We noted last week that a lot could be riding on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ performance in the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs. Another early post-season exit could lead to off-season changes in the front office, behind the bench and on the roster.
With the Leafs on the brink of elimination in their first-round series with the Boston Bruins, the Toronto media isn’t wasting time suggesting some off-season moves.
The Hockey News’ Adam Proteau said on Sunday there must be a new era for the Leafs after eight years of the same results. Nothing short of drastic changes would be enough, he said.
Related: Game 4 Defeat Signals Incoming Changes For All-But Eliminated Leafs
The Athletic’s Chris Johnston also wondered if this is the end of the Leafs as we currently know them.
“There is no conceivable way to run this back,” he wrote following their dispiriting 3-1 loss in Game 4 to the Bruins. “It hasn’t worked, and it isn’t working.” Johnston pointed out that their vaunted offense is shooting blanks, they’re losing the special-teams battles and making more mistakes at 5-on-5.
Sportsnet’s Luke Fox believes team president Brendan Shanahan can’t allow Sheldon Keefe to return as head coach. He also suggested changes among the team’s leadership group. Fox didn’t call for Shanahan’s firing, but he could be on the hot seat after a decade as team president with just one playoff series win during his tenure.
The Toronto Sun‘s Steve Simmons thinks Keefe is running out of time as the Leafs coach but felt blame should also be shared among the players and the organization. He wondered if anyone could take “these overpaid and playoff unproductive Leafs players and turn them into a post-season team of consequence.”
Simmons believes GM Brad Treliving faces the challenge of finding a way to improve the Leafs for next season with limited salary-cap space. That includes trying to re-sign pending free agent forwards Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi.
The easy answer would be trading John Tavares and/or Mitch Marner. Both are due to become UFAs next summer. Tavare is a fading star, while Marner’s inability to elevate his post-season production has drawn the scorn of Leafs Nation.
Both players, however, have full no-movement clauses. Tavares intends to finish his contract with the Leafs and Marner likely feels the same way.
Changes will happen this summer for the Leafs if the Bruins eliminate them on Tuesday. What they’ll be will dominate the NHL rumor mill for weeks.
Related: Even Bruins Coach is “Very Surprised” By How Little Offense Leafs’ Matthews, Marner, Nylander and Tavares Have Provided
Related: The Maple Leafs Have a Rodent Problem. And Its Name is Brad Marchand.
News Summary:
- The Epitaphs Begin For the 2023-24 Toronto Maple Leafs
- Check all news and articles from the latest NHL updates.