TORONTO (Jan. 25) — This is only the second blog I’ve written in 2026. When asked why I’ve been idle, there are several reasons but none moreso than the impossibility of presenting the same thoughts differently. I mean, how many variations are there of “the Leafs will never win anything of significance with a near–total dearth of leadership on the ice?” Auston Matthews wears the ‘C’ but he’s the farthest example of a big–game player in the history of the franchise. Enormous home game against Edmonton this season? He’s a no-show. Emotional and significant games this weekend against Vegas and Colorado? Nowhere to be found. As in every important playoff game of the past decade. Yet, ownership, management and a large (but declining) segment of the fan base still believes there’s some latent Mark Messier in the guy. Even a couple of veteran local columnists that should know much better got sucked in again when No. 34 scored some goals recently. Which he is capable of doing in his sleep. As for proper timing and sustaining performance when it matters, there’s no chance. Never has been. Never will be. Again, if there’s a different way of stating this than the previous 12,000 times, please let me know.
You want leadership? How about William Nylander, with the Leafs getting bludgeoned by the Avalanche, thinking it’s all a big joke and flashing the bird to the TSN camera from the injured players booth (as below) at Scotiabank Arena? Yeah, I know. Willie Styles is a “what, me worry?” kinda guy. But, therein lies the biggest issue encountering the Blue and White. Neither of their mega “stars” take losing at all seriously. Why, then, should you? It is far–less hilarious to loyal and tortured fans of the Leafs, who have been played for fools throughout the Corpse–4 era.
Primarily by Brendan Shanahan, who was too arrogant and bullheaded to recognize what all hockey observers knew after the 2021 playoff collapse against Montreal: that rich contracts and lots of regular–season goals mean squat. But, according to Brendan, his springtime ballerinas were going to “get it done.” Shanny stuck to the party line for so long, he was done before anyone. So, really, what chance do either of Brad Treliving or Craig Berube stand with this group of demonstrable, big–game losers? Look at Chris Tanev, seated next to silly Willie (above). He doesn’t seem particularly amused. But, neither is Chris handcuffing the team with the ridiculous, unmovable contracts awarded Matthews and Nylander. We can thank both Kyle Dubas and Treliving for the mis–spent money. But, mostly Shanahan and myopic figures in the local and national media who fell for the hollow promises of ownership and management. The Chris Johnston types who wrote “it’s not even worth a second thought to pay [Matthews] whatever he wants.” Chris has been awfully silent of late regarding the pseudo–captain of the Leafs.
But, he’s far from alone.
Contracts, however, need to be honored. Even horrible, near–sighted ones. I read where fans want Berube to scratch Matthews and Nylander from the line–up so often that both will become sufficiently demoralized as to waive their no–movement clauses. Problem is, no reputable player would ever again choose the Leafs in free agency. So, the club and its wishful fans are stuck with Matthews for another two seasons (have you ever seen a Toronto captain so utterly miserable in front of reporters?); nonchalant Nylander for five more years. Find me a coach that can prosper amid a complete lack of fire, commitment and urgency at the apex of the roster. Berube, with his Frankenstein–like cranium, is discovering that no form of voodoo from behind the bench will compensate.
He’s a good coach. And, Treliving is a decent hockey man, despite making one of the worse trades in modern Leafs history: the middling Brandon Carlo for the club’s second–best prospect (Fraser Minten), a fourth–round selection last summer… and yet another first–round pick; this one coming in June. It wasn’t exactly Courtnall for Kordic or Rask for Raycroft. But, not far behind. And executed with the misguided logic that has governed Leafs’ management for the past decade — that the team was a tweak or two removed from Stanley Cup glory. Not realizing, or admitting, that no team can challenge for the National Hockey League title without legitimate and timely stewardship from its “best” players. As such, Berube and Treliving will surely be sacrificed after the Leafs are officially eliminated from playoff contention. If not for the illusory 8–0–2 mark of December and early January, Berube would have been replaced by Peter DeBoer, regardless of what the latter insisted to reporters. So, further change will occur where it least matters: off the ice. When the Leafs miss the playoffs for the first time since 2016. New people will govern the team amid the inescapable indifference of its “stars”. Who never perform in the spotlight.
After the latest debacle, which lowered the club’s record to 1–4–2 in its past seven games, Toronto remains five points out of wild card territory in the Eastern Conference… with Philadelphia and Florida standing between the Leafs and a playoff berth. How embarrassing that Detroit and Buffalo have whizzed past the Maple Leafs in the Eastern standings. Rivals that have routinely missed Stanley Cup toil in the past decade. And, really, it’s all quite predictable. For any hockey observer with open eyes, integrity… and an uncluttered mind.
EMAIL: HOWARDLBERGER@GMAIL.COM
Berube’s latest comments of “We look at scoring as everything” is the most honest assessment of this team in over a decade. I hope he wasn’t just referring to the players. It’s a proper summary of the missteps of the GM (past and present) to the coaches (Keefe) and ultimately the players. It’s been the same song and dance for too long. As long as you score, you are given the keys to the vault and can write your own contract. The one ingredient they’ve all failed to grasp is the give-a-shit meter on these prima donnas. The Captain should be your bus driver and ironically was bitchin after game 7 about too many passengers when he himself has never gotten on the f*****g bus! When has he ever gotten into a scrum standing up for one of his teammates? When has he changed the momentum of a sleepy game in December or woken up his teammates during a playoff dud by going out for a shift with a chip on his shoulder and using his 6’3 215 frame to lay some people on their keester? When has he shown anything close to any emotion other than laughing while being ragdolled by Ben Chiarot in the playoffs instead of tuning him up and showing that we are not to be f****d with? If you have played, or been around long enough, you know those things matter to winning teams. Look at the teams that hoist the holy grail. They all have that piss and vinegar in their DNA. This group never had a legitimate chance with Matthews, Marner, Nylander, Reilly etc as your ‘leaders’. Dougie and Wendel gotta be nauseous watching these clowns for 10 years. But hey, at least they get to ‘express’ themselves to the cameras with their ‘drips’ walking into games. Lou had it right. It’s a workplace not a f******g country club!
There is a morality clause in all NHL contracts that mandates players to adhere to high standards of behaviour, both on and off the ice. Breaching it could result in termination. Flipping the bird on national TV is conduct unbecoming, yet the Leafs do nothing. That just sums it up, they do nothing and will continue to do nothing. No accountability on anyone’s part. Mr. Personality continues to avoid speaking publicly when it so suits him. Stolarz misses 33 games, is sent down for a conditioning stint and doesn’t play a game. They throw him to the wolves to start a big game and in less than 5 minutes they’re down 2-0 and predictably lose the game. The number two so-called “star” disrespects his teammates, the Leafs organization, the league and most important the fans on National television. And all that happens is a small (albeit maximum under the CBA) league fine and a Leafs’ shrug of the shoulders without a seeming care. Go Leafs Go.
Yessir. Correct. Tell others.
This somehow feels like the nadir of this iteration of the Leafs. Between the team’s performance, Berube’s stitches, Auston’s gliding, and Nylander behaving like a 13-year-old boy, it’s all just so pathetic.
Well said. Was worried maybe health issues were keeping you away but luckily it was only the Leafs making you sick.
Ha, no doubt!
🙂
The coach and management can’t be let of the hook for their inconsistency and misbehaviour either. Money though, can be a big hurdle, especially for those two; as they have a lot of that and it seems to be all they care about; just like Mitch. Management needs to not only attempt to change this now but should be so involved I. The evolution of their minds after their big pay days and if they don’t like it they can leave. Well put an NTC in there because we’ve seen that you have demonstrated a keen adherence to our winning culture. We. Expect. To win. If you don’t, there’s the door. That should be a version of how this token should be governed . It’s hilarious they said they needed to hire a “hockey guy” in Shannahan, with zero experience, mind you, and have full autonomy and no direct “hockey person” overseeing his efficacy. None. I think a comedy show outlining a day in the life of Brendan is in order because after reviewing everything this last decade, I’ve learned he did %#*@ all and that would lead one to believe that since he did nothing, it wouldn’t affect anything, but timing is everything and he just didn’t see or know when to make decisions. He waited longer than a waiter looking for table 15 in a 14 table restaurant. I’d be shocked he’d get another role president again. Didn’t take Dubas that long did it? And prez too. No bigger idiot than Brendan for not realizing he needed to fire himself.
Can a team be expected to have good on ice leadership without good off ice leadership? No. Brad Treliving built this year’s team with a string of bad moves that sunk them to non playoff status. There are many lessons an observer can learn from how this team fared and was managed the past ten seasons. Now, it still can be salvaged. All we need is a smart move by management, followed by another, then another and then more. First order of business;.Morgan Rielly Max Domi John Tavares have got to go. But Brad Treliving is no NHL GM. He helps every other team in the league but his own. Looking forward to the day he is dismissed. With Keith Pelley calling that shot though, wonder how long it will take.
You are right on the money on everything here. I totally agree about Matthews and have been saying so for many years. He’s no leader, quite the opposite! Same goes for Nylander. He’s giving the finger to the fans. These 2 are spoiled and soft children who haven’t grown up and should never be leaders. Howard, most of the media are in their 20s and clueless such that the ones in the know are a chunk of the commenters.