TORONTO (July 6) — It’s out there for all to see. In chat rooms, pop–up websites and even the most–credible newspaper columns: Will members of the Toronto Maple Leafs Core–4 accept less money in their forthcoming contracts so the quartet can stay together, thereby allowing the club to “win”? The question I have is, win what?
Hasn’t it been proven, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the Leafs cannot prevail in the Stanley Cup tournament with John Tavares, Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner and William Nylander? That even if all four players accepted one dollar as a base salary, opening up $40 million of cap space, the club would still go pear–shaped in the playoffs? With the Leafs, it remains a question of “who” not “how much”. I’ve seen enough of these guys in April and May to tell you — unequivocally — that if Matthews and Marner walked away as free agents in the next two years, for no return, the Leafs would be in a much–better position than today. It would allow management to re–shape the roster with forwards that may not look as pretty during the regular season, but might be capable of excelling and elevating performance when it matters. That will not happen if Brendan Shanahan and Brad Treliving stay the course. No person, not even the most dyed–in–the–wool Leafs supporter amid the fan base or in the media, can offer me evidence of the playoff narrative changing with the same cast. The Vegas Golden Knights are the latest example of how a team wins a championship in the National Hockey League with a big, heavy roster; with key performers that exponentially evolve as the Stanley Cup stakes increase. And, as always, with a Norris Trophy type leading the way on the back end. A club that plays defense as aggressively as it pursues scoring chances.
In other words, a near–complete antithesis of the “Core–4” Leafs.
Unfortunately for the club with the longest–ever Stanley Cup drought, Shanahan, the Teflon Prez, would not allow his new GM to explore a different strategy. By all appearances, Treliving came over from Calgary on the condition he maintain what I call the “Corpse–4” (someone else used “Marshmallow–4”, which also works). Under no circumstance could Treliving investigate trade possibilities for Matthews and Marner before they gained control over the club with no–movement clauses that kicked in on July 1. So, now, it’s either re–sign the M & M boys and doom the club to more playoff oblivion… or enable them to walk for free (a wonderful posture that Shanahan allowed his former underling, Kyle Dubas, to foist upon the franchise). It’s unlikely that anyone will concur with my stance that Door No. 2 is the better option. The M & M boys, despite no playoff success, have long cast a spell over the mushy local media. And, thereby, wanton fans of the hockey club who are desperately looking for a way out of the annual post–season quagmire. As such, here we are again — still somehow anticipating that “insanity” (doing the same thing and expecting a different result) will triumph. It will not. It can not with the Corpse–4 leading the way.
I’ve made my stance on this matter crystal clear. And, nothing has changed. You’ve got to be plum–loco to think that Matthews is worth $16 million a season. Unless, of course, the objective is to challenge for the Presidents’ Trophy. He is not, and will never be, a clutch playoff performer. Neither has Marner done squat in the Stanley Cup chase, even if he is three times the player. Mitch has some fire in his belly. He’s proven to be an exceptional, 200–foot skater; witness his 99 points last season and Selke nomination as best defensive forward. If surrounded with heavier line–mates that respond to the playoff burden, he could be a Conn Smythe Trophy threat. Not so, Matthews. As for Nylander, I don’t get the enmity and rancor. Unlike Mr. November, he occasionally shows up in the post season. Willie scored the same number of goals in 2022–23 (40) as Matthews, albeit in eight more games. He then outgunned Invisible Auston, 2–0, against Florida in the playoffs. Nylander is everyone’s target right now because, theoretically, he can still be traded, having submitted a 10–team “not goin’ there” list to the Leafs. The M & M boys are locked in until they either re–sign… or take a hike. It’s kind of a dreadful situation.
As for the free agent acquisitions by Treliving, they, too, are being typically overhyped. Suddenly, with Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi and Ryan Reaves, the Maple Leafs (given media fawning) will be “much tougher” to play against. But, the same people told you the same story when Ryan O’Reilly, Noel Acciari and Luke Schenn came aboard at the trade deadline (all three walked away on July 1). And, the Leafs still got rolled by the Panthers.
That’s not to suggest I disagree with the signings.
Bertuzzi has some bite and scoring ability… providing he can stay healthy for more than 40 games. Domi, despite media dispatches, is not nearly the rabble–rouser his father was. But, Max is much the better all–round player and, in so many ways, a perfect fit for the Maple Leafs. Reaves will become popular because of his size and enormous personality. But, he won’t see the ice in an important playoff game. Treliving correctly deduced that more “snarl” was needed on defense. So, he went out and signed buttery soft John Klingberg. That’s a major disconnect, even if I’ve always admired Klingberg’s puck–moving skill. My theory persists, however, that retention of the Corpse–4 offsets, beginning in mid–April, any gains made in free agency. The Maple Leafs cannot look noticeably different with Matthews, Tavares, Marner and Nylander going full–perimeter in Stanley Cup toil. Not a chance.
FEB. 13, 1999. FROM CBC TELECAST OF THE LAST NHL GAME AT MAPLE LEAF GARDENS. MAX DOMI, JUST PRIOR TO HIS FOURTH BIRTHDAY, SITS ON THE LAP OF HIS FATHER, TIE, DURING THE CLOSING, POST–GAME CEREMONY.
So, debate, if you wish, the salary and term that Matthews will garner in his next contract. Which may prove as ungainly and immovable as his expiring arrangement. The Maple Leafs need structural and fundamental change in order to pose a Stanley Cup threat. Not more of the same. Why this seems forever confusing is a puzzle.
FROM THE VAULT…
In my collection, the Nov. 2, 1968 edition of The Hockey News. Game summaries, below. Remember the names?
EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM
I’d like to hear you comment about the Leafs D-core’s complete inability to carry the play out of their zone and getting the puck to the forwards during the Florida series. I know we watched the same games.
It’s easy to dump on the star players but it’s a team game.
Allan: There are 640 blogs in my archives on this site (since 2018). I’ll bet that a minimum 250 of them touch on the need for a solid, Norris Trophy type here in Toronto. For the first time since Borje Salming, in the late-70’s. And, IF YOUR STAR PLAYERS CANNOT PERFORM WHEN IT MATTERS, YOUR TEAM WILL NOT WIN. How much more evidence do you need?
Shanahan needs to line up the Brinks trucks for Mr November and Fly-By Wrong-Way Willie, and go all-in and run it back, to prove his gameplan.
We will have to wait until next season to find out what our beloved Maple Leafs accomplish. However, past behaviour is usually the best indication of future performance. I hope Reaves is able to instigate something. Maybe the new additions will make the team harder to play against. But the goaltending and especially the blue line aren’t nearly good enough. Maybe after the Tavares contract expires, and there is a change in management, we will actually see some improvement in how the club is constructed.
Matthews does not make my top 5 centres in the league. Maybe top 10, so why is it “imperative” for the Leafs to extend him?. There as a time where I saw signs that he was going to be a generational player but now all I see is someone hovering for the opportunity to take a shot. Someone is is trying to protect himself against injury and stay out of the dirty areas. That’s not the description of the “highest paid player in the league” Should have made the trade when you had the chance. The goal was not to get an equivalent player but 3 assets to balance the roster.
As for Willie… not a chance should he take a reduction. He already did that last time only to see M+M cash in. Good on him if he can escape this mess through free agency.
The core of this team is Marner and Matthews. Nylander is redundant. Tavares and Rielly are both detriments to the team. Now, the present line-up isn’t bad, except that they are way over the cap. Interesting to see how they’ll get it down and who the goalies will be.
John Klingberg has a shot, which Morgan Rielly either doesn’t have or isn’t willing to use. He’s also 40 pounds lighter than Rielly, who is fat for a skating, puck transporting defenceman, at over 220 lbs.
My gripe about many members of the Toronto media has centered around the constantly over-active trigger finger many have in this market. There was always a lack of patience within Leaf management often made worse by those who’s only ideas on how to build a team was by subtraction. If there is ONE silver lining it is that nobody can claim the Leafs are impatient and taking shortcuts. QUITE the contrary. I can now see the same thing the critics are seeing. The spell has been truly broken though I have little time for those who’s only ideas involve subtraction and nothing else. That is just way too easy!!
Nothing is easier than DOING NOTHING after repetitive playoff failure.
I think it’s very telling that most of the guys they brought in at the deadlines, because they have had playoff or Stanley Cup success, don’t stick around. I’ve read that O’Reilly didn’t give the Leafs a chance and that there were unhappy players after the second round loss. I obviously don’t know if that’s true, but if sure seems like players that are serious about winning the cup don’t like Toronto’s chances.
Waiting until well after July 1st to figure out that they may have to trade Nylander is just the cherry on top.
I really, really did get excited with each acquisition of the “four”. It felt like the Leafs were building after years of frustration. But the cracks showed up as the 3 young stars stepped out of their entry level contracts and the first was Nylander to his big contract in 2018/19. Travares had already signed but Marner and Mathews were still to belly up to the bar and we all could see the math was going to leave little for support. In my opinion, none of these guys will take a lesser amount to increase the “Team Improvement Fund” as we have seen on other teams. Change is needed but the current fiscal model and players attached to it hasn’t worked. The recent additions might work out. Might not.