And, now, the Leafs must wade into the abyss, also known as Scotiabank Arena, for Games 3 and 4. It is currently a best–of–five clash with the Leafs possessing home ice disadvantage. How else can we position the series after the Leafs finished the schedule with a pedestrian 22–15–4 home record? It doesn’t bode particularly well for two encounters with the NHL’s best road team in 2023–24.
— BETWEEN The Posts, Apr. 23, 2024

TORONTO (Apr. 28) — So, really, it comes down to this: In order to avoid sweeping change in the hockey department — involving, minimally, Brendan Shanahan and Sheldon Keefe — the Maple Leafs absolutely must win the next two games of their playoff series against Boston. As I’ve written before, and it’s a staunch opinion, the Leafs hierarchy cannot withstand a five or six–game elimination from the opening round. If, somehow, the Leafs regroup; win Games 5 (Tuesday in Boston) and 6 (Thursday in Toronto) — then put up a good fight in the decisive match at the TD Garden next Saturday — maybe there’s a discussion about retaining the president and coach. Otherwise, both will be replaced before next season; each having one year remaining on his contract with Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Eight years of trying to get it right is normally six years too many for the nucleus of a professional sports team. Just not the Leafs. Neither is the core of any National Hockey League club as glaringly predictable as the Auston Matthews–Mitch Marner–William Nylander troika. Forever jacking up their followers during the 82–game schedule; then jacking them around once the playoffs start. This truly is “insanity” at its finest.

You’ll notice that I haven’t included Brad Treliving among those likely imperiled. Given a late start to last summer, when hired by Shanahan, the first–year general manager performed adequately, signing veterans Tyler Bertuzzi, Max Domi, Martin Jones and Simon Benoit. Though possessing an uneven track record in Calgary, Treliving is an honest, diligent worker and deserves more time to try and morph the Leafs into playoff worthiness (providing, of course, new Chief Executive Officer, Keith Pelley, doesn’t lobby for top–to–bottom change in the hockey wing).

How Treliving will do that with Matthews and Nylander on long–term extensions is anyone’s guess.

Only once in franchise history have the Maple Leafs fully rebounded from a 3–1 series gorge in the playoffs — that being in 1942, when Toronto became the first club to crawl back from an 0–3 deficit in a best–of–seven round, reawakening to defeat the Detroit Red Wings in the Stanley Cup final.

The current Leafs are the only NHL team that uses playoff games as practice for the next regular season. A contender, we think, might do the opposite. Game 4 on Saturday was close to rock bottom for the Shanahan administration. Alarmingly, there was no desire from the outset to compete at playoff tempo. Not even close. The crowd at Scotiabank Arena, even if accustomed to surrender early in the Stanley Cup tournament, was initially spooked into silence… then became rather un–Toronto–like. If you listened closely, you could detect a smattering of irritation.

ONCE AGAIN, THE BRUINS ARE HAVING THEIR WAY WITH AUSTON MATTHEWS. ANYONE SURPRISED? TORONTO SUN PHOTO

By the end of the second period, the Johnny–too–Goods on Bay Street could actually be heard booing, though somewhat reluctantly, as if getting caught would lead to expulsion from the building. The Maple Leafs looked scared, indifferent and, quite frankly, resigned to their fate. You think losing 11 of the past 12 games to Boston was a fluke? Think again. Matthews evidently was sick and did not return for the third period. But, every year, an excuse crops up for Mr. November to nosedive when the stakes increase. Last spring, it was a sore wrist. Now, it’s an “illness”. Same with Nylander. There is, however, something elemental: the Leaf attack fizzles in the playoffs because getting to the prime scoring areas around the opposition goal is more strenuous than during the season.

The Toronto forwards simply refuse to wade into combat; it’s not in their DNA. Never has been at this time of year. The Bruins, like Florida, stand up effectively near the blue line, requiring an opponent to “fight through” the embankment. The Leafs have no–such inclination. Not this group. Not now. Probably not ever.

The fact this was so easy to anticipate is the most vexing issue of all. Why do the Maple Leafs and Blue Jays continue to believe they can change without changing? The Jays couldn’t hit a beach ball last season and they brought back the same impotent nucleus. Guess what? They have no attack again this year. Shocking, huh?

After the Montreal fiasco in the 2021 pandemic playoffs, it was clear the Core–4 could not get it done for the Leafs. How did the Shanahan administration respond? By rewarding Matthews and Nylander with cap–choking extensions that run through 2028 and 2032, respectively. All but guaranteeing the longest–ever Stanley Cup drought will grow to 65 years. Not that the Leafs can be solely blamed. Reporters, columnists and pundits who follow the team (most vociferously, Chris Johnston) insisted there was no other path than securing Matthews. When, in fact, Game 5 against Florida last spring should have been his final appearance with the team. After failing to score in the brief and lopsided quarrel. A club truly committed to winning would have looked beyond the illusion of the regular season and negotiated a trade for No. 34 prior to his no–movement clause kicking in. But, there wasn’t an appetite for such pursuit. Not with the lazy Leafs. Not with the cheerleading media, which lost decorum and focus as Matthews approached (but, characteristically, did not achieve) the 70–goal plateau. The love was astoundingly over the top but, trust me, it will happen again next season; then the one after, as Auston challenges more pointless records from the 82–game schedule. At the moment, Matthews has one goal in his past nine playoff starts (the winner in Game 2). That’s the equivalent of a nine–goal season, or 60 fewer than he potted this year.

What more needs to be said?

There remains a singular lack of perspective as it pertains to hockey in this region. That’s why it was so easy for the Maple Leafs to bring back their own people, even with indisputable evidence they cannot perform to playoff standard. Over the course, now, of nearly an entire decade. Which is a helluva long time in professional sport.

So, the only hope for the Leafs is that Boston learned nothing from its staggering defeat in the first round last spring. After winning a league–record 65 games, the Bruins did to Florida precisely what they are doing to the Leafs. Having split the first two matches at home, Boston went to Sunrise and won twice to build a 3–1 series lead. As it did this week at Scotiabank Arena. But, the Bruins couldn’t slam the door and became the first of Florida’s surprise victims; the Panthers finally getting subdued by Vegas in the championship round. As I look at the Leafs, however, I see nothing that resembles Matthew Tkachuk or Sergei Bobrovsky. A playoff warrior and an elite stopper. Without which — and a Norris Trophy candidate — no team can challenge for the Stanley Cup.

Especially a club with one victory in its past eight playoff games on home ice. Quite appalling, isn’t it?

30 YEARS AGO TONIGHT:
CLOSING OUT CHICAGO STADIUM

Another example of the incomprehensible passage of time.
That three decades have passed since I covered the Leafs–Blackhawks opening–round Stanley Cup series in 1994 doesn’t particularly register. It was the end of historic Chicago Stadium, home of the Hawks beginning in 1929. The giant United Center had risen across W. Madison St. and would become lair of the Blackhawks and NBA Bulls (some have called the United Center the “arena Michael Jordan built”). Fate and timing allowed me to cover the last three hockey matches at Chicago Stadium for The FAN–1430 (credential, above, from Game 3), including the finale, Game 6, in which the Maple Leafs and Felix Potvin eliminated the Blackhawks, 30 years ago tonight. I still have newspaper stories and photos from the Chicago Sun–Times and the Toronto Sun:

 


IT WOULD BE THE SAN JOSE SHARKS IN ROUND 2 OF THE 1994 PLAYOFFS FOR THE MAPLE LEAFS.

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