After their latest playoff loss, Toronto Maple Leafs fans should expect some changes this offseason. Not only is Toronto’s management expected to shake things up, but some key core members will be free agents on July 1.
After a brutal 6-1 Game 7 loss to the Florida Panthers (their seventh Game 7 loss in a row), the Maple Leafs were booed off the ice as they saluted their home crowd.
Now, general manager Brad Treliving will be tasked with fixing a team that can’t seem to get over the hump. Specifically, he’ll likely see a breakup of Toronto’s so-called “core four” of Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander and John Tavares.
Both Tavares and Marner are unrestricted free agents (UFA); forward Matthew Knies, an up-and-coming star, is a restricted free agent (RFA) and, while still under team control, will need a new deal as well.
Although the Maple Leafs have just under $27 million in cap space going into the offseason, they only have seven forwards under contract. Just two of them, Matthews and Nylander, featured in the team’s top six during Game 7.
In addition to Marner, Tavares and Knies, Max Pacioretty and Steven Lorentz will be UFAs, and Nick Robertson and Pontus Holmberg are RFAs. With so many players to sign, $27 million suddenly seems small.
After a 102-point season (fifth in the NHL), Marner will likely see a number similar to Mikko Rantanen’s $12 million new contract with the Dallas Stars. Knies, who scored 29 goals in his second full season, could see upwards of $8 million annually. Tavares is a bit of a wildcard; he put up 38 goals and 74 points in 75 games this season, but will be 35 when the season starts and may be willing to take a hometown discount.
Regardless, it’s unlikely that all three will be Maple Leafs next season. Although Knies can be offer-sheeted, Toronto will likely match any such deal. Tavares also looks likely to stay, reiterating his desire to remain in Toronto to the media:
That leaves Marner. Given his contract needs and the harassment he’s reportedly faced from fans, it seems all but certain that he’s played his last game in a Leaf sweater.
Thus, the era of the Core Four has seemingly come to a disappointing end. Although Toronto hasn’t missed the playoffs since drafting Auston Matthews, they’ve only made it past the first round twice in nine seasons and never made it further than round two.
Despite having arguably their best roster yet, including the defensive-minded additions of coach Craig Berube, defenseman Chris Tanev, defenseman Brandon Carlo, two-way center Scott Laughton and goaltender Anthony Stolarz, they still couldn’t get it done.
The Maple Leafs will enter a new era, but it remains to be seen if they can break their 58-year Cup-less streak.
