If the Toronto Maple Leafs Fall Short in Game 7, What’s Next?

The Toronto Maple Leafs are something of almost an optical illusion.

You can look at them on paper and at first, they are the most talented, deepest Toronto Maple Leafs team in years, but on the ice, they still can’t succeed against what some would call the worst team in the playoffs.

Now the ride for this season isn’t done yet, there’s a chance to rewrite the script on this franchise. tonight, game seven, the Leafs can advance past the Canadiens into the second round.

But if they don’t? What then? What’s there to change to make the team better? Beyond this season the salary cap implications become tougher than ever. Then on the chance, they can keep Zach Hyman and work their way around the cap what is there to really improve?

What’s next for the Toronto Maple Leafs?

Last year it was to “become tougher to play against” and I would say they accomplished that. The additions of Bogosian, Simmonds, and Brodie all accomplished that goal and it shows.

So where do we look to next? The Offense. Sure you can comment on the concentrated offense from Matthews and Marner but the Leafs will not budge on that. They’re staying (at least for now) and will continue to be on the frontline of the Leafs.

I myself would argue how putting someone rather than Joe Thornton in the lineup would certainly benefit both 5-on-5 and the powerplay, but even then that shouldn’t make or break the series. William Nylander has been playing a terrific 200-foot game and is even getting praised for it. Kerfoot has had a great series. Engvall too. It’s the things like that that realistically in my mind, make me think there isn’t a ton of changes you can make to make that offense more potent.

I would also argue that in game 6 overtime (not the first two-thirds of the game), the Leafs deserved to win. They had possession and sustained pressure for the majority of the period and Carey Price was the man to keep the Habs in it. Good looks all around, just couldn’t pot one home. Hard to beat a goalie that dialed in.

So we move onto the defense. The Toronto Maple Leaf’s defensive core is as complete as it’s been in years. And besides some bad (while inexhaustible) turnovers that lead to some crucial goals in this series, the defense has been super steady – even contributing on the scoresheet too!

So where does that leave us? Goaltending? Yea we’re not going to spend too much time on that one. Jack Campbell has been excellent.

You take what Jack Campbell has given the Leafs this series and you put it up against either of the Boston series or even Columbus, the Leafs come out on top. And mind you, Jack Campbell still has another year at $1.65 million! Jack Campbell has been one of, if not the best performer for the Leafs all series.

So what does it really come down to? If I had to put it in one word, Opportunity. The Toronto Maple Leafs need to make the most of them. And they still can. Tonight the Leafs can put everything to bed and erase the curse that this team has. Put it behind them and move on. And they have to do it, because there is no apparent other direction to take this roster.

So to answer the question of If The Toronto Maple Leafs Lose Game 7, What’s next?  Well besides coming back to play in front of a building of disappointed fans, not much. The Leafs need to make the most of the opportunity and situation they’ve put themselves in.  And I’m optimistic they will.

Go in, work hard, and stay hungry until that final buzzer.

We’re not done yet Leafs Nation.