Another disappointing end for the Toronto Maple Leafs could — and should — be a catalyst in potentially painful new beginnings for the organization.
That was the message from Leafs’ management on Friday in the wake of Toronto bowing out in a first-round Stanley Cup playoff series for the sixth time in seven full seasons. The Leafs already axed head coach Sheldon Keefe on Thursday, and attention turns now to how Toronto will handle expectations for its expensive core of players who failed to deliver when it matters most.
Toronto’s president Brendan Shanahan didn’t immediately have all the answers but pledged — again — to try finding them
“It’s not our intention to single out any one individual or any one small group of this team out,” said Shanahan. “We’re talking about the whole team. What we are saying is that it is certainly becoming evident that we have to assess all of those things and assess whether or not we have to make some very difficult decisions this summer to make the team better. There’s a time where you look at the age and the development of players and you talk about patience. And then there comes a time where you see certain patterns and trends repeat themselves, and results repeat themselves.”
The Leafs had a strong regular season, wielding the league’s second-best offense, which averaged 3.63 goals per game and finished with 102 points to put them third in the Atlantic Division. The Leafs matched with Boston in the first round and swiftly fell behind 3-1, only to force a Game 7 where they lost in overtime.
For all Toronto’s scoring success through 82 games into the postseason, the Leafs averaged the fewest goals per game (1.71) of any team in the field when playoffs began. It’s a problem that’s hampered the Leafs repeatedly.
“That [lack of scoring] is the question that we have to ask ourselves,” said Shanahan. “It happens too often. It’s a question of coaching. It’s a question of messaging. And it’s also a question of personnel. We haven’t gotten those results. So that’s something we have to work on.”
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