Written By: Cameron Schoffro
Edited By: Jovan Popovic
If only it were that simple. After another devastating loss in the first round, Kyle Dubas has one of the toughest summers in all sports ahead of him. What do you do when you dominate series' year after year, but keep coming out on the losing end? Can Dubas rest on the moral victory of outplaying his opponent again? Toronto outscored, outshot, and out-chanced Montreal. They had a higher expected goals for percentage, actual goals for percentage, Corsi percentage, save percentage, and shooting percentage. The list goes on; the Leafs led in nearly every stat that contributes to winning, save for the wins themselves. Casual fans will suggest, “Montreal simply wanted it more!” which may be the laziest, most face-value analysis of a sporting event possible. Hockey is driven by luck more than any other major sport, so this phrase is an awful attempt to explain unexplainable losses. Tell the countless men who were broken down in tears on national television on Monday night that they "didn’t want it" as much as their opponents.
The Toronto Maple Leafs appeared to be ready to take the next step this year, but like every other year, the fans have to fabricate excuses. From suspensions to officiating, to injuries, to inexperience, to poor coaching, to bad goaltending... we've heard them all. Not this time. Sure, losing captain John Tavares was devastating, but after three dominant wins, they showed the ability to defeat Montreal handily. There is no rational explanation for this particular loss, it must be psychological. Kyle Dubas cannot enter next season with the same team after this abysmal performance. He overhauled the depth, bringing in veterans who assumed leadership roles, on top of their ageing skill, like Jason Spezza, Joe Thornton, and Wayne Simmonds. These legends chose to come to Toronto for their last chance at a Stanley Cup, and the team failed them. He can't shuffle the depth and expect a culture change. He can't replace Jack Campbell, who outdueled Carey Price for the majority of the series, and expect to improve instantly. Dubas fixed the defence; their current defensive core is the best it’s been in decades. He spent a first-round pick to acquire the Columbus' captain, who eliminated Toronto last year, Nick Foligno. What more can Dubas do? His players have made the decision for him, he needs to move a core piece, and it should be Marner.
William Nylander was absolutely dynamic in this series, undoubtedly the best player on the ice. John Tavares is the captain, locker room leader and has a full no move clause. Auston Matthews has displayed playoff success in previous years and does the hardest thing to do in the NHL: score goals, which Marner doesn't. Mitch hasn't scored a playoff goal in 20 games, dating back to Game 1 against Boston in 2019. Moreover, his teammates have transformed into men. Nylander and Matthews are unrecognizable from their rookie selves; however, Marner fades away when the physicality escalates during the playoffs. The problem is mental.
Marner has taken six penalties in his playoff career, five of them have been puck-over-the-glass delay of game penalties. He's scared and crumbles under the pressure of playoff hockey. He panics when the puck comes near him and dumps it away immediately, or the inverse, in the offensive zone, he'll hesitate with the puck too long that the scoring chance will evaporate before he shoots. Mitch grew up in Toronto, he understands the immense pressure that comes with playing in the epicentre of hockey, and he tries to shoulder the burden of being the hero for Leafs fans that he was looking for not so many years ago. Marner fails to drive a line on his own, forcing Keefe to shelter him alongside another superstar, Matthews, to be effective. No complimentary player should be making near his $10 million per year.
Mitch Marner should have ended his career as the most beloved Toronto Maple Leaf of all time, yet now he's being run out of town. When the Leafs drafted him, he was the most skilled prospect they'd ever selected and a hometown kid whose devotion to his community was evident with several charitable initiatives and incredible donations. Mitch seemed to be a beacon of positivity from the moment he joined the team. As a member of the Maple Leafs, he was living out his childhood dreams and could always be found with a contagious smile across his face. Marner's skill set is so unique that he can complete plays that most players wouldn't even think to attempt. The entire fanbase was endeared to Marner; unfortunately, money tends to spoil relationships. Marner's agent, Darren Ferris, was determined to reward his client with "Matthews Money", and emptied Dubas' pockets because he feared undergoing the Nylander contract debacle again. Fans no longer thought so fondly of Marner; his greed altered his public perception, and once he signed his contract, he seemed to have a spiteful attitude towards Leafs Nation.
So, where does Dubas go from here? Well, there's a disgruntled superstar in Buffalo named Jack Eichel, who makes nearly the same salary as Marner. There's nobody as talented as Marner on the trade market, so he is likely the best return Kevyn Adams and the Buffalo Sabres could get for Eichel. The common belief is that Toronto should flip a forward for a defenceman, but that doesn’t address their obvious needs. In two consecutive years, their top-end players have failed to hold their end of the bargain, but their defence has been steady. If Dubas decides to trade Marner, it needs to include a forward that will contribute in the playoffs. One can only wonder how many fans the Toronto Maple Leafs lost on Monday night's disgrace. Whatever that number may be, it's likely not enough.
Comments