The Toronto Maple Leafs’ season came to an end after being eliminated from the Stanley Cup contention five games into the second round, courtesy of an overtime goal by Florida Panthers forward Nick Cousins. This disappointing loss to the Panthers begins what is likely to be a franchise-defining offseason with several potential changes on the horizon.
One of the biggest changes that could take place is with general manager Kyle Dubas, whose contract is expiring. Franchise faces including Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, and William Nylander will also be eligible for contract extensions this summer, which could lead to trade restrictions tightening on their existing contracts. Matthews and Marner will be receiving full no-move clauses on July 1st, while Nylander will receive a 10-team no-trade list at the same time.
Despite past playoff disappointments, this offseason could be different. The Athletic’s James Mirtle recently reported that keeping Toronto’s front office together “will be far more complicated than simply coming up with a modest extension offer” for Dubas. Mirtle suggests that Dubas will want greater job security and autonomy within whatever structure Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment settles on for the future of the organization.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Maple Leafs’ top decision-makers are ready to make that sort of commitment, especially after this disappointing playoff loss. Another potential change could happen with the head coach, Sheldon Keefe. If the Maple Leafs end up with a new general manager, it’s hard to see Keefe retained, after four consecutive playoff losses. But even if Dubas remains in place, there will be a lot of pressure to make a change behind the bench, especially given some of the high-profile names currently available to be hired as a team’s new head coach.
The reasoning behind Keefe’s departure seems to stem largely from his failure to win more than one playoff series at the helm of some extremely talented Maple Leafs teams. This is likely due to the fact that excluding the postseason, Keefe’s body of work behind the bench in Toronto has been stellar. He immediately stabilized the Maple Leafs’ season and guided them to a 27-15-5 record in his first campaign behind the bench.
Over the past two years following that series, Keefe has amassed a 104-42-18 record, and his sterling track record of regular-season success is certainly not easily dismissed given how difficult consistent contention in the NHL can be. But Maple Leafs fans surely expected more from this star-studded era, and Keefe’s teams have failed to provide much of anything after the conclusion of the regular season.
Dubas has also made several excellent moves, and he has rightfully earned a reputation as one of the league’s better general managers over the course of his tenure in Toronto. However, like anyone else who has ever been in charge of team-building for an NHL franchise, Dubas has made his fair share of mistakes. For instance, some larger bets have backfired, such as Matt Murray and Petr Mrazek, who proved to be salary cap anchors rather than saviors in the crease. Some trades have not aged as well as the team might have hoped, such as deals that sent away players such as Nazem Kadri, Mason Marchment, or Alexander Barabanov.
So, it remains to be seen whether Dubas’ successful moves will overshadow the errors he has made. Overall, the Maple Leafs’ organization faces a dilemma of internal and/or external demands to make a change, either by replacing the coach or general manager. Ownership pressure is sure to dial up to a new level, perhaps to the point they’re demanding substantive change rather than merely suggesting it, as they may have in the past.
In conclusion, the Maple Leafs’ future is uncertain with several potential changes on the horizon. With a star-studded roster, the expectation for success in the playoffs is high, and the franchise’s top decision-makers face pressure to make modifications to achieve this success. Only time will tell what changes will take place for the team’s future.
