Former Maple Leafs Player's Postseason Heroics Further Highlight Costly Mistake

As the Toronto Maple Leafs were eliminated in Round 2 of the playoffs-falling in seven games to the Florida Panthers-speculation has ramped up around the need for change within the organization.

It's becoming increasingly clear that this version of the team isn't built for deep playoff runs. While some argue that the core group should get one more chance, others believe it's time for a reset.

Often, it's easy to look at what a team is missing and consider what pieces could be added. But it's just as important to reflect on who they let get away. At the top of that list is former Leaf and current Edmonton Oilers player, Zach Hyman.

Hyman has been outstanding in the postseason-arguably performing better than Toronto's top three stars combined.

As per Big Head Hockey on X:

That stat says a lot. In the same time span, Toronto's trio of William Nylander, Mitch Marner, and Auston Matthews have only managed two more playoff goals combined than Hyman alone.

It's a glaring reminder of how valuable Hyman could have been for the Leafs over the past few seasons. And let's not forget- he is also one year removed from scoring 54 goals in the regular season, with a modest cap hit of $5.5M per year.

Whichever part of the Leafs' leadership was responsible for letting Hyman walk made a clear miscalculation. Former President of Hockey Operations Brendan Shanahan played a role in that decision, adding another blemish to his already underwhelming tenure in Toronto.

Now, as the Leafs look to retool following yet another postseason disappointment, they'll be hoping to find their next Zach Hyman-a relentless, high-impact playoff performer on a reasonable cap hit. The problem is, players like that don't come around often.