Eklund: What has to happen next. From Andrea in Mississauga.

If the Leaf organization were smart they'd take a deep look at roster construction and start building properly from the net out. The highend, expensive, four forward's failed miserably. If that means trading Matthews, then so be it. The Bruins traded Joe Thornton, for a crap return, and still went on to win the Stanley Cup six seasons later.

Toronto is a country club.
Trade Matthews
Sign Tavares for a 5.5-6
And let Marner walk , that is the sad part, they will loose Marner for nothing

Starts at the top with Shanny.. I think the fact the Tre went to Marner and asked him to waive his no trade is a step forward

If the Leaf organization were smart they'd take a deep look at roster construction and start building properly from the net out. The highend, expensive, four forward's failed miserably. If that means trading Matthews, then so be it. The Bruins traded Joe Thornton, for a crap return, and still went on to win the Stanley Cup six seasons later.
- DraftandDestroy

Leafs have two good goalies and a solid D group

Matthews has a full no move clause. If he wants to stay, he’s not leaving.
Same with Nylander. Period.
Get over it, they are staying.

Marner is gone. (+$12mm cap)
Tavares resigns cheap (+$6mm or more cap)
Trade Domi (+$3.75mm cap)
Sign Knies ($7 or $8mmx8)
Cap is going up $8mm
Figure out who the “passengers” are and get rid of them.
That gives you almost $20mm of cap space to work with.

They did great work fixing the D and the net, now fix the forwards!

You can't BUY heart, soul, or WILL. The Panthers OOZE Heart, soul, and will from every player on the roster. You could see the difference on the ice. Tavares has more heart, soul, and will in his little finger than Marner has in his entire body. That's what you need. Send the choirboys home to play in the sandbox, and fill your team with players that will fight tooth and nail for the Jersey.

Great write up. NO complaints there, but come on people of Toronto/Leafs Nation...the booing and jersey throwing etc...come on.

And you want the players to apologize or cry? You have an excellent team that is playing in the best division in hockey the last 8 years or longer. Take out 2016 and 19 and its been Tampa and Florida in conference finals 9 times.

It sucks...but to knock your guys around like you do. Come on. Get a life.

Any fan with half a brain understands the razor thin margins in the NHL, especially in the playoffs.

Anyhow, Marner is gone, no way he comes back. Tavares...maybe..he wants to come back, but if he wants a pay day, he will have to go elsewhere.

And for Gods sake, fans, look at your behavoir, do you think that attracts players to your city? Show some class and respect....dignity.

Great write up. NO complaints there, but come on people of Toronto/Leafs Nation...the booing and jersey throwing etc...come on.

And you want the players to apologize or cry? You have an excellent team that is playing in the best division in hockey the last 8 years or longer. Take out 2016 and 19 and its been Tampa and Florida in conference finals 9 times.

It sucks...but to knock your guys around like you do. Come on. Get a life.

Any fan with half a brain understands the razor thin margins in the NHL, especially in the playoffs.

Anyhow, Marner is gone, no way he comes back. Tavares...maybe..he wants to come back, but if he wants a pay day, he will have to go elsewhere.

And for Gods sake, fans, look at your behavoir, do you think that attracts players to your city? Show some class and respect....dignity.
- TrueGrit

They lose 2-1 like the Jets, nobody gives a poop and it's a stain on the team and hope again. You seem to be confusing the totality, vs individual events that lead to the totality.

You can't BUY heart, soul, or WILL. The Panthers OOZE Heart, soul, and will from every player on the roster. You could see the difference on the ice. Tavares has more heart, soul, and will in his little finger than Marner has in his entire body. That's what you need. Send the choirboys home to play in the sandbox, and fill your team with players that will fight tooth and nail for the Jersey.
- gstclairinc

There’s a lot of merit to this post, and that of the writer vying to become the Leafs blogger. Seems to me it’s not necessarily “passengers” on the team, but the construction of it. I saw too many of the core players waiting for someone else to get them the puck so they shoot, instead of digging in the corners to pass to whomever is in the best position to finish.
It’s ok to have 2-3 guys whom are primarily finishers, but not half a dozen! The Leafs are constructed for great regular seasons, but not the playoffs. If you notice, it’s the big, heavy teams with enough skill, determination, and heart, that win in the playoffs. Look at St Louis. They just snuck in on the last day, and almost advanced. Happens every year. One or two teams that have a couple players with finishing skills, but plenty of positionally sound players with all in attitudes. Edmonton has two truly elite players, Dallas: two, Carolina: two, and Floridas two to three.
The Leafs, to me, have half a dozen, but the supporting cast is not good enough. If I was GM, I’d keep maybe 3 at most, and use the cost savings to add those players who are 4-7mi players, that while talented, are not elite finishers, but are great playmakers, grinder’s and net front, price payers. More guys like Knies, and less like Nylander….no offense to him personally.

You can't BUY heart, soul, or WILL. The Panthers OOZE Heart, soul, and will from every player on the roster. You could see the difference on the ice. Tavares has more heart, soul, and will in his little finger than Marner has in his entire body. That's what you need. Send the choirboys home to play in the sandbox, and fill your team with players that will fight tooth and nail for the Jersey.
- gstclairinc

100% accurate.

Tavares' reaction to the loss and Matthews tells me everything I need to know

It’s not the “fans” behaviour. There was 19k people at the rink and a few knuckleheads were dumb, move on.

As for knocking the team. It’s not that they lost! It’s that there was ZERO fight in the dogs. None! And that is the story year after year after year! We are paying 4 of these guys top 10 or 12 salaries in the league and they collectively had zero goals combined the last four games!! They are paid to be difference makers, and they make NO difference, ever, when it counts. The fans expect a fight, figuratively speaking, and when you DEMAND to be one of the top paid players in the league we don’t just expect you to fight for it, we expect you to fight like hell. Saw zero of that! And again, zero of that year after year.

If you want to know why the Leafs continually lose in the big moments (i.e. Playoffs) one might want go back and watch a great instructional video from years gone by titled "Ted Williams On Hitting" by Ted himself. He goes through all aspects of hitting but what's important here is to note how he illustrates why the proper mental approach is imperative to success. That mental approach is easily translatable to other sports (like hockey) as well as other aspects of life. The Leafs haven't had the proper mental approach in years and the results show...

His comment about "passengers" being on the team is clear evidence that he wants to win and is frustrated that others aren't pulling their weight.

Desire does not always translate to results though, unfortunately. But thinking that he doesn't give a (frank)? I don't buy it.
- mjones242

He’s OBVIOUSLY talking about Willy.

It’s going to come out any day now just how unhappy the franchise is with him.

Nylander is a joke of a player.

Zero defence, zero forecheck, zero hits, zero blocked shots.

Watching him actively shy away from any sort of contact all playoffs was so (frank)ing annoying because he’s not willing to change his game at all to help the team win.

He’s the passenger. He’s the guy Berube was referring to when he said some guys aren’t playing a good team defence.

Berube absolutely hates him. He’s made two damning comments about him just in these playoffs alone. “ Willy doesn’t like when I talk to him,” and “ he probably didn’t hear him (referring to Tkachuk’s chirps) because he doesn’t listen to anything I say.”

This team will never win anything until they get rid of that useless floater. Defending Willy everyday in here is just a sign that you have no idea what you’re talking about.

Willys gone. I guarantee it.

You can't BUY heart, soul, or WILL. The Panthers OOZE Heart, soul, and will from every player on the roster. You could see the difference on the ice. Tavares has more heart, soul, and will in his little finger than Marner has in his entire body. That's what you need. Send the choirboys home to play in the sandbox, and fill your team with players that will fight tooth and nail for the Jersey.
- gstclairinc

Three more classic clichés and you win a prize

Nylander is a joke of a player.

Zero defence, zero forecheck, zero hits, zero blocked shots.

Watching him actively shy away from any sort of contact all playoffs was so (frank)ing annoying because he’s not willing to change his game at all to help the team win.

He’s the passenger. He’s the guy Berube was referring to when he said some guys aren’t playing a good team defence.

Berube absolutely hates him. He’s made two damning comments about him just in these playoffs alone. “ Willy doesn’t like when I talk to him,” and “ he probably didn’t hear him (referring to Tkachuk’s chirps) because he doesn’t listen to anything I say.”

This team will never win anything until they get rid of that useless floater. Defending Willy everyday in here is just a sign that you have no idea what you’re talking about.

Willys gone. I guarantee it.
- Horsey Sauce

So what you’re saying is Marner leaves

So what you’re saying is Marner leaves
- Chunga’s Revenge

I’m saying expect what you don’t expect.

Nylander is a joke of a player.

Zero defence, zero forecheck, zero hits, zero blocked shots.

Watching him actively shy away from any sort of contact all playoffs was so (frank)ing annoying because he’s not willing to change his game at all to help the team win.

He’s the passenger. He’s the guy Berube was referring to when he said some guys aren’t playing a good team defence.

Berube absolutely hates him. He’s made two damning comments about him just in these playoffs alone. “ Willy doesn’t like when I talk to him,” and “ he probably didn’t hear him (referring to Tkachuk’s chirps) because he doesn’t listen to anything I say.”

This team will never win anything until they get rid of that useless floater. Defending Willy everyday in here is just a sign that you have no idea what you’re talking about.

Willys gone. I guarantee it.
- Horsey Sauce

So how long is your AA account banned for?

Willy topped the Leafs in playoffs with 15 points and had 2x as many goals as Matthews.

In just 4 games last playoffs he led the Leafs in goal scoring as well.

Willy has a long-term contract with a NMC. I guess you're going to be disappointed for quite some time.

So how long is your AA account banned for?

Willy topped the Leafs in playoffs with 15 points and had 2x as many goals as Matthews.

In just 4 games last playoffs he led the Leafs in goal scoring as well.

Willy has a long-term contract with a NMC. I guess you're going to be disappointed for quite some time.





- Nasty_Duck

It’s going to come down to what Berube says to Pelley.

If you think he’s going to defend Willy but support moving on from Marner, you’re crazy.

It’s going to come down to what Berube says to Pelley.

If you think he’s going to defend Willy but support moving on from Marner, you’re crazy.
- Horsey Sauce

One player has a NMC and the other player has an expiring contract.

You do the math.

One player has a NMC and the other player has an expiring contract.

You do the math.
- Nasty_Duck

No math involved.

Let’s Berube speak.

As a neutral observer I noted several things Sunday. Marner was pissed which showed a level of care. He made mistakes that strong coaching can correct. Marner will flourish in another environment.

Matthews is not worthy of the captaincy. He took no personal responsibility. Blame everyone else. He is no leader. As long as Matthews is there as the leader change will not come. Last year going for 70 was more important than the team. This year he takes no personal responsibility. How do you fix his “not-the-team-ego?”

There are times the players close the locker room doors and hash things out. I just don’t see that happening effectively with Matthews on the team.

Compare him to McDavid. He is all team and places winning as priority one.

The leafs have a crazy problem. With the attitude being what it is there will be absolute hesitation to sign with Toronto. The whole league sees the issues. Who wants to join this mess when there are other teams to play for?

As a neutral observer I noted several things Sunday. Marner was pissed which showed a level of care. He made mistakes that strong coaching can correct. Marner will flourish in another environment.

Matthews is not worthy of the captaincy. He took no personal responsibility. Blame everyone else. He is no leader. As long as Matthews is there as the leader change will not come. Last year going for 70 was more important than the team. This year he takes no personal responsibility. How do you fix his “not-the-team-ego?”

There are times the players close the locker room doors and hash things out. I just don’t see that happening effectively with Matthews on the team.

Compare him to McDavid. He is all team and places winning as priority one.

The leafs have a crazy problem. With the attitude being what it is there will be absolute hesitation to sign with Toronto. The whole league sees the issues. Who wants to join this mess when there are other teams to play for?
- mckawalley

Well said, in Mathews defense, he is part of this young generation of players that was part of the NHL's marketing campaign last year. Includes Bedard... There is no doubt these guys are amazing talents, but unlike the studs of say 10 to 15 years ago, they had to earn it with accomplishment.

Anointing a young player to be more then he is ready for is unfair to the player. Patrick Kane was never captain material and stayed in his lane. As he matured, he earned the A. Same for Kucherov. Say what you like about his body language and persona, nobody works harder than he does at his craft.

Some guys just want to come to work and do their job. There is nothing wrong with that.

Captaincy is earned and is obvious when you are in a room in any sport at any level. While Mathews may have been respected as a captain in the room. Toronto has an added element of insanity when it comes to the public facing side of it. Not many guys in the league could manage that. Of course winning makes it all easier, but after a while answering the same questions over and over again...arguing against entrenched narratives is just exhausting and a waste of time.

Side bar, Marner would be amazing in Nashville. Someone to get the shooters the puck. Marner will make a lot of money somewhere. His skill set is as rare as Mathews. Marner can drive his own offense and get pucks to guys who can score. That is a rare commodity in this day and age.

Well said, in Mathews defense, he is part of this young generation of players that was part of the NHL's marketing campaign last year. Includes Bedard... There is no doubt these guys are amazing talents, but unlike the studs of say 10 to 15 years ago, they had to earn it with accomplishment.

Anointing a young player to be more then he is ready for is unfair to the player. Patrick Kane was never captain material and stayed in his lane. As he matured, he earned the A. Same for Kucherov. Say what you like about his body language and persona, nobody works harder than he does at his craft.

Well said, and thanks for mentioning two Hawks (current and former). To this day I see people demanding that Bedard be the Captain! For years people asked why Kane wasn't captain. It's hard to believe that some feel the captain should be the person with the most points or someone who is still learning in the pros. Luckily the Hawks recognized Foligno, totally deserving. Absolutely Matthews falls into the same class as the Hawks' young players did