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TOP CLICKS: The week that was in viral stories

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The Toronto Sun takes you straight to the heart of the action.

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Whether it’s local news, provincial and national politics, or the worlds of celebrity and sports, we have you covered.

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Some stories set the world on fire. And these ones are the most popular online stories from the past seven days, clicked on by Sun readers like you.

Here are our top stories:

Florida Panthers exec appears to post vulgar rant on X, calling Canada 51st state

High-ranking Florida Panthers executive Douglas Cifu took to social media to make several disturbing comments after watching his team defeat the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 4 of their NHL playoff series.

Cifu, the team’s vice chairman, partner and alternate governor, took shots not only at a Leafs fan but Canada in general, while also commenting on the conflict between Israel and Palestine because, sure, why not?

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Screenshots taken of his posts took on a Trump-y tone, what with the “51st state” reference, but things got decidedly darker with the “anti-semite loser” mention, Dan Bilicki reported.

The NHL came down on Cifu the following day, suspending him indefinitely from any and all involvement with the team and the league.

Cifu later issued a statement of his own, but really, too little, too late.

Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers fires the puck into the Toronto Maple Leafs zone during the third period in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 14, 2025 in Toronto.
Matthew Tkachuk #19 of the Florida Panthers fires the puck into the Toronto Maple Leafs zone during the third period in Game Five of the Second Round of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Scotiabank Arena on May 14, 2025 in Toronto. (Claus Andersen/Getty Images) Photo by Claus Andersen /Getty Images North America

SIMMONS: Maple Leafs are done like dinner in series with Panthers

If Maple Leafs fans thought Game 4 against the Panthers was rough, things got decidedly more horrific in Game 5 when Toronto went from crickets to ghosts and failed to show up in the 6-1 romp by the Stanley Cup champions.

At publication time, the Leafs were one game away from elimination, as far as Steve Simmons is concerned, the Leafs have hit a wall and their season was all but done.

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And while there is no shame in losing to this particular Panthers team, there is shame in losing without anything resembling a competitive response put forward by the Leafs.

Toronto Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner (16) hits Florida Panthers' Gustav Forsling (42) during third period of Game 5.
Toronto Maple Leafs’ Mitch Marner (16) hits Florida Panthers’ Gustav Forsling (42) during third period of Game 5. (The Canadian Press) The Canadian Press

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RICK VAIVE: Mitch Marner’s time with Toronto Maple Leafs likely at an end

With Toronto on the brink of elimination, guest columnist and former Leafs captain and three-time 50-goal scorer Rick Vaive wonders if the thoughts swirling in Mitch Marner’s head are about whether the series against the Panthers will be among his last as a Maple Leaf.

Marner may be “a hell of a player” but as one of the Core Four, they haven’t gotten it done at playoff time, which likely means something – or someone – has to change.

He’s given a lot to the team and city, but Vaive believes it’s time to cut the cord and spend Marner’s money elsewhere.

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Canada Post mailboxes are seen in Ottawa on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024.
Canada Post mailboxes are seen in Ottawa on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. (Tony Caldwell/Postmedia Network) Photo by TONY CALDWELL /Postmedia Network

EDITORIAL: A death wish at Canada Post?

Consider it seems like Canada Post deliveries have only just recently got back on track following the strike that began on Nov. 15 and was suspended by the Canada Industrial Labour Relationships Board a month later.

That was meant to give the federal Crown corporation and its union representing 55,000 employees until May 22 to negotiate a new deal.

Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened, with the two sides continuing talks under a mediator.

And one look at the calendar and that deadline is right around the corner.

Our top editorial of the week noted that if Canada Post and its union have a death wish, they’re certainly going about it in the right way, with the possibility of a second postal strike in five months starting as early as Thursday.

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Empty seats amongst dejected fans are seen during third period of Game 5between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers.
Empty seats among dejected fans are seen during the third period of Game 5 between the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Florida Panthers at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on May 14, 2025. (The Canadian Press) The Canadian Press

Leafs fans, former NHL stars tear apart team after ‘embarrassing’ Game 5 loss to Panthers

The first two games of the Leafs-Panthers’ second-round playoff series are distant memories compared to the last three games Toronto fans have had to endure.

The listless Buds gave their supporters nothing to cheer about in Game 5, prompting fans in attendance to boo the team, with a few jerseys even thrown on the ice at Scotiabank Arena, and eviscerate them online, Bilicki reported.

The harsh thoughts towards the team didn’t stop there, with social media ripping the Leafs to pieces, and former NHL stars simply shocked at just how dismal things looked with statements like “lack of emotion,” “worst performance” and “definition of mediocrity” being thrown around.

Oof.

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