Reporter Paints Clear Picture of What to Expect From the Maple Leafs in the Weeks Ahead
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
The Athletic's James Mirtle has shared a very sensible outline of what the expectations should be for the Maple Leafs ahead of free agency.
The dust has settled on another disappointing season for the Toronto Maple Leafs, and recent comments from GM Brad Treliving indicate that some serious changes are on the way.
The Leafs have already started making changes, starting at the very top with the removal of long-time team President Brendan Shanahan. Next appears to be the departure of Mitch Marner.
There's also rumours emerging that the Leafs could be preparing to announce extensions for Matthew Knies and John Tavares
However, while some want the team to go the "scorched Earth" route, tearing the house down to the studs and start rebuilding a winner from there, one reporter has taken a much more sensible stance on the situation, providing some clarity on the situation.
In a recent story for The Athletic, Leafs reporter James Mirtle revealed what the next steps should be for the Maple Leafs, under the assumption that a full tear-down is not coming.
"The next steps in Toronto shouldn't be the mass destruction of the roster. For one, that's not even going to be possible, not with free agency coming fast and so much of this group under contract, with no-movement and no-trade clauses.
What GM Brad Treliving and his staff need to do instead is to try to identify how they can change the cast around the core members who stay in such a way that it resets the environment and allows them to be better in critical situations. Watch those playoff failures and analyze the team's shortcomings - not just with the core, but at every position, up and down the lineup."
What GM Brad Treliving and his staff need to do instead is to try to identify how they can change the cast around the core members who stay in such a way that it resets the environment and allows them to be better in critical situations. Watch those playoff failures and analyze the team's shortcomings - not just with the core, but at every position, up and down the lineup."
Mirtle's suggestion that the Leafs will continue to build around signed stars like Auston Matthews and William Nylander seems like the most reasonable outcome.
The problem is, with such a weak free agent class, the Leafs may have to look closely at potentially going the stop-gap route and plugging holes temporarily this summer before making the real splashes next summer, when so many more studs may be available on the open market.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 11 | 3763 ANSWERS Reporter Paints Clear Picture of What to Expect From the Maple Leafs in the Weeks Ahead What do you think the Leafs should do this summer? | ||
| Tear it down to the studs | 679 | 18 % |
| Re-tool on the fly | 2542 | 67.6 % |
| Run it back | 542 | 14.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
TRENDING NOW
