Leafs reportedly close to making drastic changes within their front office

The road to the Eastern Conference Finals looked to be an easy one - compared to the alternative, with the Leafs drawing Florida in Round 2 instead of Boston. However, they flamed out in horrid fashion as they were taken down by the Panthers in just 5 games. The Leafs scored 2 goals in each of their last 7 games, Auston Matthews and John Tavares went without a goal in the second round, and the Core 4 seemingly disappeared when the lights got brighter.

Every marquee member - whether front office, coaching staff, or on-ice personnel - is to blame for another failed playoff run and the temperature is only rising for members like Sheldon Keefe, Kyle Dubas, and even Brendan Shanahan. As the head coach, Keefe will most likely have the hottest seat after losing a favourable matchup to Florida. Dubas' contract has almost expired and he is due for an extension, while Shanahan still has 2 years remaining on his contract but as the President and is due for a lot of heat as well.

Now we should all take this with a grain of salt, but Howard Berger posted this weekend that we shouldn't be shocked if and when Kyle Dubas and Brendan Shanahan get relieved of their duties. Rumours have been running rampant since they were defeated on Friday night, the Core-4 is expected to be broken up in some manner, and changes were to be expected within the framework of the front office. Shanahan's name has not been mentioned as much as Keefe's or Dubas', but his plan - which initially started out back in 2014-15 - has not bared any fruit.

The depth of the Maple Leafs has never been in question because Dubas has always found a way to maneuver the salary cap by finding diamonds in the rough or cheap veterans who want to play for the Leafs. Their expensive pieces account for over half of the salary cap, yet they have been at the forefront of every single collapse and playoff defeat over the last 7 years. The limelight gets too bright for the many talented stars that the Leafs possess and there's only so much the depth pieces can do to overcome their disappearances.

That, in it of itself, could eventually fall on the men in charge of making the on-ice hockey moves. John Tavares' contract was in anticipation of the salary cap's continual rise - before COVID took it's toll. William Nylander possess one of the best bargain deals in the league for a star. Mitch Marner raked the Leafs' feet over the coals for every cent he could get during negotiations and was given likely a million more than expected, and Matthews was essentially given a blank cheque that will lead him straight into unrestricted free agency next summer.

Nothing of value has taken place within those 4-5 years and the Maple Leafs may need a new voice, a new vision, and someone who will be able to make the appropriate changes necessary to give the Leafs the best chance during their open window of contention. They're far too invested with this current club which could make it difficult to move on from their stars but they also possess near un-tradable contracts.

Shanahan being relieved of his duties would definitely be a surprise, at least in contrast to Dubas, but let's not forget that we're knee deep in rumour-country from now to the 1st of July and even beyond. MLSE has a lot of tough decisions on their plate and tearing down the fabric of their front office is one route they could pursue.