RICK VAIVE: If you can't stand the heat in Toronto, time to go

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If you’re going to have a high-profile role as a Toronto Maple Leaf, be ready for all the attention that comes with it.

We didn’t have a choice in the 1980s. There were some years our team struggled, the media was around all the time, and we had to be accountable. There was nowhere to hide.

I know that times have changed and players are more coddled, but I have to think the Toronto-area guys on this team know full well what’s expected of them. Now that their season is over again, it’s getting clear a player such as Mitch Marner isn’t cut out for it.

I watch him during the national anthem and he seems nervous, I see his interviews and he’s uncomfortable. When you get into a high-stakes playoff series against a team such as Florida, that’s not a good look.

I think Mitch gets intimidated. You look at him going for the puck and he’s like a figure skater, afraid to get hit. As I’ve said before, a change of scenery will do him good, at the same time understanding how much he loves Toronto.

His agent, Darren Ferris, is known for letting his top clients test free agency. Mitch will certainly be desirable as a free agent and I can just see one of the Western teams in the U.S. with cap space who need to put people in the seats paying him good money. The Leafs could then use Marner money for something else.

It’s a little different with John Tavares, another local guy. He’s much older than Mitch, he’s already moved his family once. Yes, there’s a contract to be worked out with him, but he doesn’t need the money after his last big deal. I predict he stays.

It’s too bad we’re discussing break-ups and changes again after just two playoff rounds, but you have to give Florida credit. They exit the zone so well, took away space from Toronto’s offence and when they come at you and play heavy. It’s a combination that is hard to beat.

That said, what a terrible effort for a Game 7. A few Leafs looked afraid to touch the puck, such as Marner and William Nylander. Matthews played as well as he can — I still think he was hiding an injury — but as Auston said, too many passengers.

The worst for me was seeing Max Domi’s goal to give the Leafs and the building some life and then Florida scores 47 seconds later. That was the end.

I did like the job Craig Berube and his assistants did this season. It’s not easy to win one of the hardest divisions in the NHL. But his challenge looking ahead is to get a buy-in from everyone. That might not be possible with this group without some changes.

The Toronto Sun thanks former Leafs captain and three-time 50-goal scorer Rick Vaive for contributing again to our playoff coverage. He played 16 NHL and WHA seasons and is the author of ‘Catch 22: My Battles in Hockey and Life.’ He can be heard on Squid and The Ultimate Leafs Fan podcast with Mike Wilson and special guests.