Auston Matthews seems to accept that changes are coming in Toronto
Photo credit: Kevin Allen - USA Today Sports
The Maple Leafs failed to accomplish their goal once again. For Auston Matthews, keeping the group together is important, but he also knows it's not up to him.
For the Maple Leafs, the whole season, they've had a "next man up" mentality and have rallied around each other when key players have been out. Unfortunately, when push came to shove in the playoffs, they fell just short of the mark.
Absences for William Nylander, Auston Matthews and Joseph Woll may have given the Bruins just enough space to steal one more win than the Leafs could, but Game 7 was right there for the taking, with the Leafs being arguably the better team. Unfortunately, goals were hard to come by in the series for the Leafs and it may lead to a lot of changes this summer.
Matthews spoke last night following the loss, making mention of just how close the Leafs were this season, perhaps more so than in any other year.
"This is as tight as the group is as I've been a part of here, and I feel like we say that every year, but it truly was an incredible group, incredibly tight, the way we stuck together through the ups and downs of the regular season, post-season."
However, closeness in the locker room doesn't always equate to success on the ice. The Leafs missed out on a golden opportunity because they couldn't capitalize on their chances, they couldn't succeed on the power play and they couldn't keep the puck out of their net on the penalty kill early on in the series.
Matthews was asked following the loss in Boston whether he'd like to see the band back together next season. While he admitted that he would, he also knows that something has to give. The Leafs are running out of time during Matthews' prime window. He knows that the organization may not want the same thing that the players want and that some changes may be required for this team to be able to take that next step.
"I mean, of course [I want the core to stay together]. We've been through a lot together. In the end, it's not up to us. But it's a game of inches, and we quite haven't gotten over that hump. But through the years you grow and become extremely close and go through the ups and downs of everything together."
Obviously, things haven't worked out the way Brendan Shanahan had hoped they would when he opted to retain the entire core last summer. Now, knowing that changes are needed, it's likely that we see at least one core piece moved. The question is, will Shanahan be around to oversee the changes or will MLSE President Keith Pelley relieve Shanahan of his duties as President and Alternate Governor of the Maple Leafs and find a replacement to oversee those changes?
It's going to be an interesting summer in Toronto.
| POLL | ||
MAI 5 | 1435 ANSWERS Auston Matthews seems to accept that changes are coming in Toronto Of the Core 4, who is most likely to be moved? | ||
| William Nylander | 22 | 1.5 % |
| Auston Matthews | 30 | 2.1 % |
| John Tavares | 207 | 14.4 % |
| Mitch Marner | 1176 | 82 % |
| List of polls | ||
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