Leafs limp into summer, Core Four among likely changes

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The Second Round Smackdown, the Curse of Game 7, whatever you call it, the Maple Leafs have been stopped early again in their playoff pursuit.

And it likely means the band is breaking up to a degree.

Though the Maple Leafs took the Florida Panthers to Game 7, Toronto’s 6-1 loss on Sunday, run out of Scotiabank Arena most of the evening by a team in full Stanley Cup-defence mode, was a sour finish. A series that began with such promise hit a speed bump, an overtime Game 3 loss that cost the Leafs a 3-0 series lead. From that point they were outscored 15-4 in dropping four of the next five.

Could the Leafs have handled the Carolina Hurricanes in the Eastern Conference final? A moot point as they stretched their futility streak in failing to reach the third round to 23 years.

The larger void for the oldest of their fan base is now 58 years without a Stanley Cup, the longest title drought in the National Hockey League. The Panthers, playing more and more to their identity as the hard-hitting series unfolded, will face the Hurricanes starting Tuesday.

Other than finishing off the Ottawa Senators with difficulty in six games, this spring will be lamented for not making more of a 108-point regular season and first division title in two decades. Depth issues were thought to have been addressed before and during the season, considered the deepest, playoff-ready Leafs in a long time.

But general manager Brad Treliving and first-year coach Craig Berube still have work to do.

There were marked improvements in net and on defence, but ultimately another swoon before June. A glaring absence were the star forwards who again struggled early in two high-intensity, physical series.

Speaking of which, there’s growing consensus that summer will result in at least one member of the Core Four removed. Mitch Marner, the fifth-highest regular season points scorer in Toronto history, is unlikely to see the team break the bank to keep him in any protracted free agent negotiation.

Though captain Auston Matthews managed a Game 6 goal in this series, he had just four in his past 18 post-season games, one in 12 versus the Panthers. But he has the protection of a $13.25 million annual contract the next three years. Marner is more of a playmaker, but 13 goals after 70 career playoff games is still underwhelming.

Another significant decision revolves around centre John Tavares, who will be 36 when next season starts. At times this year the most consistent Leaf, his seven-year, $77 million deal that strained the team’s cap so long is done, but his definition of taking any hometown discount to stay might differ from the team’s. He’s also had the clamps put on him by the opposition each spring, and the past few games in particular.

Max Pacioretty’s one-year minimum salary contract is also up, and defenceman Jani Hakanpaa, who played only two games on a fragile knee, is also free. 

Treliving will address the media in the coming days, but any official cutting of ties won’t come until UFA shopping around July 1. Players are expected to clean out stalls and have exit interviews with Berube early next week.  

Two restricted free agents will also have to be addressed, Matthew Knies and Nick Robertson. While it’s an avenue rarely pursued because of stiff compensation rules, another team could woo power forward Knies with an offer sheet that Leafs would have to match.  

And expect renewed scrutiny on club president Brendan Shanahan, given a reprieve by new president and CEO Keith Pelley at the start of last season, but nonetheless responsible for the direction of the team for the past decade.     

Lhornby@postmedia.com

X: @sunhornby