While the Maple Leafs’ management didn’t give any updates about their search for a head coach during Friday morning’s end-of-season media availability, there was still a handful of information divulged worth discussing.
That includes team president Brendan Shanahan confirming nothing has been ruled out regarding possible trades or other changes to the roster this summer (via Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman). After this year’s first-round loss to the Bruins, Toronto has lost eight of its nine playoff series in the Mitch Marner/Auston Matthews/William Nylander era. Matthews and Nylander have signed recent extensions and won’t be moved after career seasons, but Marner and captain John Tavares each are pending UFAs beginning July 1.
Both Marner and Tavares have full no-move clauses, though, something that makes general manager Brad Treliving’s job much harder if they do opt to free up a sizable amount of cap space by moving a core piece. Even with a lack of scoring largely dooming them against Boston this year, expect any of Treliving’s moves or adds this summer to be centered around defensive or physical play – he confirmed as such today (via TSN’s Chris Johnston). That would fall in line with the moves Treliving made before this year’s trade deadline, picking up shutdown defensemen Joel Edmundson and Ilya Lyubushkin as well as checking forward Connor Dewar.
Other updates from Leafland:
- After the team fired head coach Sheldon Keefe yesterday, many thought Shanahan’s job could be in jeopardy as well since he’s overseen all of the Maple Leafs’ playoff losses since Matthews was drafted in 2016. That won’t be the case, though. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Keith Pelley confirmed the organization would retain Shanahan this summer with one year left on his contract (via the Toronto Sun’s Terry Koshan). Shanahan has been in the president/alternate governor role for the Leafs for over a decade now, joining the club in April 2014 after serving as the NHL’s director of player safety.
- Treliving also spoke to the injuries that plagued many of Toronto’s core pieces throughout the first round, including Matthews and Nylander (via The Hockey News’ David Alter). Namely, he confirmed that Matthews’ absence in Games 5 and 6 – which they both won – wasn’t solely due to the illness he’d picked up earlier in the series, but rather a head injury sustained in Game 4. Treliving also confirmed that Nylander’s absence through the first three games of the series was due to migraines, while goaltender Joseph Woll sustained an SI joint sprain in his back during Game 6 that kept him out of their Game 7 loss. The lower-body injury that kept depth winger Bobby McMann out of action was an MCL sprain sustained near the end of the season, and he would have been available to return during the second round if they made it. Dewar, who doesn’t have a contract next season but is a restricted free agent, also requires shoulder surgery but will be ready for training camp.
The worst organization in sports. Nice to see them continue to show they have no clue.
Not even close to the worst organization in sports. The Colorado Rockies send their regards from MLB.
Oakland A’s enter the chatroom. Quickly leave when they see the cost of admission.
They have the longest active playoff streak in the NHL and are extremely profitable year after year. Playoff success has eluded them, but they are hardly the worst organization in sports.
The Pittsburgh Pirates, namely their owner Bob Nutting, see your statement and thank you for continuing to take the spotlight off them for teams who have actually earned playoff berths for the better part of the last decade and continue to have winning seasons (and develop high draft picks when they come).
Only a complete, total and utter moron would call the Leags the worst franchise in sports. I hate the Leafs, but I know they aren’t even close to being the worst franchise in sports. They aren’t even the worst NHL franchise in their own province. Perennially disappointing? Oh yeah for sure. But they are not a terrible organization.
someone making this comment and saying “they have no clue” is ironic.
Someone defending the leafs? Wow never thought I see that on this site ;) lol
I mean it was a pretty ridiculous comment
The Miami Marlins were stuck out looking by this post.
Kind of limited with 2 of their 4 highest paid players having NMCs.
all 4 have NMC.
All Leafs fans are suffering “head pain” as long as Shanny stays on his throne.
Everyone blames the forwards
How about goaltenders? Not that it’s Woll or Sammy’s fault…it’s the distribution of salary decisions that management makes.
Look at these teams that are pretty stacked but lack a solid goalie
Devils – no playoffs
Kings – gone in round 1
Leafs – gone in round 1
Wings – no playoffs
Kraken – no playoffs
Each of the teams above (save for maybe Kraken) have decent scoring and below average goaltending and are either not in the playoffs or are eliminated in round 1
is Samsonov that much worse than Andersen?
earlier this year Stuart Skinner hit a rough patch and was questioned if last year was a flash in the pan.
Vancouver has a rookie getting them through games
I get the thinking in your original post, but as you said, not sure you can put this on Ilya/Woll.
the fact they can’t score more than 2 goals in the playoffs shows it’s primarily an offensive issue: combination of lack of willing to go into the dirty areas in the offensive zone, lack of willing to take a shot (if Max or Mitch didn’t always think pass first… and often telegraph it maybe they move on), and a lack of adjusting the offense for a tighter defensive collapse in the playoffs are their main reasons for not moving on this year and last.
BT said it best in the presser – the space is not there in the playoffs like the regular season so the team needs to adjust and they just haven’t and I’m not sure some of the more skilled but less physical guys are able to make that adjustment
It wouldn’t be the end of the world if they let Marner & Tavares walk after next season. They should let it play out & absolutely not extend either. Worst case scenario they’ll have plenty of money to better fill out a balanced roster. & If they win Cup next yr they can always bring them back if they decide to.
You had me until “if they win cup”
Lol
They gotta win eventually……right???
Trade everyone!
His ass should be the one getting fired traded or just moved out..he is the cancer for the last 10 years..