2024-25 Maple Leafs predictions: Contracts, coaching, more

Kristen Shilton, ESPN NHL reporterJun 11, 2024, 07:00 AM ET

CloseKristen Shilton is a national NHL reporter for ESPN.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are in a state of turmoil. Or at least, one of turnover.

It’s been a few weeks since another promising Leafs’ season petered out in an utterly disappointing first-round Stanley Cup playoff series loss to the Boston Bruins — marking the seventh time in eight seasons Toronto has failed to advance past the first round in the postseason.

Granted, the Leafs rallied against the Bruins from a 3-1 series deficit to force Game 7. But Toronto’s overtime loss was a failure without justification, which can’t be ignored or swept under the rug. It has to induce some degree of change.

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Toronto’s management group — president Brendan Shanahan, general manager Brad Treliving and Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Keith Pelley — spoke after the Leafs’ defeat with pointed public comments about how “everything was on the table” to get Toronto past its perennial playoff woes.

The first domino to fall was — predictably — head coach Sheldon Keefe, fired from his post on May 9 and replaced by Craig Berube on May 23.

That swap is just the beginning of what could — and should — be a transformative offseason for the Leafs. There’s more the club needs to address to avoid finding itself in a similar position this time next year.

ESPN had discussions with sources inside and outside the organization as a summer of change has already started. Here are the different angles in play for the Leafs.

LET’S ADDRESS THE ELEPHANT(S) in the room.

Mitch Marner is about to enter the final year of his contract. Ditto for John Tavares. That’s two members of Toronto’s so-called “core four” facing foggy futures. There is a full no-movement clause attached for both players in the coming season, so the Leafs aren’t at liberty to orchestrate any trades.

However, a no-movement clause doesn’t preclude Treliving from asking around about the possibility…

Source link : https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/40321000/toronto-maple-leafs-trades-free-agency-draft-playoffs-stanley-cup-2024-25-contracts-coaching

Author : Kristen Shilton

Publish date : 2024-06-11 11:26:04

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