Stanley Cup Champion Chris Pronger Reveals What the Maple Leafs Need to Do to Finally Win
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski - Imagn Images
Former Stanley Cup champion Chris Pronger sat down with EJ Hradek and discussed what the Maple Leafs need to do to take that all-important next step.
Former Stanley Cup champion and Hall-of-Fame defenseman Chris Pronger sat down with EJ Hradek to discuss all things Toronto Maple Leafs, and he opened up by reiterating that even the most iconic players struggled for the better part of their career like Steve Yzmeran and how that relates to the current batch of players:
"I look at Steve Yzerman and the way the media talked about him pre-Scotty Bowman, pre-winning the Stanley Cup, it was in a very similar light to how these guys are looked at with respect to 'are you ever gonna win with that guy or is he ever gonna win'. He was in his 30s when he won.
I was the same thing, I didn't get there until I was 30."
I was the same thing, I didn't get there until I was 30."
Part of a championship-winning team is being able to fight through adversity, which Pronger began to question whether or not the core players in the locker room have what it takes.
He acknowledged that it's not easy playing in Toronto, but that they need to come back with a fire in their belly.
"As constructed, is it the right fit? Do they have what it takes, do they have the willingness to go above and beyond of what is expected or are they just happy to be in the league and playing in Toronto?
How do you respond to it? Is it motivating you all summer to come back and lay it on the line again?"
How do you respond to it? Is it motivating you all summer to come back and lay it on the line again?"
He finished off by saying that the front office has a lot of work ahead of them because they need to map everything out and understand the construction of their team versus the construction of a championship team and whether or not they match up.
"What you currently have constructed, how does it map out, and as you reflect on the wins and the losses in the season and the playoffs, what do you think you're missing, what do the current players not have or how can you help develop them or guide them further and fill in the holes around them or do you blow it up and remake it."
As Pronger alluded to, it's going to be a very important but difficult off-season ahead for the Maple Leafs as they attempt to crack the code on what they need to change to become a championship-winning organization.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 2 | 4941 ANSWERS Stanley Cup Champion Chris Pronger Reveals What the Maple Leafs Need to Do to Finally Win If Sam Bennett stays in Florida, who would you want the Maple Leafs to pivot to? | ||
| Brad Marchand | 1908 | 38.6 % |
| Matt Duchene | 973 | 19.7 % |
| Brock Nelson | 838 | 17 % |
| Other | 1222 | 24.7 % |
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