The biggest problem in Toronto needs to be dealt with this summer and it relates to the "Leafs tax" that players expect the team to pay

The Toronto Maple Leafs are far and wide the biggest market in Canada when it comes to hockey and are arguably the biggest market in the hockey world. With that comes a lot of responsibility from the franchise, the front office executives, and the media. The fan base is rowdy, they're passionate, and they love their team till death do them part. However, over the last few years, one narrative has gotten out of hand and it's time that someone puts a stop to it.

We have heard ad nauseam about the egregious contracts that have been handed out in Toronto and while that still remains true there was always a reason or two behind the mammoth deals. John Tavares' deal was signed at a time where the salary cap was supposed to spike to upwards of $96 million within a few short years. Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner were both productive, budding young stars who were going to get pad regardless. The fact that the cap remained flat, instead of seeing a continued rise, is the main reason why these deals are looked back on now and criticized greatly - though the fact that neither signed an 8-year deal is a fair reason to criticize the Leafs there.

Auston Matthews has had his name in the rumour mill for quite some time now and with a new management team coming in, they're going to have to do their best to keep him here long-term. It was reported that he was looking for another shorter-term deal, but that was what stagnated the Leafs over the last few years in the first place.

Brian Hayes gave his insight on the situation:


"The Leafs have to put up a front that players need to be respectful too. It needs to be a two-way street. I think that's absolutely imperative. I think it's imperative that the Maple Leafs have a backbone, that they're proud - they have to treat players with respect, you gotta negotiate with respect and you pay the players what they should be paid. But this idea that they get paid more because it's Toronto than they would in Colorado or Dallas or Tampa has hurt this team greatly and that has to come to an end... I would like to believe the next GM will know that and will apply that and, again, it has to be driven by Shanahan."

Colorado, Dallas, and Tampa Bay have signed their core players to long-term deals at relatively low cost compared to the superstars on the Leafs. The no-income tax in Florida and Dallas has helped but the players coming out themselves and signaling that they're going to take less money to stay sort of acts as a bit of a jab towards the Leafs organization.

The Leafs need a new leader, they need a new vision, and they need a new path, because the last 5 years has done nothing but put a strain in the relationship between team and player. Hayes believes that Shanahan and whomever the new GM will be in Toronto will need to put their foot down and establish a new era in Toronto where there is no "Leafs tax" on player contracts, but as he pointed out, they need to do it while also being fair and respectful.