After their newest playoff loss, Toronto Maple Leafs followers ought to count on some modifications this offseason. Not solely is Toronto’s administration anticipated to shake issues up, however some key core members will likely be free brokers on July 1.
After a brutal 6-1 Sport 7 loss to the Florida Panthers (their seventh Sport 7 loss in a row), the Maple Leafs had been booed off the ice as they saluted their house crowd.
Now, common supervisor Brad Treliving will likely be tasked with fixing a crew that can not seem to recover from the hump. Particularly, he’ll possible see a breakup of Toronto’s so-called “core 4” of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares.
Each Tavares and Marner are unrestricted free brokers (UFA); ahead Matthew Knies, an up-and-coming star, is a restricted free agent (RFA) and, whereas nonetheless beneath crew management, will want a brand new deal as effectively.
Though the Maple Leafs have just under $27 million in cap house going into the offseason, they solely have seven forwards beneath contract. Simply two of them, Matthews and Nylander, featured within the crew’s prime six throughout Sport 7.
Along with Marner, Tavares and Knies, Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz will likely be UFAs, and Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg are RFAs. With so many gamers to signal, $27 million out of the blue appears small.
After a 102-point season (fifth within the NHL), Marner will possible see a quantity much like Mikko Rantanen’s $12 million new contract with the Dallas Stars. Knies, who scored 29 targets in his second full season, might see upwards of $8 million yearly. Tavares is a little bit of a wildcard; he put up 38 targets and 74 factors in 75 video games this season, however will likely be 35 when the season begins and could also be keen to take a hometown low cost.
Regardless, it is unlikely that each one three will likely be Maple Leafs subsequent season. Though Knies will be offer-sheeted, Toronto will possible match any such deal. Tavares additionally seems more likely to keep, reiterating his want to stay in Toronto to the media:
That leaves Marner. Given his contract wants and the harassment he is reportedly faced from followers, it appears all however sure that he is performed his final recreation in a Leaf sweater.
Thus, the period of the Core 4 has seemingly come to a disappointing finish. Though Toronto hasn’t missed the playoffs since drafting Auston Matthews, they’ve solely made it previous the primary spherical twice in 9 seasons and by no means made it additional than spherical two.
Regardless of having arguably their greatest roster but, together with the defensive-minded additions of coach Craig Berube, defenseman Chris Tanev, defenseman Brandon Carlo, two-way heart Scott Laughton and goaltender Anthony Stolarz, they nonetheless could not get it executed.
The Maple Leafs will enter a brand new period, however it stays to be seen if they’ll break their 58-year Cup-less streak.
