Leafs team captain John Tavares where improvements need to be made to get the club past the first round
When we have high expectations and we don't come close to meeting them and we're in the situation that we're in, there are going to be questions and people may expect significant changes, but we have tremendous youth. It's been talked about a lot, but the harder thing to do is stay the course (with) the group and for us looking internally to each other, asking a lot of tough questions and challenging one another to be better, and how we can find our way to where we want to be.
I think there's no question that management is going to do everything they can to give us the best team possible and want to improve the areas that we need to improve in and they'll make those determinations throughout the offseason, but certainly the type of group we have, the type of talent and skill sets, it can be pretty special.
Morgan Rielly on the club’s lack of consistency throughout the year
As you look back on the season, I think that's a trend or certainly a thing that really jumps out, and that's not a good thing. We don't want that, we don't want to be a team that goes through ups and downs over the course of the year and can't really establish who they are. So moving forward, that'll be an area that we need to improve on, we want to be more consistent and have the ability to be a great team each night.
Auston Matthews on what to take from this season and what is needed to take the next step
A lot of it's just mindset. Having a good regular season really isn't cutting it anymore. We've got to figure out the playoffs and how to get out of the first round. Four years in a row is pretty frustrating and a little bit embarrassing as well. We haven't really been able to pull through, but I think all of us believe in each other.
Mitch Marner on what changes he wants to see in his game next season
Probably some more goals, but at the same time I know gotta (be) selfish sometimes, but I'm not going to be an idiot (and) start throwing pucks at net, I'm gonna try to make plays and see what I could do on the ice because that's what I've always done.
Jake Muzzin on whether the current group can succeed in the postseason
This group needs to dig in more. We have lots of skill and talent and speed, but when it comes to playoff hockey, the will to win has to burn a little hotter. Once we find that, we'd be dangerous.
Tyson Barrie on his struggles and his future
After the coaching changes, I was able to settle in a little bit and play some better hockey. I'll take some time to reflect and see what I can do better moving forward. (It was) just a bit of a disappointing year all around and would have loved to have to help this team more and we've got a great group of guys here and I really am pulling for them going forward.
Frederik Andersen on going into the final year of his contract
Whatever is gonna happen happens. What I've learned lately is just be better at focusing on what I can control and that'll be very useful for when I eventually have to talk to Kyle (Dubas).Whatever happens, that's gonna take care of itself.
Zach Hyman on why the team has not gotten better over the last couple seasons
I think that we have gotten better, but when results are the same, the overwhelming theme is you haven't done better. I think as players individually we've gotten better, but we haven't been able to overcome the hurdle of winning a playoff series and that's on us and we're gonna continue to work on that and work to get better, but it's frustrating. It's more frustrating every year and it's more upsetting every year andI think it's warranted, it's justified.
Jason Spezza on his interest in playing for the Leafs next season
I know that I am not the player I once was, but do feel like I can help quite a bit. The fire still burns and I really hope to be back here next year. I don’t know where things stand and when you lose, there are consequences. But I would really love a chance to come back with this group and continue to play. We’ll have conversations in the coming weeks to establish where (the Leafs) are in their thought process.
William Nylander on why the Leafs core group should remain together another year
We're young and there's still I think (there's) a long way for us to go to get to where we want. We played together and we're going through everything together and I think that's a valuable learning experience.
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