The Toronto Maple Leafs were defeated in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. That's a phrase attributable to any of the past six NHL seasons and still holds true in 2022. The Leafs blew a 3-2 series lead against the Tampa Bay Lightning and were defeated 2-1 in Game 7, once again putting an early end to their Stanley Cup dreams. It's a tough loss for the organization to stomach, for both players and fans alike, but now the team has to shift its focus towards avoiding another embarrassing early exit next year.

While Toronto was an outstanding team during the regular season, there are clearly areas where the team could improve. This offseason could be crucial for the Maple Leafs as they look to achieve their ultimate goal and win the Stanley Cup in 2023. With Auston Matthews and Mitchell Marner playing the best hockey of their careers, it's hard to excuse the team's disappointing first-round exits year after year.

With that in mind, here are a few big moves the Maple Leafs can make this offseason in order to end the first-round losing streak.

3 offseason targets for Maple Leafs after first-round exit

3. Bryan Rust

There's a good chance the Penguins won't be able to retain Bryan Rust this offseason, and he could be an intriguing option for the Maple Leafs to shore up their offense. Rust had an excellent season with the Penguins and is capable of playing on both the right and left wings. His versatility could make him a useful addition to any line in Toronto's offense, and at 29 years old, he's still got plenty left in the tank.

Rust is coming off of his third consecutive 20+ goal season, having tucked away 24 this year alongside 34 assists. His 58 points were a career-high and it was particularly impressive considering he played in just 60 games. A talented winger like him could be a difference-maker in the playoffs for Toronto.

2. Filip Forsberg

Filip Forsberg is set for a monster contract this offseason, it's just a matter of who wants to pay him. He had a terrific season for the Predators and will be one of the top free agents on the market in 2022. Considering the lucrative deal he figures to sign, the Maple Leafs would likely have to open up some cap space in order to land him, but that could be well-worth it in order to land a player of Forsberg's caliber.

The Predators forward scored 42 points and provided 42 assists this year, racking up a career-high 84 points. Getting a player like that on the open market would be a huge coup for the Maple Leafs, even if it means they have to part ways with some familiar faces. It would stand to reason that the Leafs could try to offload William Nylander's contract in order to free up some money, while they could also save as much as $3.5 million if they let Alex Kerfoot walk this summer. While both are solid players, the addition of Forsberg would make Toronto's offense one of the most lethal in hockey.

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1. Darcy Kuemper

The Colorado Avalanche may be keen on bringing Darcy Kuemper back after his tremendous second-half of the season, but if he does hit the open market, Toronto should be all-in on the goaltender. Jack Campbell proved this year that he's not the answer for the Maple Leafs if they're looking to win a Stanley Cup right now, but perhaps Kuemper would be able to bring them that extra edge they've lacked in the cage.

Kuemper's second-half turnaround in Colorado saw him playing like one of the top goaltenders in all of the league. Toronto's need between the sticks has been evident for a long time, though they opted against fortifying the position at the trade deadline. With the offseason looming, coming off another early playoff exit, the Maple Leafs may be ready to address the position with a big move for Kuemper.

Campbell is set to hit free agency, and the only goaltenders the Maple Leafs have under contract are Petr Mrazek and Erik Kallgren, who is a restricted free agent. Signing Kuemper could provide them the quality starter they need at a position in which they currently lack depth.