Disappointment hangs in the air in Toronto. Once again, an early elimination in the first round of the playoffs dampens the hopes of the Maple Leafs and their fans.
This one hurts even more with an overtime defeat in Game 7 in Boston, while the Leafs led 1-0 in the 3rd period.
With each crushing defeat, the urgency for radical change becomes more evident. For a decade, Brendan Shanahan has been the president of this team, but the lack of tangible results is starting to take its toll.
Expectations were high, but the results were disappointing. It is time for new leadership, a fresh wind that can breathe renewal into this historic franchise…a losing organization since 1967…
The fate of Sheldon Keefe, the coach, also seems sealed. Despite his efforts, he failed to lead the team beyond the first round and Toronto needs an experienced coach.
A change at the head of the bench seems inevitable to instill new energy and a new vision. Only GM Brad Treliving seems safe, having signed a multi-year contract last summer.
And then there’s Mitch Marner. An undeniable talent, but a striker who has the reputation of a cowardly player. It’s time to turn the page for a player who pockets $10.5 million per year, but who doesn’t want to pay the price in the playoffs.
A trade involving Marner is the only solution to shake things up. Marner needs to leave Toronto as soon as possible.
The Leafs must now face an unavoidable reality: their identity as losers. A difficult label to wear for a franchise with so much success in its history.
But to change this perception, drastic measures must be taken. A total reinvention of the team, from its playing style to its culture, is necessary to break this cycle of recurring disappointment.
Yes, it smells like a fire sale in Toronto. Transition times are often difficult, but sometimes necessary to allow a team to reinvent itself and become competitive again.
Marner may have to pack his bags and find a new place to write the rest of his career. So does John Tavares, but the problem is he’s undesirable on the trade market.
For the Maple Leafs, the future looks uncertain, but it is in these moments of crisis that opportunities to bounce back and reinvent themselves are often born.
It’s going to be brewing in Toronto this summer…
