The season is over for the Maple Leafs. Toronto put up a valiant effort in Game 7 against the Boston Bruins, but ultimately fell in the final game of the Eastern Conference First Round. The Maple Leafs haven't made the conference finals since 2002, but fans had hope that this group could get their team over the hump. Such is life as a Maple Leafs fan.
Toronto's star Auston Matthews missed the final two games of the series. When asked why he missed those games after Saturday's 2-1 overtime loss to the Bruins, Matthews chose not to answer.
“It’s for another day,” Matthews said.
Despite having an equal shot total (31-31) in Game 7, Toronto couldn't put Boston away. The Maple Leafs have excelled at scoring on power plays, but went a dreadful 1-21 during Game 7. That means only 10 shots came outside of power plays.
“When teams play the Leafs, they set up the game for the Leafs to beat themselves,” head coach Sheldon Keefe said following the loss.
“It sucks, to be honest,” said William Nylander. “We were really close, and we battled back into the series, and I don't know what to say. It's just an empty feeling right now,”
Nylander was the only big-named skater for Toronto to score in any of the team's last three elimination games against the Bruins.
“Look, I don't think there's an issue with the core,” Nylander continued. “I think we were (expletive) right there all series. Battled hard and got it to Game 7 in OT. That's a (expletive) feeling.”
After a disappointing playoff series, will major changes be made to the Toronto Maple Leafs?
Following the tough loss, there are plenty of questions about the future of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
First and foremost, head coach Keefe's job seems to be at risk. His post-season record is now 1-5.
“We've been talking about this a long time, trying to break through for a long time. So, any answer is gonna fall on deaf ears in that sense. I get that,” Keefe said. “This group was different this year. The core you're referring to isn't different; the guys around them was different. They played different. I thought we showed signs this series of a team that could win.”
Toronto's maneuverability with roster decisions is not ideal. Core players like Marner and Tavares will be around next season. Both are in the final year of their contracts and each have no-move clauses.
Nylander and Matthews will stick around as well and both have hefty raises coming next season.
Those four players account for over $46 million of Toronto's cap space.
Decisions will need to be made on UFAs Tyler Bertuzzi and Max Domi on offense, as well as RFAs Connor Dewar, Nicholas Robertson, and Noah Gregor. The defense also has several names who could hit free agency.
Auston Matthews wants to see the team's core stick together.
“I mean, of course. We've been through a lot together,” Matthews said. “In the end, it's not up to us. But it's a game of inches, and we quite haven't gotten over that hump. But through the years you grow and become extremely close and go through the ups and downs of everything together.”
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