Win Or Lose: Game 7 Will Define the Future of the Toronto Maple Leafs

Win or lose, the outcome of Game 7 will have a huge impact on the future of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Did you expect anything different from the Toronto Maple Leafs?

After everything this team has been through over the past few years, there was really no other outcome than playing in Game 7, but thankfully they have a home-ice advantage this year.

Hopefully, the fanbase shows up early and cheers their heart out, because that advantage could be the difference in Toronto finally winning a playoff round for the first time in 18 years.

Although we’re scared because we’ve seen how this has enfolded in the past, there’s no reason to believe that the series is over. No team has won back-to-back game’s yet, so all indications would be that Toronto should be favorited to win.

Despite the optimistic or pessimistic point-of-view you have right now, the history and future of this team is going to change drastically, win or lose.

What Happens if the Toronto Maple Leafs Lose Game 7?

It’s not fair to point the finger at the coach or management if Toronto loses Game 7, because that should be on the players, but I find it difficult to believe that both Sheldon Keefe and Kyle Dubas will be employed by this team next year, if they lose Game 7.

Although Keefe was the fastest coach in team history to 100 wins and Dubas has constructed an unbelievable roster, built on skill and value contracts, the organization will have to do something and that usually means firing the coach or G.M.

In addition to the firings, the core-four will definitely be broken up as well.

Trading Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner seems impossible, but dealing William Nylander and/or John Tavares will probably happen. Trading away Tavares is incredibly unlikely because of his no-move contract and the fact that he’s the captain, but at $11M, that cap-space could open up a ton of new options for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Nylander’s contract brings incredible value and there will be a ton of teams interested in his services, so he seems like the likeliest player to trade and his departure could actually help this team moving forward.

Jack Campbell has proven himself as a reliable number-one goalie, but another loss could push him out the door as well and as a result, this team will look very different next year.

There are still a ton of good pieces, but another Game 7 loss will ultimately shake up this organization up in more ways than one, because they can’t run this same core back another year.

What Happens if Toronto Wins Game 7?

If Toronto wins Game 7 and advances to the Second Round, anything is possible for this club.

I seriously think that momentum will push this team to at least the Conference Finals, but I truly think they can win the Stanley Cup if they get past Tampa Bay.

All this team has to do is win Game 7.

They’ve already beat the Lightning three times this series, so it’s not an impossible feat. One more win and a First Round series win will be celebrated like a Stanley Cup.

Even if Toronto wins this series and loses in the Second Round, I’d have to believe that the core is safe, as well as the coach and G.M. Winning Game 7 will cure the pain and suffering of the past 18 years and will buy this group another year to run it back.

One win will cement this team in history and one more win could be all they need to push them towards a Stanley Cup for the first time since 1967.