]

Long time leaf fan , at least our team entertains us most of the time , this series was awesome , the buds came back to miss by a whisker .

[@nesmegavanialink350]

Just get rid of Shanny, Keefe, Mitch, TJ and Ilya and bring in a structured style coach.

[@richstiltner2246]

Who's tj?

[@markiv2942]

Yes, it's easy to get rid of players with NO trade clause.

[@TheDaysEnd]

@@richstiltner2246 TJ Brodie.

[@patricktang5534]

@@richstiltner2246 Brodie

[@LoganFruz]

Please keep Edmondson

[@jackmakackov7077]

Hopefully he goes back to St Louis. They never should have traded him.

[@MichaelSchwerdtfeger]

no guts no glory

[@toewstokane9023]

Steeger! Now Leafs and Leaf fans take notes, this a guy that knows how to score BIG playoff goals and won multiple Cups making a 3 million a year 😂

[@DharmYogi]

Keefe got forced to play a bit different they actually won those games. He should have done some strategy earlier in the series. He is always putting on his stars but you have to mix it up. Try different things. Just imagine if they played some of these guys differently in earlier games. Keefe said we want to get a split in the first 2 games. That is the wrong mindset. Aim to win every game.

[@DharmYogi]

This is why we got to game 7

[@Mark-pz9xw]

Yep, I was at Game 4 and it was turgid. No style of play, zero transition and we never looked like scoring. Was at Tailgate, for Game 5, and it was so much better and Game 6 went up again. It was desperation.

[@SteveSacrob]

Good luck convincing him to take less.

[@biglemoncoke4095]

Kris is insightful, can MLSE hire him as a coach or assistant in some capacity?

[@EvanCatani]

Can’t believe The Invisible Leaf (Marner) compared the Leafs players to “Gods” Bruh… 😂

[@democraticdialogue7271]

He is so immature...he makes too much money and this is messing with his head

[@kavo588]

This team should be thanking God they didn’t trade Willy, JD… he’s 5 times the player Hyman is lol

[@canadianroot]

Say what??!!

[@Nay-kp6uu]

Leafs fans will admit they'd rather go out the first around than take 4 or so years to rebuild. Avoiding the inevitable

[@democraticdialogue7271]

I wish we had players with heart i.e Nathan McKinnon and Kucherov

[@mikepagliaro2123]

Steeger should coach the Leafs

[@breezyolive]

Berube has played???? So What did Shanahan do?

[@cbenjamin9220]

Patrick laine from Columbus for marner!!! Make it happen!!!

[@PeterSdrolias]

Painful is the understatement of the year.

[@kylebrandon4486]

Sammy should of came out and played the puck had enough time to bail out the two mistakes from , manner and Riley. If you watch the replay the puck is coming towards sammy and pastrnak is at the top of the circle, he could of shot it to the boards. Nylander is covering his guy on the point so i dont expect him to chase pastrnak down, hes playing his position and seeing its going to be a dunmp play

[@trevorrose6223]

I have been saying this to all my leaf fan friends since they all signed hockey is a team sport I don’t care how good you are you only play one period of each game you need to leave money for the player who play the other 2/3 of the game.

[@mgriffin4297]

Even if Tavares and/or Mitch were to be asked from management to waive their no-move clause, we wouldn’t know. They wouldn’t say it publicly that he declined their request. I doubt either will agree to waive. Leafs will get fleeced from the teams they accept to go to, if they decide to accept. Leafs are screwed.

[@nadia0701]

Keep JT. When you signed him you knew it was for the first 5 yrs then he was going to decline. Marner is different. He takes less $ or he goes

[@BalthazarMyrrh70]

A lot of fans haven't accepted, this rebuild is already done & paved in stone. They screwed us for a decade to come.

[@86daytonaz]

Everyone is expecting MAJOR CHANGES!…. Prepare for NOTHING!…. Ain’t nothing gonna happen that’s gonna make you say “WOW”.

[@realrealityeast6278]

Thankfully I knew they were gonna lose soons I heard Woll wasn't playing so didn't sting at all. Figured it would be goaltending wasn't but same result anyways. Lol

[@bigkanuna]

The Toronto Maple Leaf's are like Stan Mikita's Chicago Blackhawks, full of talent didn't play as a team and only won one Stanley cup. You build a team from the back end forward. Brenden Shanahan needs to go

[@stephenlefort8730]

Toronto needs to go find Billy lol 🤣

[@sherrygooner]

And now Shanahan is back. What a complete cluster. 🤬

[@khoimavlogs5161]

This year the Bruins is at best average team and the Leafs still find a way to loose a game 7 😆 🤣 😂

[@ratedRblazin420]

Lose* Probably should learn how to spell before trying to talk sh*t on the internet

[@SteveSacrob]

Defence wasn't the reason they lost that series. 1 for 21 is why they lost that series.

[@Syphon13]

Not that it matters to the trajectory of this team at this point but I wonder if the crux of the problem stems from when they acquired JT. The young guys see a him come in with big money and they want what he has. Money first, team second mentality and Dubas couldnt be the adult in the room to shoot them down.

[@monroefuches2707]

Leafs need to buy him a fancy walleye boat and sign byfuglien

[@tedcordina4138]

Offer Marner what he deserves, 3 million dollars. If he does not accept and does not agree to a trade, play him on 4th line for all of next season. Play Tavares on the 3rd line, Nylander at centre on the 3nd line and Matthes on line one.

[@markiv2942]

Oh yeah, and destroy relationship with all the other players and give impression that nobody wants to go to Leafs.

[@Whippets]

They lost to the 2nd worst team in the playoffs (after Washington), a team that lost both Bergeron (surefire 1st ballot H of F and Krejci). IMO you have to move Tavares (maybe not possible) and Marner (more possible) and fire Keefe, then go out and get 4-5-6 players that KNOW how to play playoff greasy hockey. Otherwise, they're wasting Matthew's best years.

[@brandonthomas6280]

Dang, as a Bruins fan. It feels really good to hear Leafs media so down on their team. Almost makes me want you guys to succeed. Almost 😏.

[@ratedRblazin420]

Shouldn't miss playoff hockey due to headaches and food poisoning to begin with

[@user-gk7ri1em4x]

No leadership, no accountability! The owners don't care. Shanahan is totally incompetent, accomplished nothing, but for some mysterious reason the owners don't hold him accountable. How can somebody so unsuccessful keep the job for ten years? It's mind blowing! Barely average coaching staff and the team, that is led by overpaid and underachieving `stars`, who (except Nylander) are unable to deliver when it matters. And in case of Matthews and Marner it's also a matter of character. These two are simply a bad leaders! I don't think, that it's so difficult to fix it - just get rid of incompetent individuals with no leadership qualities and replace them with a right people. But it all comes back to the owners. Do they even care? Is their goal to build a Stanley Cup contender? Is it their priority? I doubt that.

[@goodflop255]

The players only care about the money. They don't care about winning the Cup. How could they? They have never been close to winning the Cup and won't be because 4 guys eat up so much of the cap that the rest of the team has to be patched together and can't be good enough.

[@discoveryman59]

Why don't you ever hear the fans calling in?? Who care what these guys that are paid by the same company as the players have to say.

[@reannekewsh8618]

If Boston isn't a good team and just beat the Leafs than what are they and why are we even talking about them 🤷

[@HarperLee-ub7fx]

The offense is struggling to get goals from the core 4 and I like to ask why you sit out your second most offensive player behind Matthews in Robertson in game 7???? You deserved to be fired for sure.

[@LetzFightingLuv]

Team needs a new owner - soul less corps own this cash cow and can't let the $$$ train slow down.

[@democraticdialogue7271]

Fans must start boycotting...

[@nickp5005]

why would marner take less than 11 now? hes a better player than nylander. accept that. its the truth. we almost have no choice but to move him(marner)

[@MosquitoMurderer]

Bunkis gaslighting Bourne into being some kind of Sheldon Keefe advocate is pathetic. Some people are just born smug

[@brianmouland209]

Get a goalie

[@domenicgrande7292]

Hey Leafs, lower your ticket prices

[@davidmcnamara8024]

No

[@JustinDickins]

I should be wearing my Leafs hats all summer long, not putting them away as soon as the weather heats up. Thanks for another pathetic exit, Leafs.

[@mrzedlyt]

Let Rielly be a Leaf who plays left wing. He is NOT a top 4 D-man.

[@bruinsfan8278]

Bruins win the series and Versteeg says the suck, Well what does that sat about the Leafs?

[@Mark-pz9xw]

What everyone else thinks, Leafs are awful. He literally said they are both poor teams and won't get by Florida.

[@ianbethune9235]

There, there, there, now. Don't you worry, our Leafs will get wiped out in the 1st round in the playoffs next year too. And the year after that, and the year after that, and the year after that, and...........

[@bradsandel9050]

Samsonov could have smothered that puck or poke checked it away. If you asked anyone on the ice that 1 on 1 behind closed doors I bet you they all would say we thought Sammy was gonna cover that. 1/21 on the power play lack of offence it was the closest defensively fought games in round 1 (games 5-6-7) it was a goaltending battle and the leafs lost it. He let in dunkers in games 3 and 7. If the leafs played the way the played the last 3 games for the entire series it may be a different outcome. Regardless we would have been smoked in Florida. So will Boston

[@NoBodyWhizPurs]

There was only two, real major issues that the Leafs encountered.. 1. Our Lack of Team defense was an issue in the first few games vs Bruins.. (that is a coaching issue) he has not been able to get this team to play proper defense the entire time he has been here.. That difference, could have gotten us one or two more games before our back was to the wall.. This is a FACT...... 2, Our Powerplay.. Not adjusting our powerplay to an entirely new zone entry and attack is again ( COACHING )... This team should have raced to the blue line with speed and chased a dump in,,,, then force point shots while crashing the net... They failed to adjust and we missed out on maybe, 15 more goals which would have ended this series... In Every other area, the Leafs matched or exceeded Bruins play... How do we know this --(((we went to game Seven OT)))... DEFENSE & A PP ADJUSTMENT was the difference.... OVERTIME IN GAME SEVEN.... Only because we played two very bad defensive games!! Thats what killed us and that is COACHING... No One player could change that... Period

[@ProudBostonian]

9:13 talk about having ZERO AWARENESS!! That team you claim “isn’t that good” JUST BEAT YOU YET AGAIN! I just love people who claim the Leafs are so talented blah blah blah (yes they have talented guys, absolutely no question about it) but then they get BEAT and those same people then say “Well the Bruins aren’t that good.” Well which one is it because, IT CAN’T BE BOTH!!

[@markiv2942]

It can be both. Bruins aren't that good. Leafs have talent but they can't get enough out of that talent. Bruins have really mediocre team this year. Sorry.

[@thelourds1189]

Rielly is a Rielly big problem brought nothing in the series

[@derekd1203]

Oh reilly?

[@patricktang5534]

Morgan Rielly looked old and slow and skating around with no purpose. He was the #1 D man because he gets 7.5 mi for 6 more years....This contract is crazy.....

[@chrisbee9643]

No its not!!! Just look at the results from 2014 to 2024... I am a Leafs fan for 25 season now. It was my first big anniversary... I am from Europe. Every game I watch, harms my daily life. I was so pationate for 25 years now... There were awesome times, but they were at the beginning of the ride. Look at how they perfom on saturdays in the regular season. Its the same deal. Saturday games are the best for me to watch live. And they lose often on saturdays... I watched Game 7 live. i just cried for almost an hour. I dont want to point the finger on specific players or staff members, BUT something has to change!!! I am so frustrated by now. I already watch old clips from Kaberle, Tucker, McCabe, CuJo, Mogilny, Belfour and so on... They never won a cup either, but at least the were fun to watch!!! If they lost, they had Domi, Tucker and McCabe... And even in a loss, CuJo looked awesome. Sundin always delivered... The Boys are no boys anymore. They are grown ass men, who made a fortune for life already. Its time to justify all of that!!! No matter how, I dont care. They need to get a run going at least. I am not even talking about the cup anymore. Its about to the get the ball rolling for once...

[@joydjinn8692]

I think you need to seriously consider cheering for another team if it affecting you that much.

[@chrisbee9643]

@@joydjinn8692 thats just an option for gutless people, aka single mom raised and/or women...

[@DaveGendron-xx9gl]

Why didn't Morgan rielly not dive to get in front of Pastranac he'the longest vet on the team moron fire him move Rielly on please.🤔🤔🤔🤔🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@johnhoward9638]

Yeah Fire Reilly Marner , Fire Coach Keefe, SHANNAHAN. Gone , Major Renovation in Toronto OFF SEASON.

[@rickveleke6966]

Mngmt squandered the talent burnt the farm prioritized small players and lost great talent - without getting anything in return. You can’t beat a big team with small team. I’m going to put my stick in your back until you make me stop and the leafs have no one to do that. There is nothing wrong with the core but there is a huge problem with the fans and mngmt, and that is loyalty. Without loyalty, you never win. Scapegoating marner is idiocy. He is a great player. Did no one hear he had a high ankle sprain? Playoff stats: Marner 57 games 50 points +10 two way player Nylander 54 games 43 points +1 inconsistent one way player Matthews 55 games 48 points +2 two way player They that want to get rid of your best playoff two way player really just do not want Toronto to win. Other interesting dubas mistakes: keeping nylander over Hyman Hyman 65 games 48 points +5 two player with grit-playoff character Kadri 52 games 44 points +15 two player with grit-playoff character With the leafs 19 games 10 points +6 Mike Babcock future HoF coach with gold medals, stanleycups If Toronto had gone with Babcock and hunter this team would have had playoff ready size and toughness in the supporting cast built thru the farm and they would have had a dynasty

[@rickveleke6966]

Tavares with leafs 37 games 22 points +1

[@CD-yr8tw]

There is no winning culture. The Leafs need a new owner that gives a f&^%. ML$E doesn't care. The Shanaplan is a failure after 10 years. Weak D and G. Not a playoff team. To Roger$ Communication$, ML$E and Bell, the only thing that matter$ is making profit.

[@tomkeller6982]

Toronto struggled the whole series. They were fortunate to take it to the 7th. They should be happy about the effort they made. But I don't believe the Leafs or Bruins are going to go any further in the next round of the playoffs this year. Overall they had a respectable season. Let them walk away with some honor and dignity. Contrary to the opinion of many, winning is not everything. Show some respect for these players. They do deserve it.

[@cahg3871]

Winning is everything-you play the games to win,not for a participation award.

[@damonsmith2982]

This team just cannot win. Plain and simple. Build the team around Matthews, nylander, woll, and Knies and McCabe. Everyone else trade …. They neeed a new culture . New everything… maybe even get a goalie who can stay healthy.

[@jb1934]

Knies McCabe and Edmonston, those are depth guys that make a winning team, and it was refreshing watching them play. Tree I'm tolerably sure will have the green light to do something about the Tavares and Marner contracts. The starting point for the negotiation is the no-move clause, but that is just a starting point. As with pretty much everything else in life, it's all negotiable. One of his cards is going to be the new coach. That new coach might be willing to give them no more than 3rd or 4th line minutes, something that Keefe would never do. It's a card, it can be played. This summer could establish Tree's rep as the GM that's going to get s*** done. Bottom line, there's a decent chance to move both of them, retaining a bunch of the cap space to be sure, but say putting a combined $10 million on the table for next year.

[@cahg3871]

Even if the Buds managed to get past the Bruins,the Panthers would knock them around like a rag doll.

[@AR-wm9lv]

Uhhhh. Did you not see Boston dust Florida tonight?

[@jackuzzi5251]

AM most overrated player in hockey. Only in Toronto.

[@mariovillella5315]

Without Marner, Matthews does not get 69 goals!

[@titanmma101]

He a 40 goal scorer without marner

[@brizzybones7377]

Who ever gets Mitch will be a steal. Yall retarted for trading him. Your 1st lines arnt your problem. Your 3rd and 4th lines don’t score and are horrible. Cuz you pay first 1st like way too much to get good players on your 3 and 4

[@ryanryan3473]

Listen to Chris Versteeg tear up the Leafs…How did you do as a Leaf Chris? Answer me that! Prime example of a pot calling the kettle black.

[@leabee9990]

what happens when they miss th playoffs net year??? it is certainly possible without solid goaltending and an aging defence .

[@joydjinn8692]

Don't forget the non-excitant cap space to add depth 😂 EDIAT: Oh yeah! and an empty prospect pool! 🤣🤣🤣

[@romannumeral5547]

Who watched the Florida Boston game last night? Florida looked worst than the Leafs and they had Bobrovsky in net. It's only game 1 but I don't think Boston is goingto take Florida lightly especaially after the close call they had with the Leafs. The Leafs need a coaching change. You can blame the players on the ice all you want but when there's this much talent on a team and you can't harness it the coach deserves the blame. Put Marner, Nylander and Matthews on one line and let the other guys elevate their play to be on the 2nd line. To me it felt like the lines were disjointed with no cohesion. Okeefe got totally out coached. The players saved his ass from total embarressment.

[@maxpayne9041]

You can have all the skills in the world but if u dont have the heart then ur just an ordinary hockey player.

[@markiv2942]

Why people talk about Marner trade. He has NO TRADE CLAUSE. He likes Toronto. Going NOWHERE this year.

[@HarperLee-ub7fx]

Send him to the AHL and he will waived it.

[@johnroberthson7839]

​@HarperLee-ub7fx he can't be sent to all do u even the nhl rules

[@johnroberthson7839]

Can't be send down to ahl