Weekly Takes - Monday, May 26 Edition

Weekly Takes - Monday, May 26 Edition

1. I have never been so sure about blowing up this era of Maple Leafs Hockey than I was after the players’ exit interviews on Tuesday.

On Monday, a narrative was created that pressure from the media and fan base is a reason why this core has struggled.

On Tuesday, the core had a chance to denounce that narrative… and they did not. In large part, it is probably because they believe it.

A sham, because it has not stopped the Lakers or Yankees from having success over the years. Nor the Eagles and Phillies, despite playing in the toughest market in North America.

The reason this era failed is because their top players were all wired the same way. Period.

Wouldn’t it have been nice for Auston Matthews to call the narrative bullshit?

2. Brendan Shanahan had to be let go, simply because he oversaw an era of failure. Failure cannot be rewarded in this market any longer.

With that being said, he is handing the keys over in a much, much better position than how Dave Nonis handed the keys to him.

He took a perennial non-playoff team and turned them into a sustainable playoff team. He did not cave to media pressure, instead outlining a plan and sticking to it. He was the president that oversaw a prophecy that finally came true (signing John Tavares, a local superstar.) He brought back the alumni, honouring them in the rightful manners that were long overdue. He changed the logo and jersey and he took the flies off the players (incidents like “Salute Gate” were simply not happening any longer.) He even did a great job reacting to Kyle Dubas betraying him by hiring Brad Treliving. For the first time in his tenure, it seemed from the outside that he was no longer in control of the organisation and he instantly took the flys off by hiring a respectable general manager.

But along the way, his stubbornness and loyalty cost him his job. He was right to move off Mike Babcock and Lou Lamoriello when he did, but he should have quickly realized that Dubas was not cut out for the job. The Core Four contract negotiations is what Shanahan and Dubas will be most remembered for, and rightfully so.

They let the inmates run the asylum. Season after season, despite the results not being there.

A drastic change should have been made after the Blue Jackets series in 2020 and at the latest after the Montreal series in 2021. But it never happened. Shanahan believed in this core right until the end and they cost him his job.

3. As I wrote last week, just let Brad Treliving run the show from here-on-out. He has done a great job with the goaltending, defence, and coaching staff. Let him go to work on fixing the forward group.

Have him report directly to Keith Pelley and call it a day. There is no need to bring in an outside voice.

I just hope Treliving continues to speak to the media as much as he does. It was embarrassing that Shanahan would speak at the end of the season, but only in a controlled environment. No radio or TV hits. 

You cannot ask the core to be accountable if the man up top is not.

4. What was lost in the Leafs defeat to the Panthers is credit to Florida for how they play. 

They are so well coached. They skate and forecheck you into the ground. They hit everything that moves. They wear you down, 

And it all started by moving off a franchise winger, who scored 100+ points in his sleep, for a forward who offers them a different dynamic at the top of their lineup. 

Interesting. 

5. The Hurricanes are every bit of an embarrassment as the Leafs, if not worse.

Every season, they are a playoff shoe-in, only to flame out against elite competition.

They are not physical enough, combined with not having enough high-end talent. 

An amazing regular season team who has benefited from the division that they are in.