The Toronto Maple Leafs managed to avoid a sweep against the Florida Panthers but, after Friday’s Game 5 overtime loss, it was over. The Panthers will face the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference Finals. Meanwhile, the Leafs are picking up the pieces and are likely to make huge changes in the offseason.
If we look at the mainstays of the franchise – general manager Kyle Dubas, coach Sheldon Keefe, forwards, defensive corps and goaltenders…Which pieces do you think will change by next season?? Over to you, Round Table.
MAT LARKIN: I predict GM, coach, a base forward. This means a mutual split with Kyle Dubas, firing coach Sheldon Keefe and swapping coach Mitch Marner/Auston Matthews/William Nylander. I don’t see Morgan Rielly being a victim given the reasonable value of his cap at the moment, when I could imagine the Leafs LTIRing Matt Murray and rolling with Joseph Woll and a re-signed Ilya Samsonov as the goaltending duo l ‘next year.
NICK ALBERGA: I will say GM And a nucleus forward — probably William Nylander. And I say Nylander just because he is eligible for an extension this summer and they don’t have the funds to pay him. He will chase the highest bid. Also, Kyle Dubas is a free agent and without a doubt, I think he will be highly sought after by other teams, whether the Leafs like it or not. Assuming they make a management change, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the new GM give Sheldon Keefe a chance to stick.
MIKE MCKENNA: I will say president, general manager, coach, goalkeeper, a basic striker. said this last offseason: the only area that I think could condemn Dubas was goalkeeping. I didn’t think Ilya Samsonov and Matt Murray were a tandem capable of going far in the Stanley Cup playoffs. And the arrival of Joseph Woll on the scene was too late. But what was the threshold here? Should the Leafs make it to the Eastern Conference Finals? Win the Stanley Cup? I understand that the team has supposedly underperformed in recent years and mistakes have been made. But at this point, it feels like it was the cut or bust at TO, otherwise everyone would go. It’s just the nature of the city and the pressure involved. I think Brendan Shanahan is out. And unfortunately, I think Kyle Dubas, despite doing pretty much everything he could to improve his team at the trade deadline, will likely be out as well. Especially given his free agent status this summer. Keef? Yes, he left too. Samsonov will also leave, but mostly because he is a free agent and I expect him to pursue a multi-year contract elsewhere. Nylander? See you. He wants to get paid and that’s not going to happen in Toronto without major surgery. Matthews and Marner aren’t going anywhere. Rielly is a lock on ‘D.’ Ultimately, if Toronto decides to change direction, the next one won’t want baggage tied to the past regime.
STEVEN ELLIS: I’ve learned not to expect massive changes with this team, and I’m not sure that’s the way to go. I would say coach, but who realistically in the market makes this group better? I’m going with the upgrade team goalie. Ilya Samsonov has done a good job giving the Leafs a fighting chance throughout the year. But they cannot leave with the Murray-Samsonov duo. Whether it’s Samsonov and Woll, or Woll and someone else, they need stability. And I like Woll, but it’s not ready for beginner functions. So you have to find some stability, and maybe that’s Samsonov. But right now, that’s the biggest concern in my opinion.
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