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The Toronto Maple Leafs tradition of providing excuses after a Stanley Cup Playoff first round exit continued on Wednesday, as a dozen players spoke to the media at locker cleanout day. The common thread from most of the players regarding their loss to the Montreal Canadiens was that the club could not close the door on the Habs in Games 5, 6, and 7, but no one had an explanation of why that was the case.
Team President Brendan Shanahan, GM Kyle Dubas and head coach Sheldon Keefe will speak to the media on Wednesday afternoon, but there was some news from the exit interviews from the Leafs players.
John Tavares Tavares has made progress since his injury in Game 1, and is nearly back to 100%. He heard from Corey Perry following the incident and did not believe that it was intentional, but did not remember getting hit with Perry’s knee.
Mitch Marner
Marner indicated that he has not seen any of the heavy criticism directed towards him, since he deleted his social media apps before the playoffs. He believed that the Leafs had a group that could go a long way.
The Leafs winger also refuted a report that he refused to change his role on the Toronto power play.
“It's a complete lie. I deleted all social, so I haven’t seen anything since then. My agent called me and told me about that. I don’t know who put that story out there, but it's just people trying to get their name out there and try to makes themselves noticeable."
Morgan Rielly
Rielly was uncertain about the future after the disappointing loss. When asked about his contract by The Athletic’s Pierre Lebrun, Rielly deftly avoided answering, saying that it crossed his mind, but he will cross that bridge when it came time.
Comment - The amount his representation will be asking for on a new deal could be a big factor to whether the Leafs choose to extend him or possibly move him with a year left on his deal.
Jake Muzzin
Muzzin was frustrated by being injured in his second straight playoff, indicated that it was a slight groin pull that forced him out of Game 6 and that he had not been injured prior to that.
Frederik Andersen
Andersen says he has enjoyed his time in Toronto and will look back on his five years fondly, but does not know what is in store for his future.
"It's been a big honor to play in front of a fanbase that's this dedicated, especially when they're allowed in the building."
Comment - Definitely sounds like Andersen knows his time in Toronto is coming to a close, because of the Leafs cap restrictions and the fact that he will be one of the top three available goalies on the free agent market.
Joe Thornton
Thornton said that he did not expect the season to be over so quickly, that he wants to still play, he feels healthy, but wants to take some time to be a dad right now.
Comment – Not sure that the Leafs will give Jumbo Joe another shot. His help as a veteran presence in the locker room may have been helpful, but his play on the ice was spotty at best.
Wayne Simmonds
Simmonds says he hoped to be a key piece to help his hometown team, but had trouble recovering from a wrist injury. The veteran winger would be open to returning to the Leafs next season.
Comment – Leafs might be interested in re-signing for a veteran minimum deal.
Jason Spezza
Spezza says he wants to come back to Toronto for the 2021-22 season and that he still loves to play hockey and that there is some unfinished business with the Leafs. Also stated that he believes in Auston Matthews and Marner as part of the core group.
Comment – Spezza will be signed after the expansion draft and based on his contribution the last two years, the Leafs will sign him every year until he does not want to play.
Zach Hyman
Hyman was asked about free agency, but said that he had not spoken to Dubas about a new deal yet, mostly because he did not expect to be thinking about contract negotiations so soon.
Comment – Can’t imagine the Leafs will not bring back Hyman, unless he gets overpaid by a lot.
Auston Matthews
Matthews said that the Leafs might have a mental block when it comes to finishing off the opposition in the playoffs, but that luck is also a factor. Also said that the noise regarding shaking up the core has not affected the club internally.
William Nylander
Nylander said that the goal of the club is to win and that changes are part of the game of hockey, also believes that is possible for a primarily skill lineup like Toronto to beat teams that play a more grinding defensive game.
Comment – Sorry…..major disconnect. No doubt that teams with skill like Colorado, Tampa, and Carolina can win in the playoffs, but their rosters are a good balance of skill and workmanlike players. The problem is that Toronto cannot afford those “heavy… players with nearly $40 million devoted to skill.
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