Maple Leafs: A Comprehensive Guide to an Insufferable Summer.
By William Cann
The Toronto Maple Leafs have decided to publicly announce their intention to retain the “big four” and retool the roster around the edges. That doesn’t mean their won’t be substantial changes, but it does mean that Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, John Tavares, and William Nylander are almost certain to lead the attack again for the 2021-2022 season.
The summer is going to be a long one after the monumental disappointment of the Maple Leafs not being able to get past the first round of the playoffs for the 5th straight year. The 5th straight year of having a core group of players that could not, under any circumstances, get the job done.
0-7 in attempts to close out a series. Outscored 11-2 while going 0-3 in win or go home scenarios. There are obvious reasons the Leafs lost, but it’s hard not to be emotional.
The team has a really good group of players, and Dubas is betting on that group finding a way to overcome it’s failures. Finding a way to succeed. For the sake of Leaf Nation, I hope Dubas has better luck than his players do.
Matthews, Marner, and Nylander are signed long term and, as previously stated, they are all returning for another kick at the can. Morgan Rielly has one more year at $5 million and then is a UFA. Zach Hyman is a UFA and Dubas is hopeful that a deal can be worked out to keep him in the fold. Andersen is a UFA and almost certainly gone.
This guide will explore what it will mean to keep the core in tact, how the rest of the roster will look, and what young players are expected to push for spots. I will also take a shot at potential targets as replacements, and put together the protected lists for the expansion draft. I’ll even take a stab at the powerplay (facepalm).
Even if Dubas keeps the “core four”, change is on the horizon. Here is some food for thought as we try to sludge through the muck of an insufferable summer.