The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a state of turmoil. Or at the least, one among turnover.
It has been a number of weeks since one other promising Leafs’ season petered out in an completely disappointing first-round Stanley Cup playoff collection loss to the Boston Bruins — marking the seventh time in eight seasons Toronto has did not advance previous the primary spherical within the postseason.
Granted, the Leafs rallied towards the Bruins from a 3-1 collection deficit to drive Recreation 7. However Toronto’s additional time loss was a failure with out justification, which might’t be ignored or swept beneath the rug. It has to induce some extent of change.
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Toronto’s administration group — president Brendan Shanahan, normal supervisor Brad Treliving and Maple Leaf Sports activities and Leisure CEO Keith Pelley — spoke after the Leafs’ defeat with pointed public feedback about how “every thing was on the desk” to get Toronto previous its perennial playoff woes.
The primary domino to fall was — predictably — head coach Sheldon Keefe, fired from his put up on Could 9 and changed by Craig Berube on Could 23.
That swap is just the start of what might — and will — be a transformative offseason for the Leafs. There’s extra the membership wants to handle to keep away from discovering itself in an identical place this time subsequent yr.
ESPN had discussions with sources inside and out of doors the group as a summer time of change has already began. Listed here are the completely different angles in play for the Leafs.
LET’S ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT(S) within the room.
Mitch Marner is about to enter the ultimate yr of his contract. Ditto for John Tavares. That is two members of Toronto’s so-called “core 4” dealing with foggy futures. There’s a full no-movement clause connected for each gamers within the coming season, so the Leafs aren’t at liberty to orchestrate any trades.
Nonetheless, a no-movement clause would not preclude Treliving from asking round about the potential for shifting both participant. Due diligence is a part of a GM’s course of, and Treliving can current Marner and Tavares with any eventualities that come up — and doubtlessly pique their curiosity in permitting a commerce.
Alternatively, Toronto might provide contract extensions to at least one or each skaters, eradicating a few of that looming unpredictability.
The latter possibility would not seem doubtless.
Marner’s standing specifically has been hotly debated. Whereas the Leafs crashed and burned within the playoffs (once more), Marner was virtually nowhere to be discovered on the scoresheet. After placing up 26 targets and 85 factors in 69 regular-season video games, Toronto’s high winger added only one purpose and three factors in seven postseason tilts. It was a irritating end for Marner and the Leafs to not see his greatest sport on the most crucial time of the season — particularly in a collection the place Toronto was getting shut down on a nightly foundation by Boston’s Jeremy Swayman.
The noise surrounding Marner’s subsequent chapter may not have gotten so loud if he had excelled within the postseason. His struggles may need additionally lessened appetites on either side to start extension talks when that window opens on July 1. The truth is, it’d behoove Marner to attend and see how the season begins — significantly with a brand new coach calling the pictures — after which resolve whether or not to re-up with the Leafs or discover free company a yr from now.
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Marner is 27 years previous. That is the prime of his profession when his incomes potential is at its highest. Toronto has already closely invested in two different core items — Auston Matthews at $13.25 million per season and William Nylander at $11.5 million — and Marner in search of an equivocal payday (to not point out a increase from his present $10.9 million wage) could also be an excessive amount of for Toronto. And do not count on Marner to take a reduction simply because he is a Toronto-area native.
Tavares, alternatively, may very well be extra prepared to just accept much less with a purpose to keep. Toronto’s captain has continued to supply steadily — he scored 29 targets and 65 factors in 80 video games this season — and supplies management within the Leafs’ dressing room. Tavares shall be 34 when subsequent season begins; any new contract will replicate that in each size and {dollars}.
Suffice to say, Toronto has inquiries to reply about two of its most necessary gamers. Having Marner and Tavares taking part in out these ultimate seasons may very well be an pointless and doubtlessly expensive distraction if not correctly managed. Toronto went by an identical state of affairs with Nylander earlier than he signed a seven-year extension in January. Marner’s state of affairs will draw day by day consideration till there is a decision.
It will not simply be Marner fielding inquiries, both. His teammates shall be peppered repeatedly in regards to the negotiations, too. How Toronto balances these inside and exterior pressures will play a task in how the Leafs’ present up by the primary half of their season (and perhaps past).
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The numbers behind Sheldon Keefe’s firing from Toronto
With Sheldon Keefe out in Toronto, try some numbers behind the Maple Leafs’ many years of playoff futility.
TRELIVING HAD SPECIFIC ideas about who ought to succeed Keefe as Toronto’s subsequent head coach.
The Leafs’ GM stated he interviewed 9 candidates for the place earlier than zeroing in on Berube. The 58-year-old’s historical past checked all Toronto’s containers:
Berube’s bruising NHL profession spanned greater than 1,000 video games (together with 40 for the Leafs in 1991-92).
He had racked up head-coaching expertise in Philadelphia (2013-15) and St. Louis (2019-23).
He was the Blues’ interim bench boss when he guided the franchise to its first Stanley Cup victory in 2019. That earned Berube the Blues’ full-time gig — and appreciable respect across the league.
Whereas researching candidates, Treliving encountered the identical chorus from gamers prepared to “undergo a wall” for Berube. The additional endorsement helped persuade Treliving to make the wedding official.
Berube being a beloved participant’s coach works into Treliving’s different motivation for Toronto shifting ahead: that it turns into a extra well-rounded workforce. Focus in recent times has been educated totally on the Leafs’ extremely paid core skaters. Treliving desires everybody within the Leafs’ lineup to really feel necessary, impactful and essential to workforce success.
Toronto’s new coach has a strategy supporting that purpose. At Berube’s introductory information convention, he defined a no-nonsense strategy hinging on the Leafs by no means getting outworked. Attaining that comes provided that all the mixture of top-flight abilities and fourth-line grinders pull on the identical proverbial rope.
When Keefe got here on board in 2019 to interchange Mike Babcock, he was decided to let gamers do what they do greatest. Keefe’s intention was to assist the Leafs’ creativity on the ice, however the technique produced an extra of too-cute fluff, from ineffective dropbacks to prioritizing east-west motion over north-south.
That is the place Berube’s workforce will differ from Keefe’s — in principle. Berube’s philosophy facilities on a extra hard-nosed sport, digging pucks out of corners, successful battles and incomes ice time by being accountable on each shift.
It is predictable hockey, the place each skater has a task and learn how to execute. That is Berube’s ideology. It is in lockstep with how Treliving would view a revitalized Leafs group.
The one query is: Can Berube pull that out of Toronto’s present group?
Berube already made changes to Leafs’ teaching personnel, bringing on former New York Islanders bench boss Lane Lambert and letting go of Dean Chynoweth. Manny Malhotra can also be gone. Toronto shall be surrounded by contemporary voices with new concepts. The place will all of it lead?
Treliving touted Berube’s “presence,” calling it one thing a coach both has or would not have. How that carries over into the Leafs’ dressing room might decide what stage of buy-in Berube will get from inside it. Berube shall be blunt and easy with gamers and workers. He’ll prioritize sound protection over flashy offense. And Berube will not let Toronto’s stars single-handedly drive the bus.
Berube is what the Leafs must do a near-complete 180 flip from the workforce that left Boston, tail between its legs, in one other early-Could exit. However provided that his new paradigm goes in response to plan.
IN THE MEDIA they known as it a “Shanaplan.” The time period’s namesake by no means cared for that moniker.
The Leafs have been in-built Shanahan’s picture. He has been the architect of this Toronto workforce since moving into the position of president and alternate governor in April 2014. Not less than one season beneath Shanahan’s reign (the 2015-16 marketing campaign) was purposefully horrible: Toronto’s focus was successful the draft lottery and choosing Matthews. Mission completed.
However in a decade with Shanahan, the Leafs have churned by 5 coaches and 4 normal managers whereas investing greater than half their wage cap in 4 skaters; that in flip severely restricted including choices round them. Toronto responded to that mandate with precisely one playoff collection win — and 7 collection losses.
Maple Leafs beneath Shanahan
SeasonRecordPointsPlayoffs2014-1530-44-868N/A2015-1629-42-1169N/A2016-1740-27-1595Lost inRd. 1 (WSH)2017-1849-26-7105Lost inRd. 1 (BOS)2018-1946-28-8100Lost inRd. 1 (BOS)2019-2036-25-981Lost inQual. Rd. (CBJ)2020-2135-14-777Lost inRd. 1 (MTL)2021-2254-21-7115Lost inRd. 1 (TB)2022-2350-21-11111Lost inRd. 2 (FLA)2023-2446-26-10102Lost inRd. 1 (BOS)
Now, the Leafs have earned loads of regular-season success. Toronto notched consecutive 50-plus win showings from 2021 to 2023 and handed the 100-point mark in every of the previous three campaigns. It simply hasn’t led to something higher. The Leafs are in precisely the identical spot they had been when Shanahan took over — and that is on the skin trying in on the official Stanley Cup contenders.
Those self same Leafs who look unstoppable within the common season are laughably beatable within the playoffs. It is a clumsy disparity for which the workforce can by no means adequately account.
There was no affirmation from Shanahan on his contract standing at season’s finish, nevertheless it’s believed he is within the ultimate yr of a deal signed again in 2019. Pelley — who was named MLSE’s new CEO in April — has put his weight behind Shanahan and Treliving. For now, anyway.
When Shanahan stated in Could that Toronto would discover all choices to enhance the workforce, it was a blanket assertion with out specifics. Was that as a result of Shanahan would not have any? Or wasn’t prepared to share?
All eyes are on Toronto’s high government to see what he does subsequent — figuring out the choice will affect not solely the Leafs’ on-ice future however Shanahan’s, too. He hasn’t shied away from powerful decisions prior to now, from selling Kyle Dubas over Lou Lamoriello in 2017 to not extending Dubas final yr and hiring Treliving as a substitute. Shanahan’s jockeying hasn’t moved the needle sufficient to make Toronto a clear-cut contender. That is what has to vary, in what is perhaps a now-or-never summer time.
LET’S ASSUME THAT Marner and Tavares shall be Leafs in 2024-25.
So, how will Toronto enhance round its an identical core?
The Leafs’ protection is missing in expertise, with holes to fill. The depth chart is headlined by Morgan Rielly, and he deserves a top-tier companion. Toronto remaking its again finish is a transparent precedence heading into free company. The Leafs have a slew of upcoming UFA blueliners, together with Joel Edmundson, Ilya Lyubushkin and John Klingberg — all gamers Treliving acquired since taking on.
The Leafs may even have curiosity in gamers coming into free company, comparable to Carolina’s Brett Pesce and Dallas’ Chris Tanev. Toronto tasks to have over $18 million in cap area to work with for the approaching season, and that ought to assist fund a blue-line makeover.
Treliving may even have a option to make on restricted free agent Timothy Liljegren. The Leafs’ first-round decide in 2017 has had an inconsistent profession in Toronto however may very well be useful in commerce talks. Similar for restricted free agent ahead Nick Robertson. Treliving will assess the Leafs’ total roster by the lens of Berube’s construction; who matches, and who would not? All of that may take form by the Leafs’ offseason course of.
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Some simple wins for Treliving, although, can be re-signing free brokers Max Domi and Tyler Bertuzzi. Toronto has talent and velocity to spare, however not with the grit Domi and Bertuzzi can deliver to the lineup. Plus, they’ve each been in Toronto and need to return. That is no small factor for the Leafs, who’ve watched gamers comparable to Ryan O’Reilly stroll away to different groups after spending even a short while in Toronto.
Then there’s the oft-discussed risk of the Leafs luring native product Steven Stamkos again house. The Tampa Bay Lightning captain — and Toronto native — continues to be a menace on the ice, however cap constraints may preclude him from being a part of the Lightning’s future. If Stamkos had been lastly enthusiastic about a homecoming, then Treliving can be sensible to discover a partnership.
In spite of everything, the Leafs cannot simply run it again as earlier than. They want outdoors assist to enhance, and that is solely going to return by additions matching synergistically with the expertise Toronto already has and the system Berube goes to implement. Treliving’s job is to present Berube the suitable substances so the Leafs’ recipe will not collapse within the playoffs — once more.
THE LEAFS DIDN’T NEED one other intestine punch within the Boston collection. They obtained one anyway.
Within the hours main as much as warmups for Recreation 7, information leaked that Joseph Woll was unavailable due to harm. The Leafs had been going again to Ilya Samsonov within the do-or-die showdown.
Why was this so cringe-worthy? As a result of it was Samsonov who’d backstopped Toronto into its preliminary 3-1 collection gap, and Woll who dug them out of it by recording sensational back-to-back wins in Video games 5 and 6. Woll sprained his again making a save within the dying seconds of that Recreation 6 victory. And that in the end proved to be a back-breaker for the Leafs.
Samsonov obtained Toronto to additional time in Recreation 7, however Bruins’ ahead David Pastrnak made it look all too simple beating the Russian netminder with the series-winning tally. That is perhaps the final purpose Samsonov ever permits for the Leafs. He is about to grow to be a UFA, and given the up-and-down season Samsonov simply had — he was positioned on waivers and briefly demoted to the American Hockey League after a tough begin to the season — it is most likely higher for each events to chop ties for good.
So who will exchange him alongside Woll within the Toronto crease?
Berube could have ideas on that query. He noticed the distinction a goaltender could make when Jordan Binnington performed lights out for the Blues throughout their Cup run. The upcoming free agent class is not riddled with choices, although.
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Laurent Brossoit may very well be a stable piece in tandem with Woll — if Toronto is ready at hand him the beginning job regardless of a historical past of accidents. Brossoit lived in Connor Hellebuyck’s shadow with the Winnipeg Jets however was 15-5-2 with a .927 save share in 2023-24. Anthony Stolarz and Cam Talbot are veterans with ample expertise to stability Woll’s youth. Might the Leafs depend on both to play a major position within the occasion Woll was damage? That may very well be a crimson flag.
Toronto may need to discover a commerce path to bolster its netminding. Liljegren or Robertson being accessible might assist in getting a deal accomplished. Nashville’s Juuse Saros and Calgary’s Jacob Markstrom had been talked about in commerce rumors forward of the in-season deadline, and can be the highest names making the rounds as conversations ramp up main into the draft. Treliving was the GM in Calgary when Markstrom signed his present six-year, $36 million deal in 2020.
Nonetheless the Leafs handle it, choosing their subsequent vital goaltender will loom giant — and the selection Treliving in the end makes goes to have far-reaching results on what the Leafs accomplish subsequent season.